Megan Ihnen, Mezzo-Soprano

Also, the farther I go in my professional career, I continue to realize that the “community” is so much larger but also much more diffused than I ever realized.

I haven’t seen this post which made me realize that I’m probably no longer “part of the new music community” in a way that u felt previously. With the diffusion of platforms we’ve seen, it’s hard to know where that community I enjoyed on a certain platform has migrated to.

My response to creators who don't like critics is always the same: You're not supposed to. Which doesn't mean you are specifically supposed to not like them, but you're not specifically supposed to like them, and whether you like them is beside the point. Criticism is not advice or correction.

BLUESKY POWER USER TIP: this website isn’t full of humorless tone-scolds if you block them on sight

Gonna just start saying this around my house and see how long it takes to start a “dust-up” 😂

Oh, I like that! When I was working at a specific grant-making organization I would email anyone who wasn’t receiving a grant to let them know and also pass on info about when we would be announcing “in case they wanted a break from social media that day.”

May I humbly suggest applying to so many things that when you get a notification (acceptance or rejection) you say to yourself, “what’s this now?” Definitely recommend to counteract imposter syndrome tendencies.

I’m so glad! I fell in love with his use of harmony during this piece for sure.

Amen.

Got to sing some beautiful music by Zelenka at the beginning of Holy Week thanks to Devin Bureau. 💖

Plus, Brandon and I are hometown friends from Iowa so it was fun to get a chance to share a program for the first time!

I’ve been made aware that this style is less desirable than the
Friend 1 makes statement
Friend 2 makes another statement about similar topic/story
Repeat

It’s become very apparent to me how few people use questions as a core conversation style like…
Friend 1 asks question
Friend 2 answers question (likely discussion)
Friend 2 asks question
Friend 1 answers (more discussion)

That, or people in social situations just love being interviewed by me.

I am so excited about this newly remastered release of "of Light and Shadows" performed by Stephen Page and Liz Ames, recorded by Calvin Cates, and mastered by Tyler R. Young for Soundset Records. This is one of my absolute favorite recordings of my music. Stream it today on all the major platforms!

In just thinking about a brighter future news…

George Crumb’s centenary is not that far away. I’m curious who will be programming big concerts for it.

Out now for purchase 💸 this labor of love from @laurastrickling.bsky.social and @dennistobenski.bsky.social 🎶 Learn wondrous new songs with text and/or music by the people tagged as well as many not on Bluesky 😆 L|nk and tags in cømments ♥️

Teach them how to pitch people beyond apply to “call for scores.”

Today I opened up a Call For Scores for composers based in or studying in Louisiana for a new Louisiana-focused new music festival that Versipel New Music is presenting called Batture Contemporary.

Spread the word and apply! It's free!

batturecontemporary.com

Happy to feel this momentum in Louisiana! 💖💖

I have missed Kaveh Akbar so much from my early-ish Twitter days. I missed Kaveh’s writing *and* general presence.

I didn’t know about this poetry editor position til now and this was such a welcome call against apathy/stuck-ness from someone who feels like a distant friend found again.

I voted early so I could make sure to voice my “no on all four” clearly.

Jeff can go ahead and gargle my metaphorical balls.

Louisiana folks, polls are still open!

Don’t forget to use them on yourself too…

This Is Not a Land of Kings by Gelsey Bell on Apple Music Song · 2018 · Duration 3:53

Been thinking about this a lot and thought y’all might like to spin it too: music.apple.com/us/album/thi...

Bwahahahahah - as I told my sister, then you find a score attached to an email that you hadn’t saved somewhere else and you get a little more circumspect about “delete all” 😂😂😂😂

I’m with ya. I used to be very diligent about inbox zero but it’s impossible at this point.

Sadly, there’s still more to go. But, I press on.

Me too :)

(Somewhat related: I convinced one of my clients to let me theme our annual campaign around being a “5 tool player” and it made the whole rigamarole more fun for me. 💖⚾️)

I got rid of over 3,000 emails in my inbox today. I feel exhausted but slightly better.

Way to go, Dalton! 🎉

Ashley Jackson brings spirituals to the harp The rising harpist explores spirituals, musical ancestors and the influence of church on her new album, Take Me to the Water.

Ashley Jackson brings spirituals to the harp
@shanahipharpy.bsky.social

www.npr.org/2025/03/25/n...