Switching careers

What Happens When a Musician Steps Away From Pursuing a Full-Time Music Career

Taking a break might be just what the doctor ordered

Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash

I’m approaching year 3 of having stepped away from pursuing opera as a full-time career. I work in finance now and it’s a pretty sweet gig. The benefits are incredible, it’s a hybrid work model, and when I do go into the office, the amenities are pretty nice. It doesn’t hurt that it’s only 3 exits away from my house, so my commute is maximum 15 minutes.

If you’ve read anything of mine from the past, then you know my background. If not, here it is in a nutshell:

• I’m Eastern European, having moved to the States when I was 3 months old.
• Raised in Atlanta, Georgia
• I speak pretty broken Russian, but can definitely get by.
• I live with my fiance and two cats in St. Louis, Missouri, where he’s from.
• I have both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in vocal performance and was pursuing a full-time opera career up until January of 2020.
• A finance job kind of fell in my lap after making a connection with the COO who was a regular of mine at the brunch restaurant that was across the street from the firm