Page 16 - 2020 Classical Singer Magazine January Summer Program Issue

Overcoming Adversity: Heidi Moss
“I want to create awareness for facial paralysis and other facial dis guring ailments. The psychological impact
is often underrepresented, and these patients need support.”
I moved to San Francisco after my debut with Opera Memphis and was singing professionally
in San Francisco when my injury happened. Sadly, my insurance didn’t cover rehabilitation. Bell’s palsy is looked at as a vanity disease. So I had to learn things on my own.
In addition to restudying the structural elements in voice science, I became interested in the neuroscience of vocalization. I couldn’t change the physical elements of what happened to me. But I had read about the plasticity of the brain, particularly with phantom limb patients, and thought maybe I could retrain my pronunciation through thought and practice.
It was tedious and reductionist. I was so grateful for W. Stephen Smith’s guidance since his vocal
How did you overcome it?
At Oberlin, I double majored in vocal performance and biology. Richard Miller was my mentor and, thus, voice science was a big part of my vocal upbringing. Ironically, I pursued science post- graduation, ultimately training
in biochemistry and getting a position in a lab at Rockefeller University.
I used my science career to fund my singing habit—coaching in New York City and taking lessons with W. Stephen Smith.
I was a young artist with Dicapo Opera by night and a scientist by day.
After a few years, I was encouraged to enter some competitions. I won the Liederkranz competition and made the semi-finals of the
Met competition, and things
just started falling into place. Ironically, my biggest paper in science discovering that the end of DNA is looped made the New York Times the same year.
16 Classical Singer / Jan/Feb 2020
CHICAGO IS OUR CLASSROOM
Rigorous, hands-on learning in a world- class city. Study with experienced faculty in a tight-knit community. Enjoy studying in a fully renovated state-of-the-art music facility, Hanson Hall.
Undergraduate Auditions:
February 15, 2020 February 29, 2020
Graduate Auditions:
February 15, 2020
Graduate programs o ered in vocal performance and collabo- rative piano (vocal coaching)
For more informtion, contact:
Dr. Rebecca Ryan
Director of Operations
School of Music, Art, and Theatre 773-244-5623 | rryan@northpark.edu
www.northpark.edu/music