_{Artist of the Week} 20 Qs for Kirsten LeBlanc

When was your first singing lesson (and with whom)?
My first lesson was towards the end of high school, so I was about 16 or 17. I had been part of the choir and chorus for the musicals and had my heart set on getting the lead role in my final year, so I asked my mom for lessons. She was surprised that I was that serious about singing but took me to see my first teacher, David Mitchell, and that was the start of it all.

Drink of choice?
Usually a gin-based cocktail, anything from a simple gin & tonic to a gin gimlet. I’ve got a decent selection of gins at home and love trying out new ones while traveling.

Heels or flats?
Usually flats, although I can be swayed by a pretty pair of heels.

Favourite place?
Anywhere close to the ocean. I love the sound of waves crashing and salt air.

If you weren’t a singer, you’d be…?
In a dream world, either a baker or something to do with books. I’ve even joked about opening a bookstore/café when I retire.

Top 3 favourite composers?
Strauss, Verdi, Massenet.

Top 3 favourite operas?
Eugene Onegin, Der Rosenkavalier, Il trovatore.

Which opera role do you want to be singing in 10 years?
Ouf, that bucket list is pretty long, but I’d love to be singing some Verdi or Strauss ladies, like Leonora, Elisabeth or Marshallin.

Which role do you wish you could sing, but is not in your voice type?
Either Des Grieux or Werther. I love the music Massenet writes for tenors.

Coffee or tea?
I don’t drink a lot of caffeine because it makes me way too hyper, so usually herbal tea.

Are there more musicians in your family? If yes, who and what do they play/sing?
A couple play the guitar casually, but other than that, no. It made the decision to pursue music, especially classical music, somewhat surprising.

What’s your favourite mind-calming practice?
If I’ve got energy to burn, I’ll go for a run or hit the yoga mat. On the calmer side, I usually go for something crafty like cross-stitching, coloring or journaling. Someone once told me that as a singer whose tool is something so intangible, it can be very comforting to create something physical, which makes total sense to me.

What’s the downside of being an opera artist?
The isolation, whether in the hours spent learning and studying music solo or traveling for contracts. I’m also very close to my family, so having to live far from them in order to pursue this career is hard.

What’s the best thing about being an opera artist?
The connections you create, whether with your fellow castmates and team during a production or with the audience through the emotions you share.

Are you a cat person or dog person?
Definitely a dog person, although I’m allergic to cats, so it makes for an easy decision.

What book are you reading at the moment?
A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena. I tend to go for lighter or fantasy reads to stop the wheels from turning during productions.

Do you sing in the shower?
Absolutely, sometimes getting distracted by pieces and ending up taking really long showers.

The music industry is tough, and filled with rejection. How do you cope? Does it get easier?
The ups and downs of the career can feel so much more jarring when that’s your sole focus, so it’s become clearer to me over the years that the most vital way to cope is to focus on creating a comforting and fulfilling life outside of the career, with a great support system. When you have that in place, it’s much easier to remind yourself that what’s meant for you will find you, a mantra I’ve come to believe in strongly and that makes the rejection sting a little less.

What does it take to be brave with music?
For me, it’s about embracing your vulnerability and allowing yourself to experiment and make mistakes. As a recovering perfectionist and people-pleaser, it’s been a long road to get to the stage where I feel comfortable doing so. While I may have some relapses from time to time, those moments where I’m able to “just let go” as my dad says are extremely rewarding and are something I continually chase.

Which of your roles has had the greatest impact on your perspective?
I had the honour of performing the role of Queen Christine of Sweden in La reine-garçon at the COC this past January and was so inspired by the time I spent with her character. The strength she had to make the tough choice between duty and love, to overcome her doubts and struggles to embrace her true self is something to aspire to and that I hope to continue finding as an artist.