Think You Can’t Sing? Florida Grand Opera Wants to Prove You Wrong
There’s a particular kind of sting that comes from being told, often as a kid, that you can’t sing — that you’re tone-deaf, off-key, better off staying silent. Maria Todaro, CEO and General Director of Florida Grand Opera, has heard it all before, and she wants people carrying that wound to know something: it’s not true.
“If you can speak, you can sing,” Todaro says.
To back that up, FGO is launching a new Community Choir in Miami as part of the company’s 85th anniversary season — and it’s built specifically for people who’ve never thought of themselves as singers.
No Audition, No Experience, No Cost
The choir doesn’t ask much of newcomers. There’s no audition, no opera background required, no cap on how many people can join, and no fee. Registration is open now, to all ages, and the repertoire won’t be limited to opera — several musical genres will be part of the mix.
Todaro started her first choir at 18 back in her native France, and she’s seen firsthand what group singing can do beyond the music itself.
“It is a healer,” she says. “Singing together heals on a community level, on a social level, on an emotional level.”
For the Person Who Was Told They Couldn’t
Todaro is especially hoping to reach what she calls her “favorite person” — someone who was told as a child that they couldn’t sing and has carried that belief ever since.
“It’s devastating,” she says. “The voice is part of your personality. It’s part of your identity.” For people who’ve internalized that early criticism, she believes something in them needs repairing.
So what actually happens once someone shows up? According to Todaro: “A lot of fun. And a lot of self-discovery.”
How to Join
Sessions begin Thursday, September 24, in Miami. Anyone interested can email mtodaro@fgo.org to register or ask questions.
🎧 Want to hear more from Maria Todaro? This story was produced in partnership with WLRN Public Media — head to the original article to listen to the full audio version and interview: Read & Listen at the Miami Herald
