We recently connected with Noelle and have shared our conversation below.

Noelle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Noelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Noelle and I am a Classical Crossover singer from Atlanta, GA. Ever since I was a little girl, I always knew I wanted to be a professional singer. At first, I wanted to be the “Black Britney Spears,” but I eventually realized that the mainstream pop world was not a good fit for me. As a teenager, I became obsessed with Broadway and thought I would become a Broadway star. In some ways, this is still a goal of mine. However, it wasn’t until college when I truly found my calling. As a student of Theatre and Music at Agnes Scott College, I was required to take classical voice lessons for the first time in my life. During this time, my voice blossomed in ways that I never knew it could and I became more confident in myself as an artist. This was when I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in classical music. I also discovered the specific sub-genre of classical music that most resonates with me: Classical Crossover. Classical Crossover is an amazing combination of opera, Broadway, pop, and religious music. Some notable artists in this genre are Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, and Josh Groban. I love Classical Crossover because it allows me to be a classical music artist without limitations on the songs I can sing. I also love how Classical Crossover is an approachable and non-intimidating way to introduce a mainstream audience to classical music. One of my first opportunities in this field was being a featured guest soloist at various church and community events. In 2022, I started my YouTube channel (@noellesoprano) and formally introduced myself to the world as Noelle, the Classical Crossover singer. Although I have received many positive responses to my music, I have been surprised and disappointed by some negative comments. The main negative comments I hear are that “no one cares about classical music” and that “I should just do R&B or Gospel instead.” I believe these sentiments are rooted in a lack of exposure to/understanding of classical music and racial stereotyping held by the general public. What sets me apart from other artists is that I’m a young black woman singing opera arias while wearing a flower crown. I am defying society’s expectations of what a classical singer “should look like” and what type of music a black woman “should sing.” I love surprising people by being unique and I hope to inspire others to follow their hearts and be themselves.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The past few years were a time of great trials and changes for me. I was previously affiliated with some people who I thought were my friends, but who were really wolves in sheep’s clothing. They claimed to love me and support my dreams, but they were emotional bullies. They were the main people telling me that “no one cares about classical music” and they wanted me to be a “sexy pop singer” instead. Among other insults, they said I was “mediocre,” that “no one wanted to work with me,” and that I was “on the wrong side of 25” (I was only 26). They made me doubt myself and my abilities. The emotional bullying got so severe that I literally started losing my voice (laryngitis) and I experienced recurring panic attacks and had to go to therapy. To make matters worse, I experienced a personal tragedy when my Mother (whom I was very close to) passed away in 2021. This was by far the lowest point of my life. In early 2022, I finally cut ties with my bullies and began reclaiming my life. I affirmed my goal of being a professional Classical Crossover singer and I began pursuing this dream in earnest. My family and my Faith have kept me strong in the face of adversity and helped me to keep my dream alive.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal as a Classical Crossover singer is to prove that there are no limits on your dreams. I want to be a positive example and to prove that classical music is cool, that people of color can be successful in classical music, and that nothing can stop you from following your dreams.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noellesoprano/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noellesoprano
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@noellesoprano
• Other: Business Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Warren J. Buchanan