After years of sidelining his voice, a classically trained tenor facing burnout, shame, and crippling performance anxiety did something quietly radical: He showed up to his first audition. Not to impress, but to reclaim. This is the story of the audition he didn’t cancel — and the slow, brave return to a life shaped by presence, not perfection.

A 35-year-old opera singer was at a crossroads. Having taken a break from her career due to intense stage anxiety and crushing perfectionism, she was questioning everything: Was opera still right for her? Should she shift to another path entirely? All she knew was that singing had once been her lifelong dream — but now, even that felt uncertain.

Learn how to choose between PACT and HARD goals to support your growth as a musician — whether you need steady action or bold emotional commitment.