Personal insights

Learning and growing as a musician

Allyson Devenish explains the beginnings of her career and what traits make for a good musician.

The ability to flow and move with knocks – if you can do that, and accept that your career path will never be a straight as you might have imagined, you'll be stronger for it. Talking to Anna Patalong, Allyson shares her own career path, how she started doing opera, and how should try and do 'a little bit of everything'.

Who's in this video?

Allyson Devenish

Allyson is a native of Ottawa, Canada, and a musical director, recitalist and teacher. She is the creative and directive force behind the a cappella group NitroVoX and co-artistic director of the burgeoning Femmes Noires Féroces.

Anna Patalong

Anna is the chief executive of British Youth Opera. She took part in BYO multiple times as a young singer between 2007 and 2010 before going on to a successful career as an international soprano. She has previously described her experiences as a participant with BYO as being like ‘an apprenticeship to the opera world’.

Vocal health series

Six Vocal Health Top Tips

Vocal health series

When and how to get help with your vocal health

Vocal health series

High larynx and laryngeal massage

Vocal health (part 1)

Vocal health essentials