Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Connor Behrmann. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Connor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

New works and collaborations always fuel my creative drive. Most recently, I had the opportunity to debut the role of Then/Now in Josíah Garza’s opera “Maria” with the UT Austin Butler Opera Center. Helping to convey a deeply personal story about the life of the composer’s grandmother was incredibly fulfilling. “Maria” sheds light on the struggles of living as a Mexican immigrant in the United States, domestic abuse and its effects, and how a family can overcome generational trauma through understanding and acceptance. Seeing the ways in which the Austin community came together to make this production possible was inspiring, and I am grateful to be a part of its inception.

I am also debuting another work in the coming months concerning the life of a Russian immigrant, “Alexander, the Sea-Crosser” by Ethan Gurwitz. Based on the autobiography of the composer’s great-great-grandfather, this cantata examines the arduous journey of Alexander and his family as they flee from their homeland due to rising antisemitism. The journey to San Antonio, TX is rife with hardships, including the separation of family and arrant classism, but Alexander is able to persevere through his faith and steadfast resolve. Embodying the character of Alexander, a man who endured many trials for the sake of giving his family a better future, has been a humbling and fortifying experience.

Storytelling is an important part of my work, especially when it gives voice to the repressed. By working on new compositions, especially those grounded in real human circumstance, I have found that I have been able to make an emotional connection with my audience that goes on to create lasting change in our community. This has been the root of my passion in the arts and continues to be the driving force of my practice.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a first-year doctoral student in opera performance at the UT Austin Butler School of Music. I have been singing professionally for over a decade, and was actually in my first operatic performance in fifth grade! (The Act II children’s chorus of Puccini’s “La Bohème”) I have had the opportunity to perform in opera houses in Chattanooga, TN; Asheville, NC; Gainesville, FL; Tampa, FL; Orvieto, Italy and am now located here in Austin, TX. Alongside my work as a performer, I have held positions in arts administration, artist management, production, and currently work as an industry consultant for career development in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

As I mentioned earlier, my most fulfilling moments have always come from new works. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to debut two roles, Emperor Rudolph II and Isaac, in the NOA award-winning film of Dr. Paul Richards’ opera “The Golem of Prague,” which tells the story of a Jewish community that brings to life a powerful golem in order to protect themselves from religious persecution and an ever-growing threat of violence. In this production, I portrayed one of the main family as well as the primary antagonist, the emperor. Not only did this allow me to use the full breadth of my storytelling abilities, but I also got to learn how acting for film is an inherently different process than acting for the stage. The camera allowed me to be more detailed with intimate moments, like when Isaac and his wife Devorah are talking about the future with their newborn child, and even larger in the moments of the Emperor’s anger and fear towards the golem. I am really thankful for having worked on this project because it is clear the ways that I was able to grow as an artist because of it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Opera is a field in which you very frequently get told “no.” It is highly competitive and demands only the finest level of quality and artistry. That is to say, the journey for me to get where I am has not been easy. From very early on, I realized that you had to be able to recognize your strengths, your weaknesses, and know how to pick your battles. There will always be someone with cleaner runs, higher notes, and a prettier face, but you have to know what you bring to the table and how that differentiates you from all the rest. As with most things in life, success takes determination and perseverance.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Not so much of a pivot, but I would like to talk a bit about identity as an artist. There are many times throughout my career that I could have chosen a different path and many times where I was told I was not focused enough because I did not devote my entire being to my career as a musician. I have worked in freelance tech, marketing, as an administrator, a broadcasting engineer, a teacher; and I want to tell you that none of these jobs made me any less of a musician. If anything, they have added to my ability to market myself, negotiate contracts, solve problems, and be a better colleague. If you were to take one thing away from this interview, I want you to know that you can follow your passions AND be an artist. It does not have to be one or the other like so many would have you believe.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/operuponadream
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OperUponADream
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-behrmann

Image Credits
Tsu-Chin Hsu