“By the first concert, I noticed I was excited to sing and had fewer of the feelings I associated with my stage fright. With every concert, I felt more ease, joy, and excitement to be on stage.”
Kaya in the Kellogg Center at CLA Berkshires
Upon arriving at CLA Berkshires, I was experiencing some complicated feelings around singing. On one hand, I was so excited to be accepted and join a program I thought so highly of. On the other hand, I was working through some difficult feelings of stage fright that had started to eat away at the joy of my performing. So, when I stepped off the bus at Great Barrington to see the warm, welcoming faces of Glenn Morton, Daniel Isengart, and John Viscardi, I saw an opportunity to address this fear head-on, even though it scared me.
2025 CLA Berkshires Artists backstage
I knew there was something unique about CLA from our first music rehearsal with the conductor for CLA Berkshires, Mina Kim. She set the tone for a high level of artistry while giving us a clear, kind, and encouraging path to achieve it. I walked away from that first rehearsal realizing I had just experienced a true safe space in music making. This feeling of being in a safe and supportive space would continue through all of my coachings during the program, slowly but surely allowing me to feel joy in the rehearsal process and to let go of fear.
The frog pond at the CLA Berkshires campus
A big turning point for me was working with Glenn. Glenn offers a wealth of knowledge while embracing exactly where you are. He helped me discover things about my voice no one else had up until then. He worked with me on my physical and vocal coordination, which brought more freedom and new colors to my voice. In a way, he gave me the space to be brave and not fear the unknown or possible mistakes. Singing started to feel fun again- like an amusement park of endless possibilities. I eagerly awaited each coaching as they helped me learn more about myself, not only as an artist, but also as an instrument.
Yvonne You and Kaya after a performance
The beauty at CLA Berkshires had a way of pulling you into the present moment, be it the open fields of green where golden light shone through, the sound of frogs making their own music, the stunning colors of the lilies, or the breathtaking sunsets. I loved taking it all in from the wooden swing on campus as I would sync my inhales and exhales to its rise and fall. This environment was really calming and helped me to let go of nerves and overthinking. One of my favorite things was to warm up in the woods. It was just a wide-open space to let my voice ring out.
During my time at CLA we had daily coachings with one of the four pianists and Italian class with Ennio Brugnolo! This gave us ample opportunity to dig deeper into the style, interpretation, and language of Mozart’s operas. Ennio’s expertise helped me get a better understanding of how I can use the Italian language to further my dramatic interpretation. And his sense of humor made every class one to look forward to.
Juan Angel Johnston-Chavez, Enes Pektas, Kaya, and Sofia Durante
One of the coolest aspects about CLA is getting to work on your acting with the brilliant mind of Daniel Isengart. His vast knowledge and understanding of opera- from his dance and theater background- make him an invaluable resource for interpretation on the stage. He has the ability to draw out your authenticity while creating space for you to imagine a bigger and better to make your body a part of music and story that elevates your stagecraft. I loved getting to explore more about acting in the environment that Daniel created. I am also so grateful for my time with John Viscardi, CLA’s Executive Director, as it set me up for success both during and after my time at CLA. John helped open my eyes to the power I have on and off the stage. With his knowledge, book recommendations, and support, I started to think differently about singing. By the first concert, I noticed I was excited to sing and had fewer of the feelings I associated with my stage fright. With every concert, I felt more ease, joy, and excitement to be on stage. I continue to do the work that John and I started at CLA, which has led to a very successful run of singing Zerlina in Don Giovanni in Europe.
Kaya during the CLA Berkshires Grand Finale at the Adams Theatre
It was truly a gift to learn from every teacher there, as they all brought an informed and unique perspective to the music of Mozart. During this program, I also met many wonderful people and made lifelong friends. The supportive environment didn’t just come from the faculty but the students as well, which I think speaks to the overall values of CLA.
I am so thankful to the faculty at CLA Berkshires. Thanks to them, I grew in ways I didn’t imagine were possible. Entering the program, working through stage fright, and then having five performances on stage that I felt good about were all really big for me. These experiences were a catalyst for where I am now.