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Richmond-based opera singer and music teacher Margaret Woods opens up about defining success in a music career after giving birth to her son.
Betsy Podsiadlo | 10/31/23
Margaret Woods is an opera singer and teaching artist based in Richmond, Virginia. This month Art Grove Newsletter spoke with Margaret about defining success and how her artistic life changed after the birth of her child nearly a year ago.
Starting a family has been in Margaret’s heart for as long as she can remember. After completing a Master of Music in Voice from Westminster Choir College, Margaret shared that she delayed starting a family to give herself the opportunity to put the degree into practice. She began to pursue her career in opera seriously, devoting herself to practicing, auditioning, performing, and teaching.
It’s no secret that in the age of social media, we are inundated with facades of success online, challenging our own perspectives of success within the industry.
“Being busy doesn’t mean being successful,” Margaret said. The digital content surrounding working in opera prioritizes competition success and singing in a specific region or opera house over achieving non-musical, personal goals.
For Margaret, singing is joy. After the birth of her son, she began to notice the way her life had to slow down to make room for this new member of her family, and for Margaret, this felt like a welcome change.
“It’s such an honor to see him grow up and change,” Margaret said. “It slows life down, which is beautiful because I feel like as musicians we are always chasing that next gig and saying yes to everything, but when you have a child, you can’t do that.”
Margaret has found peace in redefining her own success. She began to think of herself as more than just a singer by asking herself and her students “Who are you as a person devoid of singing?” It challenges them to develop their whole self, not just the part of them that sings opera. In doing so, Margaret has redefined what success means in her life, reclaiming her own career and with it, allowing for her priorities as a whole person to take center stage.
As we continued the discussion about motherhood and continuing to teach and perform, Margaret shared that she and her husband do not have family in the area, but have been able to receive support from good friends and her students, particularly when it comes to child care.
“When people offer to help you, say yes!” she said. Margaret's husband provides invaluable financial support, and together they form a strong, collaborative team that enables them to both pursue their careers and nurture their family.
Margaret has also come to know that she feels most connective and most helpful when she’s performing in church and for weddings and funerals. She notes that in the opera community, sometimes church jobs are overlooked as valuable performance experience but that this is the most direct way to experience the impact of your craft. Singing at the ceremony dedicated to celebrating the life of someone who passed feels especially significant to her, especially when she is able to help bring peace to those left behind.
“The average person deserves an excellent musician,” Margaret said.
Margaret continues to find projects that allow her whole self, choosing to sing joyfully, on her own terms.
To stay up to date with Margaret Woods’ singing engagements, please visit her website.
