We were lucky to catch up with Tory recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tory, thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Ah, thank you for asking this question; it isn’t often presented from a positive perspective. I’m grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on this subject. As a parent myself now, and as a performing artist and voice teacher, I have more experience on both sides of this question. I see very clearly how important it is to keep the creative spirit alive in our kids and ourselves. My parents were able to do that for me, and that is a gift that still feeds my curiosity and personal development.

First and most importantly, I grew up knowing I was loved. I felt cherished, therefore it was easy for me to find a strong sense of self-worth. Creativity was regularly positioned at the center of our family experiences. I always felt like my creative ideas delighted my parents which was very encouraging to me.

They are natural educators. They wanted to teach me how to do the things they enjoyed. The first thing they did was to make sure I knew how to properly throw a ball. They did this themselves, spending time with me, showing me all the important components of how my physical body could work to take intentional action that was coordinated, powerful and aligned.

I went on to become a dual sport Division 3 collegiate, regional all-American athlete. I feel strong and empowered in my body. I am able to love my physical form through all the changes of life, which is an immeasurable gift to me as a woman.

My parents maintain a deep connection to their own curiosity, sense of play and desire to learn. They consistently model for me what personal development and commitment looks like. They paid forward their love through a musical process of full immersion; listening, learning to play instruments, dancing and singing – I was surrounded, bathed in music since birth as a result of the joy they found in sound and the stories encoded within. When I was still in grade school they identified a local episcopal church with an excellent music program, and we auditioned as a family for the choir. My parents participated at the same level that I did, so we were all learning and growing equally as performing musicians. It made it easier to understand creativity and development as a way of life, not a means to an end.

They guided me toward a small liberal arts college where I could explore my talents and maximize my accomplishments, it was the perfect fit. In addition to being a dual sport Division 3 athlete, I graduated college with two bachelor’s degrees; one of those is a BA Music Performance, the other a BA Psychology.

This gave me a solid platform to build on after I graduated to begin my own journey of a lifetime.

I believe the basic principles that my parents modeled for and taught me in various different ways have given me the tools to build a uniquely creative life of my own design. These guiding principles are best summarized by my 17 year old self as a senior in high school, “Use love for a rudder, your heart for a compass, and a song for a sail.”

I’ve had the honor of being invited to sing professionally as a featured soloist across the country. I’ve had the privilege of performing on big stages like the LA Opera, intimate settings like my neighbor’s living room, small theaters like the Edye Second Space at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA, sacred spaces of Westminster Abbey in London, UK and St. Peter’s Church in Albany, NY. I recorded my first album titled, “Awakening: A Song Cycle of Lullabies” and released it in 2022. My most prized experience however, is that I have been given a gift of a lifetime through the opportunity of being a wife and mother, teaching voice and singing professionally in Atlanta, Georgia. It is my joy to pass down the legacy of gifts that my parents gave me.

My parents did the best job they could to raise and support me. I am grateful and proud to be their daughter.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

What do I provide?
A positive spin on Life. Stories from my perspective which inspire others to follow their heart.
What sets me apart from others?
My experiences and the work I’ve done to get through these challenges.
What am I most proud of?
I never gave up.
What are the main things I want people to know about me, my brand, and/or my work?
I’m still in development, becoming

I am a professional singer, writer and voice teacher. I began singing as soon as I could make sound, it is fundamental part of what makes me whole. I first got paid to sing when I was 12 years old in the church choir – all the trebles (child singers) got paid at that time. It was a wonderful lesson to learn that something so fundamental to my spirit was financially viable in the physical world. It gave me the confidence to believe that a career in vocal performance was realistic, and worth pursuing.

Singing had always been a joyful exercise that felt nearly effortless. Gradually over time, I developed tension in my body which impacted my ability to sing freely. I had taken on an incredible amount of responsibility, and the level of stress it created took a toll on me. I didn’t realize how much of it was impacting my voice, it slowly became more and more difficult to sing until finally I realized it was hard to sing. The voice that came out of me was unrecognizable to myself and everyone who knew me. I was shocked and in despair, feeling like I would never sing again.

