Learning to cope with pressure

Memorable Moments in My Career

I've been fortunate enough to have some wonderful moments within my career:

• Performing for the Royal Family:
  I had the incredible opportunity to perform for Her Majesty the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee. Walking out onto the stage in front of Buckingham Palace, looking down the Mall at the crowd, simply amazing! People were in the parks, packed all the way down, and the reaction from the audience was phenomenal.

• Connecting Through Music:
  I started off singing "O Sole Mio" classically because people knew me as a classical artist at that point. Then, in the middle of the song, we flipped into "It's Now or Never" by Elvis. The energy was electric! The flags went up, people were dancing, and that was a huge highlight for me.

  "I've never wanted to have this separation between audience and performer. I want us to be one unit, to have this unified celebration of music."

It was about embracing the celebration of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee and recognizing that I was part of this wonderful nation.

Another High Point: Les Miserables

• Performing as Jean Valjean:
  Another significant moment was performing for the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables as Jean Valjean. Walking out into the arena to sing "Bring Him Home" was a magical experience. It felt surreal because I had put so much pressure on myself to get it right.

  • There were moments of frustration when I wasn't hitting the notes as I wanted.
  • It took a lot of work to both fix the mistakes and to relax.

When it finally came time to perform in front of 25,000 people, it passed in a flash. I entered a protective bubble and connected deeply with the lyrics.

"God on high, hear my prayer."

I engaged in a mindful prayer, a one-on-one connection with God, regardless of one's religion. The notes flowed naturally because I had practiced so much that it was already ingrained in me.

• The Experience:
  I truly connected with the lyrics and character. As the performance concluded, the audience erupted into applause, and it felt like a switch flipped, breaking me out of my trance.

Key Takeaways

• Connection with Audience:
  Believing in what I'm singing allows the pressure of performance to dissipate.

• Imperfection is Okay:
  "You don't have to be perfect. You do it to the best of your ability."

  Remember, nothing's perfect in life, and neither is singing. Embrace the moment, connect with the audience, and enjoy the music!