A USD Melody: Alumna Lauren Paul's Rise in the World of Opera
Since she was a young girl, Lauren Paul '23 has always been surrounded by classical music.
The path to the stage began at home, where her late father’s love for classical music planted the notes for her lifelong passion.
But it wasn’t until high school that Paul saw an opera in person for the first time – a moment that became a turning point in her musical journey.
That opera was “La Bohème,” by Giacomo Puccini, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Opera.
“‘La Bohème’ opened my eyes to the broader scope of vocal music and showed me just how entertaining opera can be. It also deepened my musical connection to my dad – the first act of that show was the most glorious music in the world. It's a sentiment that I also hold,” Paul said.
Pursuing her musical passion, Paul, who is originally from Wisconsin, began her undergraduate studies as a clarinetist with plans for band education. After her father’s passing, she started voice lessons, where she found her true calling as an opera singer.
After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Paul took a gap year. During that time, a former music camp colleague encouraged her to consider the University of South Dakota, mentioning its vacancy for an open assistantship within the Master of Music program.
Upon reading about and researching the the master’s in music program, its tuition assistance and its unique teaching experience, Paul decided to apply.
Three years later, Paul graduated from USD with a Master of Music in vocal performance in 2023.
“South Dakota honestly changed my life,” Paul said, “I knew it was the right school for me when I first spoke with Dr. Gesteland, professor of music-voice/opera. She was so helpful, and her teaching philosophy spoke to me.”
USD offers the only Master of Music in South Dakota. The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Students can specialize in music education, performance, music history, collaborative piano, conducting or the history of musical instruments. Paul chose to specialize in music performance.
“The music department at USD prepared me greatly for professional opera signing. My voice teacher, Dr. Gesteland, is a fantastic pedagogue. She put vocal health at the top of the priority list and emphasized the importance of singing that can promote career longevity,” said Paul.
The emphasis Tracelyn Gesteland, DMA, puts on vocal health and career longevity equipped Paul with the skills to maintain her voice throughout rehearsals and performances.
It also made the program easier for Paul, as it taught her to “iron out habits” and introduced her to role study – a practice essential in all repertoires.
“Role study teaches you how to dissect the piece, analyze characters and find any weird terminology to become familiar with,” she said.
“It educates you on the intricacies of being on stage, performing for a big crowd and learning how to sing with an orchestra,” Paul continued. “It’s learning to appreciate the music at a different, much deeper level so that you can perform it in a more genuine and meaningful way.”
Paul’s appreciation for productions grew at USD, where she performed with several other students in the university’s annual fully staged opera accompanied by an orchestra – an opportunity unique to the school.
In her final spring semester, she performed in a double bill of two operas by Puccini, “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,” part of his celebrated trilogy, “Il Trittico.”
For the princess role in “Suor Angelica,” Paul tapped into a dramatic and intense character.
“It was such a powerful experience,” she recalled, “As heavy as the content was, performing the role alongside my best friend made it one of my favorite USD memories.”
Now, a professional freelance opera singer, Paul draws upon her foundation in performance and behind-the-scenes work she gained at USD in preparation for each role. Her time as a singer also focuses on applying for opportunities like young artist programs and apprenticeships.
Opera apprenticeships pay singers to spend an entire year in an opera house, giving them professional experience.
Paul completed one of those apprenticeships in the summer of 2024 in St. Louis, Missouri, where she sang with the St. Louis Opera Theatre. A highly competitive apprenticeship, she notes there were only 28 chosen artists for the experience.
“It started from a big pool of 1,100, then they whittled it down to 300 and picked the top 10% of those applicants,” she said.
Paul also held an apprenticeship at the Sarasota Opera House in Sarasota, Florida.
Gesteland applauded Paul’s accomplishments.
“Lauren has already achieved more in the professional opera world than any other USD student in the 16 years that I’ve been a professor here,” said Gesteland. “Winning apprenticeships at major opera houses like the St. Louis Opera Theatre and Sarasota Opera, along with her wins and encouragement awards at the Laffont Competition (formerly known as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (MET) Competition), are impressive achievements, especially for a young artist fresh out of her degree program. In the opera world, young artists rarely land leading roles at major opera houses right after graduating like in other musical areas, such as Broadway. For Lauren to have gotten this far this soon is a tremendous achievement and testament to her talent and drive.”
As she continues her journey in the opera world, Paul is grateful for the experience and faculty at USD, and the resources and tools she was given to succeed in an intensely competitive field. She also credits South Dakota as a place that helped pivot her professional career.
Her way of giving back?
Performing for everyone in the world to see.
“I’m sharing my artistry and talents with the world, showing everyone that there’s talent in these small pockets in the Midwest. That we are just as capable of performing on a high caliber as people in bigger cities and schools,” she said.
For aspiring opera students, Paul says that daily hydration, hard work and practice are essential – but staying humble is a game changer.
“The arts are incredibly competitive, but staying grounded can take you far. As you nurture your passions, you’ll witness the growth of the seeds you’ve planted,” Paul said. “Remember, a vast world of performance awaits you, so keep putting in the hard work.”
Paul was recently named a USD 30 Under 30 recipient. Learn more about the Class of 2024 30 Under 30 recipients.
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