It took some time, but there was finally a diagnosis to explain what was going on; muscular tension dysphonia. I was prescribed resonant voice therapy and completed a program locally with a speech therapist. Ironically this condition never affected my speech, but the idea was to retrain my muscles to support my voice again. I had also developed TMJ, Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction. and in fact I am still rehabilitating my singing voice. As this form of expression is so fundamental to my identity, it has been a very challenging time of self-reflection and heart-centered searching. I’ve referred to this particular time as my ‘dark night of the soul’. This sparked a whole new chapter of creativity, exploration, and discovery in my life’s purpose which continues to unfold in real time. I connected with a collaborator and friend who I work with regularly on various songs, and I share recordings of our joyful process of musical and personal discovery with my Substack page, ToryTime, subscribers. One of the gifts of my vocal challenges and personal work has been the opportunity to teach voice; I am now a voice teacher at a local music academy where I get to help people find their unique voice and empower them to express confidently from their heart. I believe we need this type of bravery now more than ever during this delicate time of global transition. Writing has been a more recent development. I began writing regularly as a result of a major life plot twist which began in February 2024. My husband had a series of completely unexpected life-threatening medical emergencies and I needed to update our extended family, friends, and caring community over the course of that year. I started a CaringBridge page to funnel the updates onto one link for everyone’s convenience. I quickly realized that my writing was equally as helpful for me as it was for the people reading. I suddenly understood that this form of expression was another vehicle for my voice. Thankfully we are in a much better place as a family now. And because of the situation we went through together and the action I took to connect with community, I understand myself more. Writing also allows me to tell my story in the way that I want, I get to be the hero of my own story if that’s what I choose. I control that narrative, I supply the tone and colors of my life experiences from the first-person point of view. It has been an empowering practice, so I’ve decided to continue by starting a Substack page, ToryTime. I’m enjoying the self-discovery process very much and I’m very curious to see how this aspect of my life will emerge and manifest. All my talents and experiences have converged recently and opened me up in new and magical ways. I realize there is more for me to do. In the past, I saw all of these aspects of myself as separate entities i.e. singing, writing, teaching, parenting, partnering. As I evolve, I feel called to integrate all my facets for healing and connection through my voice and spirit to help people in new ways. It is not yet clear what shape this will take, it is a very exciting time of development for my brand and organization. I’m in the process of becoming who I’m meant to be and following the sound of my own heart. As a result, this process feels different and powerful. I am extending an invitation to anyone and everyone, please join me in this adventure and subscribe to “ToryTime” on Substack. My intention is to inspire people with creative dreams to follow and develop their own unique voice. To encourage even one person’s curiosity to discover their creative spirit, no matter where they are in the world.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Well honestly this question makes me chuckle, because I don’t think there is any person, place or thing on this planet that I would categorize as ‘non-creative’. And that, ironically, seems to be the biggest struggle for people who label themselves as ‘non-creative’. They would never be able to understand any creative journey if they don’t see their own life experience in that light.

In my understanding I believe we all are embodiments of Life itself, which is the image of creation in all its infinite expressions. Even a rock which hasn’t moved or changed form for hundreds of thousands of years is a ‘creative’. No two rocks are the same. Each has its own expression, shape and color which has developed through time and with the help of the elements, just like humans.

It’s all in the perception of the beholder.

Everyone is a creative. The magic begins when one changes how they see themself in relationship with all that is. Change your self-label, change your life.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, it’s the opportunity to step into being who I am divinely designed to be.

Every time I write or sing or use my voice creatively in any way I learn more about who I am. It’s this aspect that I find most rewarding.

It helps me connect with myself and other people in ways that wouldn’t be possible without doing this work. I know connection is one of my primary drivers.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belcantory/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tory.mckenna.1/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@belcantory
• Other: https://substack.com/@torytime
  https://torymckenna.bandcamp.com/album/awakening-a-song-cycle-of-lullabies