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

Paige, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents enabled me to pursue my passions even though they knew that working in the arts has its challenges. It’s a less traditional route, but they knew I was hard-working and persistent. I feel incredibly blessed that I’ve been able to pursue my passion, thanks to my parents. Many others do not have that opportunity in life, so I don’t take that for granted.

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.

My life in the arts began early on in high school and college. Fabulous musical mentors, including my high school choir director, who was nicknamed “Sir,” pushed me to become a great singer and musician. I went to TCU on a choral scholarship and took advantage of the recently developed arts administration program there. I have always loved people and developing relationships, and I had a hunch I would work in fundraising and business development down the road. While at TCU, I interned with Fort Worth Opera and the Van Cliburn Foundation while pursuing my music and business studies. Fort Worth is an incredibly culturally vibrant city and it was the perfect environment for me.

I went on to graduate with my master’s in music at The Boston Conservatory. I loved gaining independence by moving to a part of the country that differs from Texas. But don’t get me wrong – I love Texas! As a grad student, I found a passion for music history and chamber music. I asked the Dean to join the chamber music class when I wasn’t cast in the opera during my first year. I wanted to find the right opportunities for myself. He said that’s typically only for instrumentalists. Still, I persisted and enrolled in the course and had an amazing experience as a vocalist working with musicians, honing my skills, collaborating, and having the chance to sing the music I wanted. I also had a life-changing mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Seitz, who treated her graduate assistants like family, furthering our knowledge of music history and teaching us lessons on courage and building a life of pursuit and happiness.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

It starts with a mindset of exploration. We all must find ways to continue learning about our communities. The arts are a great way to do this! They enrich our lives, bring beauty to the world, and help us understand other perspectives. I often think about the arts and what our city would be like if they went away tomorrow; how unwelcoming and boring would it be? We take things like this for granted. The best way to support the creative ecosystem is to go out and explore so that you can foster a deeper appreciation for artists and arts institutions in our city.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

People are my resources! I always ask people about their lives, what interests them, and why they enjoy what they enjoy. I draw tons of inspiration from people. Early in my career, I didn’t realize the power of authentic relationships and how they can help in many ways. We are inundated with so many resources at our fingertips, which can overwhelm me. So that’s why I always try to come back to the people in my life and how I can learn from them.

Contact Info:

• Website: HoustonArtsPass.com
• Instagram: @houstonartspass
• Facebook: Houston Arts Pass
• Linkedin: Paige Myrick Conway
• Youtube: Houston Arts Pass