Megan Ihnen
Host of Studio Class
Mezzo-soprano Megan Ihnen is a tireless promoter of contemporary classical music for the voice. Her performances thrive on elaborate sound worlds and fully-developed dramatic interpretations. Megan recently debuted on the Detroit New Music “Strange Beautiful Music Marathon”, the Works and Process at the Guggenheim series, and with NYC-based Stone Mason Projects. Her interdisciplinary “Kafka Fragments” project had performances in Maryland and Colorado. Her recording of Garrett Schumann’s “Bound” with Latitude 49 was selected for both the I CARE IF YOU LISTEN Fall 2015 Mixtape and the CarpeDM Seize Des Moines “Music Mix: Volume III” featured at the 2016 SXSW Festival. Learn more about Megan at meganihnen.com.
Megan Ihnen has hosted 44 Episodes.
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Episode 27: Micro Action Monday - Read competitively
October 19th, 2020 | 7 mins 4 secs
classical singing, community-building, music business, networking
"I read for growth, firmly believing the what you are today and what you will be in five years depends on two things: the people you meet and the books you read." - Twyla Tharp - The Creative Habit
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Episode 37: Fri-YAY - Applied Business Lessons
October 14th, 2020 | 12 mins 28 secs
arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business
Megan shares the audio from a recent Fri-YAY video all about the importance of "applied business lessons." You might have spent upwards of $20,000 in applied lessons in voice, composition, or on your instrument. How much have you invested in your business knowledge?
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Episode 26: Micro Action Monday - Meet someone new
October 5th, 2020 | 16 mins 6 secs
classical singing, community-building, music business, networking
Put yourself out there and deepen your community ties. Make plans to meet someone new at a virtual (or in person) concert!
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Episode 25: Micro Action Monday - Write your singing bio
September 28th, 2020 | 21 mins 19 secs
bios, classical singing, music business
Your bio is a music business document designed to inspire interest in your product/service. Focus on writing your bios for the decision makers you are trying to collaborate with and impress. The bio is an exercise in writing a beautifully balanced portrait of yourself as a musician.
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Episode 24: Micro Action Monday - Polish your resume
September 21st, 2020 | 15 mins 31 secs
classical singing, music business, resumes
Your goal is to make your résumé be the best first impression of your skill, training, and your professionalism.
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Episode 23: Micro Action Monday - Practice Style
September 14th, 2020 | 12 mins 58 secs
micro-actions, practice
Determine your best practice style and then make time for it in your schedule.
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Episode 22: Teach a Voice Studio
August 1st, 2019 | 1 hr 17 mins
teaching, voice lessons, voice studio
Megan Ihnen visited Hillary LaBonte's vocal pedagogy class at Bowling Green State University in Fall 2018 to discuss running a private voice studio. Thank you to Dr. LaBonte for the invitation and to her students for their excellent questions.
If you're interested in inviting Megan to record an episode with your studio, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]. -
Episode 21: Figure Out Your Own Balance
July 1st, 2019 | 30 mins 16 secs
guests, residency
Sybaritic Singer & Studio Class founder, Megan Ihnen, talks with students from UNLV's voice department about figuring out the balance of singer life.
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Episode 20: Outcomes, Not (Mindless) Activities
May 13th, 2018 | 47 mins 59 secs
achievement, arts entrepreneurship, classical singing, new music, opera, setting goals, success metrics, success workbook
"Performance begins with focusing on outcomes instead of activities. In my experience, most people do the reverse. They concentrate their efforts on the pursuit of activities instead of outcomes." Tired of the relentless busy-ness of being a musician? Let's re-focus on outcomes and avoid the temptation of mindless activity, divas, with the help of Douglas K. Smith's book "Make Success Measurable! A Mindbook-Workbook for Setting Goals and Taking Action."
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Episode 19: Everyone Performs
May 6th, 2018 | 38 mins 6 secs
audience building, creative placemaking, new music, opera
Today, we’re relying on the wisdom of Barbara Townley and Nic Beech in their book “Managing Creativity: Exploring the Paradox.” This episode covers topics such as audience building in opera and new music, collaborative creativity, creative placemaking, and how user-generated content means that audiences have different expectations of artistic experiences.
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Episode 18: Get a lay of the land
April 29th, 2018 | 42 mins 29 secs
classical singing, composers, music business, new music, opera
In this we’re taking a different approach. It’s been a little while since I’ve posted a new episode and I want to tell you about that. Then, we’re going to rely on the wisdom of Ellen Highstein and her book “Making Music in Looking Glass Land” to help us get “a lay of the land” for us that are out there performing and composing our little hearts out.
BURNOUT IS A B****. LET’S AVOID IT. article for NewMusicBox - https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/burnout-is-a-b-lets-avoid-it/
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Episode 17: How To Change The World Through Classical Music - Part II
August 27th, 2017 | 25 mins 23 secs
change the world, classical music, new music, opera, singing, social justice, voice
I’m attempting to answer one of my own big questions, “How Do You Change The World Through Classical Music?” Yes. It’s a hefty topic. I have had this nagging feeling that I need to devote some of my attention to how my art can be a force for good and world events don’t seem to be slowing that need or quieting that internal voice at all. It’s getting louder and more insistent. Divas, not only do I want to help you make it rain in your business but I want to help you change the world while you’re at it.
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Episode 16: How To Change The World Through Classical Music
August 20th, 2017 | 19 mins 51 secs
change the world, classical music, diva, music education, music therapy, opera, voice
In this episode, I’m attempting to answer one of my own big questions, “How Do You Change The World Through Classical Music?”
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Episode 15: What Are Your Diva Metrics?
August 13th, 2017 | 25 mins 17 secs
choosing goals, classical singing, micro actions, new music, opera, singer goals, singer metrics
In this 15th episode, I’m answering a listener question! Mary, who goes by the artist name Alarke, asked me, “What metrics do you use to monitor your growth and how often do you check them? Do you outsource help?"
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Episode 14: Brand Yourself - Personal Branding for Divas
August 6th, 2017 | 27 mins 16 secs
branding, classical singing, opera, personal brand, singer
Personal branding is important for singers because you are your own business. In this episode, we'll go over some activities that you can do to understand your personal brand better.
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Episode 13: Build A Diva
July 30th, 2017 | 27 mins 10 secs
bio, classical singing, epk, press kit, resume, singer
Your digital press kit (often also called an electronic press kit or EPK) is meant to collate important information about you as a singer for presenters, applications, and media professionals.