Humans of Hebrew College Carmen to the Cantorate

Humans of Hebrew College #HumansHC

“To be an opera singer you need to carry a big ego. It’s performative and deeply competitive. You’re constantly being evaluated. You need the desire to win, the desire to be the best. I love music deeply, and it is central to who I am, but I don’t have an overwhelming ‘I’m the best’ thing inside of me. I feel the need to help people. That’s probably why I chose to teach for five years in a low income, El Salvadorian neighborhood speaking Spanish to my kids. When I was teaching, I was also singing in shul for the high holidays. That’s where I got the sense of combining what I can do with music with doing something good for other people. I don’t want to glorify myself on stage, but to do something beautiful people can connect to—so I can help them have meaningful, spiritual and holy experiences.”