Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerriann Otaño.
Hi Kerriann, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m Kerriann Otaño and I was a professional opera singer for a decade. Originally from Long Island, NY, I now live in Wilmington Delaware where I serve as the Vice President of OperaDelaware, the 11th oldest opera company in the country. Music was a major part of my childhood, with everything from Diana Ross and the Supremes to David Bowie to the musical Rent playing regularly throughout my house and erupting into a singalong with my family.
Opera was not a part of my life. Like the vast majority of Americans, I thought I knew what opera was (stuffy, expensive, pretentious, difficult to understand) and I thought that opera just wasn’t “for” me. When I was 14, I was singing in a musical and belting my face off. When the chorus would come up, I’d sing the high soprano part. After the show, a woman in the audience approached me and said, “We’ve got to teach you about opera.” And she said it with such joy and enthusiasm as if she was welcoming me into a special club! She ended up becoming my voice teacher, and because of her advocacy and encouragement, I spent a year studying at the Conservatory of Music in Milan, Italy, before getting my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in vocal performance.
Lucy showed me that not only did my voice fit in opera, but my presence was needed in opera. She introduced me to artists from a variety of backgrounds, engaged my curiosity, and opened an entirely new world to me. Throughout my career, I sang at the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Opera San Jose, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Opera. I will always be grateful for artists who welcome newcomers to the stage and the audience of the opera house, and that’s precisely what my work at OperaDelaware is all about.
97% of Americans don’t regularly attend opera. I think that this is because most Americans (like me before I encountered Lucy’s advocacy) know just enough about opera to know that they don’t belong there. One of my favorite things about working with OperaDelaware is the opportunity to be the first point of contact that folks have with Opera.
With Pop-Up Opera and Microgalas, OperaDelaware finds unique ways to engage with the community and adapt our programming for any age group. From interactive school performances to highly-curated, red-carpet runway events across the state, OperaDelaware is redefining what an opera company can mean to a community.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I was singing at the Metropolitan Opera in 2019, I experienced a mental health crisis that left me unable to sing without crying. I was having panic attacks, racing thoughts of inadequacy, and debilitating anxiety.
I thought there was only one way out… fortunately, I had amazing parents, a fantastic husband, and a lot of wonderful allies who helped me navigate what I learned was a common struggle among artists. Because of our nomadic lifestyle, many artists are uninsured or underinsured. Very few have access to mental healthcare, and the stigma in the US glorifies the “starving artist” mentality. As if suffering, struggling, and starving are required to make great art.
My struggles led me to become an artist advocate, which is what led me to become an audience advocate.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My slogan is “Former opera singer, eternal Opera Hype Girl”.
Opera comes from the Latin word for all work, so I think of myself as an arts and culture hype girl. I love demystifying opera, making connections to modern stories, blending genres, and welcoming people to experience live art.
I would say I’m known for bringing “Big Voice Energy” wherever I go – Opera singers don’t need microphones, and part of Big Voice Energy is encouraging folks to take up space and use their voices unapologetically.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting.
The fear of failure is way worse than the reality of failure. Failure is about learning and growth. FEAR of failure is about stagnation.
Fear of failure causes you to freeze. Life is not pass/fail, so chase your ambitions, try new things, get curious, do your best, fall in love, make mistakes, and change your mind. Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from experiencing the present and all the wonderful things in store for you.
Pricing:
- OperaDelaware at The Grand: tickets $29-$99
- OperaDelaware Studio Series: $40
- Book a Pop-Up Opera performance: starting at $1000
- Microgalas – intimate events that pair Delaware’s artistic and culinary scene ($50-$250)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.operaDE.org
- Instagram: @kerriannomg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OperaDelaware
Image Credits
Daniel Garcia and Sam Wilson
