Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Ritto.
Emma, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hi! I am an 18 year old classical singer and writer. Opera and literature have both been a large part of my life ever since I was a young girl. My mother and father both sang opera, and my mother got her degree in English Literature. I started out in musical theatre and occasionally listened to classical music. This continued all the way up until the end of middle school. However, as I went into high school, I found a real appreciation for classical singing and began exploring opera. My parents had already been taking me to see operas since I was small, but then was when I truly began exploring different operas and classical music on my own. I began taking voice lessons when I was a freshman. Before, in middle school, I didn’t believe I needed them. I soon realized though, that if I wanted to excel, I needed to put more effort into my voice. I auditioned for the vocal conservatory at my high school – Canyon Crest Academy – as a freshman as well.
After finding out that I got in, I began my time in the conservatory as a sophomore. This briefly introduced me to what my life might be like if I were to decide to pursue classical music. I enjoyed singing in different languages, and I enjoyed the different stories that are told through the music. During my sophomore year, I also began a large project that I worked on right up until I graduated. This project would later be entitled The Promise, an original two-act opera. I wrote the libretto, and in collaboration with composers Tiffany Cuaresma and Brynn Forrester composed the music, and lyricist Melina Rabin, completed this daunting project. I had always loved writing as well but never had considered writing librettos before. This experience introduced that world to me, and I am so glad it did. After many college auditions, I chose to attend Manhattan School of Music to get my Bachelors Degree in Classical Voice. I am there right now and am loving every moment of it. I plan on continuing to study to become an opera singer, as well as continue to write.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It began as a smooth path, but as I began to get closer to auditioning for colleges the path became much rougher. I began to realize how much time and money needed to be spent on this journey. From January of 2019 until around March I was on a plane flying to an audition practically every weekend. This not only took a toll on my physical health but also took a toll on my family life. With the pressures of graduation right around the corner and not being at home all the time, it became hard for everyone involved. My mother worked hard to help boost my acting skills and my father traveled with me everywhere. He was my accompanist too and had to go to work every week. So, it was not only hard for me. You also have to take incredible care of your body as a singer, so I had to make sure to not get sick during those four months. It was a very stressful time, but in the end, it was all worth it. Some advice I would give young women beginning this journey is don’t give up. It sounds cheesy, but there will be a lot of times you question if you are worth it, if it is all worth it. There are also a lot of women in this career, so it will be harder to shine and stand out. Don’t let that discourage you, work hard and study well. Music theory is important, so the sooner you begin learning it the more helpful it will be. Also, don’t be afraid to immerse yourself in the song you are singing. Sometimes it may feel silly, or overdone, but connecting with the piece of music you are singing makes it feel authentic to the audience. At the same time though, support your fellow women in this hard path to becoming a professional opera singer – don’t tear each other down, but instead, encourage each other to succeed!
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am most well known for performing and singing. I specialize in classical singing and on the side, creative writing. I am most proud of my studies so far. Recently, I feel as though I have been making lots of progress with my voice and have been growing my understanding of singing with proper vocal technique, which includes how to get an adequate breath before singing. This may not seem like it is complex, but learning to breath is the singer’s greatest challenge. I am also proud of how my achievements until now, which includes writing and directing The Promise and getting into music school. Also, getting into the Mikael Eliasen Voice Program at The Curtis Institute of Music, NYU Summer Vocal Intensive, and Idyllwild Arts Creative Writing Program. I’d say I am different from others in my field due to my passion for writing as well as singing. I really enjoy telling a story, whether that be on the stage through song, or on a paper through ink. I really enjoy creating new stories and analyzing already developed ones. This combined with my love of opera has brought me to also enjoy writing librettos, which is something not many singers do either. Everybody has their own hobbies that bring them joy. For me, that would be creative writing.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Yes, absolutely. If my parents hadn’t introduced me to opera from a young age, I might have not found my passion for it as soon as I did. It would have taken me much longer to find what I truly wanted to do in my life, which would have delayed building my career as an artist. I grew up in a family which loved music, my grandfather was a music producer, my father and mother both sang, my sister plays the violin, and I even started playing the trumpet. Music was always a very important part of my childhood and continues to be an important part of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: emmaritto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e.m.m.a.r.i.t.t.o/
Image Credit:
Marti Ritto, Emma Ritto, Anne Whattoff, Keane Studios
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