1. Is it true you discovered your voice just eight years ago?

Yes, it is true. It was an amazing experience. Well… I had always wished I could sing and promised myself after my breast cancer recovery nearly twenty years ago, I would take lessons when the “right” teacher came along. I was one of those kids that took extra long showers so I could sing my favorite songs…but no one else seem to enjoy it as much as I did!!! It’s really funny! I even attempted to sing as an adult with choirs and always ended up with sore throats and lots of frustration.

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2. How did you discover your voice?

They say, “The student is ready when the teacher is present.” Betty Fort, who is an incredible vocal coach, offered a four-week group class to the members at our local yoga center. I’ll never forget her telling us to choose a song we liked… When it came to my turn, I showed her my song which was an Italian aria, entitled O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini. She then proceeded to tell me I would sing it in four weeks. I honestly thought the woman had lost her mind!!! I thought, “She has no idea how bad my voice is!”

In my mind, I thought she was going to teach us about music and never thought she’d expect me to actually sing the song…much less in four weeks! But I did and I shook from head to toe, dripping sweat, and thought I’d pass out from my heart racing inside my chest! I remember thinking to myself, “Thank goodness the song is in Italian because no one knows what I am saying or how it should sound!” It was the most frightening experience!

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3. What is it about Betty Fort’s teachings that made you realize you could pursue a career as an opera singer?

Well…Betty and I laugh about this as we call it The Betty Fort Methodologies! Let’s just say that working with Betty is one of the most freeing experiences I have ever had! I can write a book about her teaching style and ability and maybe one day I will!!! Anyone who has worked with her knows that there is no place for the inner critic. Getting rid of the critic allowed my spirit to believe anything was and is possible! Her motto is “If you can speak, you can sing!”

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4. You seem so comfortable on stage. Is this something that comes natural to you?

My saving grace is my comfort level with public speaking which I was introduced to when I was nineteen by the Nordstrom brothers. It’s really true that everything in our past leads us to who we are today. My background in speaking, writing, presenting, and book touring combined with Betty’s teachings gives me the confidence to step into the “Zone”.

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5. What do you mean by the “Zone”?

I actually experienced it once where I was singing and everything went into slow motion. I panned the room and noticed tears falling down an elderly man’s face, who was sitting close to the stage. It was as though I had become the observer and the performer in the same moment…hard to explain. I experienced “timelessness” within my two minute aria.

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6. Had you any idea you could sing opera?

Oh! Ha Ha Ha! Not in a million years! My daughter, who was a teenager at the time, would tell me to stop singing to a pop song in the car, because I was ruining the song for her!

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7. How has discovering your voice changed your life?

WOW! Now that’s a loaded question! It has given me a level of confidence I didn’t know I had…I have learned so much…starting with learning to expect the unexpected and to trust that everything happens exactly as it is meant to! It’s taught me to listen fully to my heart and to stay focused on what fulfills me. I am humbled by this gift and understand now that there are unknown talents in everyone. We just need to listen to our hearts.

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8. Do you come from a family of musicians and singers?

Well, I grew up with lots of happy Italian music. In fact, some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around music as my father and grandmother taught me how to dance the polka and waltz. One of my uncles played the accordion while the other played the harmonica at family get-togethers and we’d dance for hours. But no one pursued music as a career.

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9. Were you born in Italy?

No, I was born and raised in a very Italian neighborhood in Chicago. Both my parents and all of our prior generations were born and raised in Italy. I was fortunate to learn Italian as my first language.

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10. What led you to choose the name Tesori for your first album?

It was easy to call it Tesori which means treasures in Italian, because these arias to me are some of the most beautiful treasures from various operas composed in the Romantic Era.

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11. Why did you choose the Romantic Era for your first album?

I naturally gravitated to this era and just fell in love with the beautiful operas and of course the arias! It is my greatest desire to do the composers justice as I pour my heart and soul into each piece. The expression of this era just exudes profound heartfelt passion and melody. I just love it!

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12. Now that your CD is out, what are your plans?

I hope to inspire children and people of all ages…to let them know that everyone has a gift and it is our responsibility to share it with the world. My plan is to use my voice as a vehicle for reaching underprivileged children around the world, particularly the children of Africa...any way I can!

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