_{Artist of the Week} 21 Qs for Megan Latham

What/who inspired you to sing?
Although untrained, my Mum had been a very captivating local musical theatre performer. My parents also made attending live performances a part of life. Somewhere along the way, I was inspired and driven to see if I had what it takes to belong onstage.

Favourite place?
My favourite place would be our family cottage at Cultus Lake, BC. That spot has been my peace and connection to family and nature since birth.

If you weren’t a singer, you’d be _________?
If I wasn’t a singer, I likely would have pursued tv and film acting… although the joke is that I went to school long enough to be a surgeon, so maybe that!

What’s your ancestry?
My ancestry is Scottish, English and Russian.

Are there more musicians in your family?
My partner plays piano, sings and composes. My brother is a singer/songwriter and plays guitar.

What’s your favourite mind-calming practice?
My favourite mind calming practice is deep breathing. So simple, and it works.

Where did you go to school?
After graduating high school in Abbotsford, BC, I went to UBC (Bachelor of Opera) and U of T (diploma in operatic performance and Master of Music in opera).

What’s the downside of being an opera artist?
The downside of being an opera artist is the time away. I have wonderful friends and family who accept that I will miss things, but that very acceptance makes me a little sad sometimes. I try hard to have my summers off to reconnect.

What’s the best thing about being an opera artist?
The upside is that I feel like two things are happening at the same time: the sprint of a show and the long-distance run of my trajectory as a performer. I love contract life and the ever-changing nature of it. It’s a pleasure to invest in colleagues, music and a production for a short amount of time and then after a couple/few months have it change into another project. All the while, I feel like I expand my skills and my performances grow richer. I think of it like each contract is a square of a quilt and slowly I’m stitching them all together to represent a full “blanket” and hopefully a fulfilling life and career.

Are you a cat person or dog person?
I’m 100% a cat person. My beautiful fluffy tabby Cinna often accompanies me in my travels.

Are you happiest in the country or the city?
I’m 50/50 country and city. I truly can’t imagine living without both. I enjoy the excitement and opportunities working in cities provides. It’s also great to enjoy entertainment and culinary benefits of city life. But I also love to retreat to the country for green-space time when I’m between gigs.

Which TV show did you binge-watch last?
I recently marathon-watched WandaVision for backstory on Agatha All Along. I love Hallowe’en and a good witchy tale.

Do you believe in ghosts?
I do believe in ghosts. My grandmother had future sight and I’ve been known to have precognitive dreams from time to time.

Are you superstitious?
I’m mostly superstitious about travel! I never want to discuss travel issues or delays until I’ve arrived at my destination. I hate to be late.

When did you know you wanted to be an opera singer?
I think I always had a burning desire to be a performer, but I knew I wanted to be an opera singer in my mid 20s. I had been a choral, jazz and musical theatre singer until I went to post-secondary. I was surprised to discover I had the makings of an opera singer. I was intrigued and kept studying and moving forward.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?
The best advice I was given was to take advice only from those who have earned your trust.

What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?
I have big plans for WHEN I win the lottery. There will be signs…!

Do you approach singing and/or upcoming projects differently today than you did at the beginning of your career?
I approach upcoming projects with more confidence than at the beginning of my career. The question has become “How will I make this role mine?” from my original “Can I do this role?”

Do you think singers and performers have a more powerful inner life?
I think singers and performers have a very powerful inner life. We find ways to remain authentic to ourselves while facing the challenges of a work landscape that is regularly changing. We are away from our home base and our core people but remain courageous and honest to present the best work possible.

Does your process change from role to role?
My music learning process does change from role to role. I feel like each character I play reveals herself in a different way. I sit with my scores and think a lot about the structure of the opera and how my role fits into it before I get too deep into learning the music. I analyze the work for the most difficult element like rhythm or harmonies in an ensemble and start with that. I realized a few years ago that I’m consistently inconsistent in my approach. And I absolutely love that moment when a role goes from seeming perplexing and unattainable to settling into my body and feeling comfortable.

Are you a perfectionist?
I’m not perfectionist. I always intend to perform the music accurately but I live for the real, unplanned moments onstage. I strive to be in the moment and responsive rather than perfect.