A World- Class Act

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT IS EASY FOR PEOPLE TO TELL OTHERS TO “DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO” BUT IN REALITY, IT MIGHT BE HARD FOR US TO REMAIN PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR JOBS AFTER A WHILE. FOR MEGHAN PICERNO WHO PLAYS CHRISTINE DAAÉ IN THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, SHE IS BLESSED FOR HAVING THE CAREER OF HER DREAMS. SHE TELLS VASENTA SELVANAYAGAM WHY THE ART FORM SETS HER SOUL ON FIRE.

- Vasenta Selvanayagam

FEMALE: Can you tell us about your growing up years?

Meghan: “I grew up in Chicago, USA, in a house where there was always some kind of symphony or rock music playing in my household even though none of my family members are musicians. I’m not sure if this had any influence on me but I did play in a jazz band in my teenage years. The interest in singing came much later. My first introduction to opera was with my classmates from French class in high school. We went to see Romeo and Juliet at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. I remember being so amazed by it although the rest of the class fell asleep. I kept going ‘wow’, so much so that it prompted me to take singing lessons! While I enjoyed learning the contemporary style of singing, I was more keen on becoming an opera singer. So you can imagine my elation when I got through an audition for a musical while I was studying at university. It was a great experience no doubt but I felt that I needed to learn more about the art. So, on a whim, I decided to visit the birthplace of opera – Vienna, Austria! I didn’t speak a word of German then but armed with courage and determination, I went there and studied at the Vienna State Opera House – where Mozart and Beethoven showcased their masterpieces.”

F: How did you take your career to the next level after you finished your studies?

M: “After completing my studies in Vienna, I flew to New York