Jones, a vocal performance major in the Jacobs School of Music, focuses her studies on opera.
She has been singing since she was in kindergarten, when her mom got her to join the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, Jones said. She said she didn’t get into opera until high school when she started taking private voice lessons, where she was introduced to the genre.
“One thing led to another, and then I bought an Italian arias book,” Jones said.
After participating in opera competitions, Jones’ parents realized she had a future in opera, and they agreed she should study vocal performance, Jones said.
Jones talked about all of the demands of being a vocal performance major.
“Time is always an issue,” Jones said. “There is not enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.”
She said she has to deal with difficulties of balancing everything from taking 20 credit hours to participating in the University Chorale.
Jones said the talent at IU is mind-blowing and considers it an honor to sing as part of a group. She has yet to be in an opera production at IU, but she said even singing the smallest part in a show is something to be appreciated.
Another difficulty she has is believing in herself throughout everything, Jones said. There is a lot of rejection and criticism in vocal performance, but she said she has learned to take it all as something that can help her grow as an artist.
“For my career at IU, my goal would be to just learn and grow as an artist,” Jones said.
Jones said performing is continuing a legacy that opera singers before her have kept alive. It makes her feel like part of another whole.
Daisy Schör, Jones’ best friend, said it takes a dramatic flair to be an opera singer, and Jones has that flair.
“We lovingly call her a ‘dramatic diva,’” Schör said.
Jones said her goal is to perform as much as she can and make the most of her time as an opera singer. She said she wants to be able to travel and perform, especially in France and Germany.
“The end goal is to sing a lead in a big venue in Europe or the metropolitan opera in New York, but that’s everyone’s dream,” Jones said.
So why pursue music?
“That’s hard, because I love everything about it,” Jones said.
She said all the great people she has met along the way and the lessons she’s learned are what make it worth it.
Schör said music is an inseparable part of her and Jones’ lives.
“Music is so much different from every other form of expression,” Jones said. “It takes on a life of its own and allows you to be yourself.”
