Joanne has a Bachelors in Music (Honours) from the Royal College of Music, London, as well as a Diploma in Opera from Flanders Operastudio. She has also attained the titles of Master of Music, as well as a Meisterklasse (equivalent to a doctorate in music), both from the Conservatory of Music, Leipzig.

She is now the face of the MDR Klassik Instagram page, revealing interesting facts about western classical music. She also sang a solo with the orchestra in the prestigious Gewandhaus in Leipzig on Christmas Day.

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What drove you to choose western classical music as a career?

It was not an active choice in the beginning. I completed a degree in microbiology at St. Xavier’s College before taking up classical music full-time. I was actually more serious about joining the Indian Army and hence was a very dedicated NCC Cadet. 

But I was fascinated by this world of complex musical notes, rhythms and the possibility of expressing oneself in a whole new language- in addition to singing in so many foreign languages, which I always found challenging but rather fun.

What advice would you give to budding musicians contemplating a career in the field?

Practice so hard that you can’t get it wrong. You have to internalize the music. It has to become your second nature and the muscles all over your body have to have memorized it completely. When you have that down, you can paint it with emotion using the colours in your sound.  Endless hours of intelligently planned practice is the key. Pablo Casals, a famous Spanish cellist was asked why he still practices 4-5 hours a day at the age of 80. He replied, “…because I think am making progress."

How has being part of MDR Rundfunkchor impacted you and your music?

The MDR Rundfunk Choir has a 100 year history and is the largest professional choir in Europe. We mainly do symphonic repertoire with many important orchestras in Europe, as well as a wide range of “A Capella” (unaccompanied) music, ranging from the renaissance period to contemporary compositions. The choir has also commissioned a lot of wonderful new works which we have premiered and recorded on CDs over the years.

I may have trained as a soloist but in the choir I have to have a whole other bag of tricks to be a good musician. Like listening very carefully to the general sound and adjusting my vocal production accordingly. Keeping an eye on the conductor, listening to the orchestra and following the score- all at the same time. Our output is huge. We do a whole new programme every week. So I can safely say that my sight-reading of music notes has improved significantly. It’s an ability you just have to possess in this job. Because we have just a handful of rehearsals to put on a world-class concert! So self-practice is also essential when it comes to the rhythmically tricky compositions.

What have been some of the biggest influences on your musical journey?

My biggest influences have been my singing teachers along the way. My very first singing teacher in Goa, Mrs. Juliana de Sa, who not only recognized a certain ability in this village girl but also steered me in the right direction the whole time, finding opportunities to expose my brain to world-class, quality music-making.

Through her, I met my next singing teacher, Patricia Rosario OBE, who then taught me at the Royal College of Music in London. She is a very successful classical singer of Indian origin based in the UK, and a huge inspiration to me.

I then met my German teacher, who is a legendary singer from former East Germany. I studied with her in Leipzig for 6 years and still see her from time to time. Also a hugely inspirational figure on my musical journey. Three strong and inspirational women!

Pursuing a career in the arts comes with its own challenges and joys. What has it been like for you?

In the arts, studying at prestigious schools is not necessarily a guarantee for a successful career. Musicians have to strive on a daily basis to be seen and heard. In addition to practicing for hours and being very proactive when it comes to looking for funding, agents and projects. It’s an extremely competitive field. 

The joys are the magical collaborations with other musicians and the impact one has on the audience. I have had the great honour of being featured alongside the biggest names in the classical music industry on important recording labels. I have performed in some of the most prestigious venues in Europe, from the Elbphilharmonie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonic Hall in Germany, to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, with conductors like Andris Nelsons, Andres Oroszco Estrada and Marek Janowski. I feel incredibly blessed and lucky to have had the support of so many wonderful people on this musical journey. And it continues!