https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project daily 0.75 2024-06-01 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/y022ie9c9qnduzg3a3y0afah5q76w6 monthly 0.5 2024-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/42c9fcb9-b5ed-4c9c-89cc-010ea6b9d306/DSC01166.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity Back to the gowns. Once I became very public with my story I had several people say something to the effect of, “Wow, you don’t look sick!” This is a phrase that my fellow invisible illness friends hear all the time. In this context, people were referring to promo shots taken of me this past summer. Those shots were taken during a two-week intensive program that prepares singers for their upcoming audition season. I was in the midst of a flare-up during that entire program, including the shoot. Those photos are a perfect representation of what it’s like to be chronically ill. Externally I am functioning at a high level, frequently I’m even thriving. Nothing about those photos or my demeanor in them is fake. They just don’t show the whole picture. I am chronically in pain. I have multiple symptoms that are fighting against what you see on the outside. I’ve just learned how to distract myself so that the volume of the symptoms gets turned down low enough for me to be able to keep being me on some level, to keep up the presentation of a high-functioning opera singer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/959b45e6-dcfb-4f49-8a06-e7662c512c92/DSC00880+4.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/7aa748a5-c521-4e47-89ce-a86d8bd82c74/DSC00866.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/0dd0106e-1dd8-4e12-9769-545afd1d227f/DSC00764+1.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/e6635a8a-296b-45ef-888a-39ae3e3ca28a/DSC00773+2.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1716571108873-OY8J564WYYK9MGVYY4DJ/DSC01134.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/bcca29a0-6f42-4da3-aa05-bbf319821442/DSC01208.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - I knew no matter what vision I decided to go with that I would be wearing something dramatic. I wanted these photos to represent the duality of my life as a singer and person with chronic illness. I’m a diva stuck in a sick person’s body. My favorite rep is Romantic French opera and Verdi, works that might otherwise be called “Grand Opera”. If I’m 80-100% healthy, that’s what my voice does best. But, if I’m sick it doesn’t always fit. It’s analogous to an athlete that has to switch sports. Someone who usually plays football has to compensate and periodically play baseball. To have all the instincts of a dramatic singer and not be able to consistently apply them to my singing because my body limits me is infuriating. I have had to change repertoire completely to accommodate my body based on my health needs at the time. I have had to make artistic choices that I disagree with just to get through a song. I have had to perform and compete and record knowing that I’m not accurately representing myself as an artist because my body isn’t allowing me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/8b53e2fb-ec34-4a42-b97a-dc147898e602/DSC00965+3.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/45c35e74-5c53-4ebd-bc9a-3ec359c9fdc1/DSC00414.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/074154b1-440e-458f-8682-2e1659f376e0/5.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/4e2fffbc-1431-4128-8e54-3bf2697e3679/8.jpg The Project - Timeline of Tenacity - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/another-little-thing-to-worry-about monthly 0.5 2024-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/db7aed88-fd6b-4034-a29f-83d269d0c0c0/Your+paragraph+text+%281%29.png The Project - Another little thing to worry about - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/what-do-you-do monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1694636287146-U59TQXCGVSBIWW863SC8/Screenshot+2023-08-16+214906.png The Project - What do you do? - Make it stand out Photo by Marc Watley https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/futuristic-dream monthly 0.5 2024-05-26 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/voices monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/7bcd9df5-e3d3-4a4c-9d42-af5acc0a4bfe/IMG_1801.jpg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/afb5d874-71c5-4a9d-8fd4-5ac541a467b7/IMG_1795.jpg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/22b13da8-2510-4c26-92d6-e026c91bb367/IMG_1800.jpeg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/d034e696-baec-4e10-80c1-d30114a9e328/IMG_1802.jpeg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/58ccbb99-b27e-46fb-8dc9-7b148d8d0873/IMG_1807.jpg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/38362478-8bdc-4fb1-af13-7dd8c79dc5a4/IMG_1794.jpeg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/786f312c-9700-444c-8f08-28cb30307be2/IMG_1819.jpeg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/3973954f-826a-4781-98b5-6b687f955623/IMG_1771.jpg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/76912271-2bb5-4f95-ae3f-efeb203bbd8a/IMG_1774.jpeg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/af8456cf-c235-41f6-924e-98def4236759/IMG_1787.jpg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/fc179369-998f-4a0d-8faa-1fb62057490b/IMG_1825.jpeg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/5ac574c5-5bab-4a34-abef-cc0e9f836594/IMG_1816.jpeg The Project - Voices - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/exactly-the-body-i-need monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/de4bd9rjp87yknh9lng0exom7kkzv1 monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/adce6c2d-9b07-4cde-bd09-fca405707762/ZwischenfachCropforWeb.png The Project - Zwischenfach - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/things-i-shouldnt-tell-you monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/grey-area monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/our-sampson monthly 0.5 2024-05-26 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/wearing-hat monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/lockjaw monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/gwenna-fairchild-taylor monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1609821076338-QJ0KOSS2FWV2SP28HEQS/PaintingOfGwennaWithUnwelcomeCommentsandEmpoweringThoughts The Project - My Body Is Not Your Concern https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/alexis-seminario monthly 0.5 2021-01-05 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/paulina-swierczek monthly 0.5 2021-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1609820007249-4G7M0BBLHXDB9IREWQTK/PaulinaWearingGreenPeriodGownandHugeSmile The Project - What my Voice has Worn What you don't see in this picture is that I'm wearing my first push-up bra. Trying it on in the store was a nightmare - I had never had to look at myself in the mirror that way before, and I didn't like it. From that point, there weren't that many options in stores that fit me, so I didn't think I deserved cute things. That applied to my audition/performance looks, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1609814278139-00X4SM8PFI9H924P7MMS/PaulinainaPurpleWrapDress The Project - What my Voice has Worn I couldn't find a picture of me in an actual wrap dress, probably because I deleted all of them. I really didn't like pictures of my body for a very long time so there aren't that many of them from my early 20s. This purple dress was my version of the wrap dress, with a wider skirt to better "flatter" my shape. Everyone really liked it. I didn't feel like me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1609814492928-XU4510ZHVW3P38RBPU0C/PaulinaTalkingASelfieIntheMirrorInHerFauxLeatherPants The Project - What my Voice has Worn I couldn't find a full-body image of this look, but I did manage to grab this photo I snapped in the bathroom right after. Bliss. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1609814389247-BXR5ED2GRJULTMTG3Y6Q/PaulinaInHerChoirUniformWithAFringePurse The Project - What my Voice has Worn Taken on a choir trip to Austria in 2008. I remember hating almost every single photo of myself taken on this trip because I thought I looked so fat, which is ironic looking back as I was definitely objectively at my thinnest point. I vividly remember being taunted about my weight even in high school, and being criticized for it by my family, and definitely looked at myself and thought I was fat and unattractive. https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/jardena-gertler-jaffe monthly 0.5 2021-01-05 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/leo-balkovetz monthly 0.5 2021-01-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1609736975001-EM7ED0THMFDJY8APUFTR/Cartoon-LeoTalksAboutConnectingToBodyWhenItFeelsBad The Project - This Vocal Odyssey https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1609737040687-D2B9D775N4UR0XR6QN46/Cartoon-LeoGetsUnsupportiveAdviceAboutTalkingHRTandSinging The Project - This Vocal Odyssey https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/1609737095443-GWZKVMMK4S07HV27XZ74/Cartoon-LeoTalksAboutConclusionsfromUndergoingHRTandDecidesSingingIsFun%21 The Project - This Vocal Odyssey https://www.oursingingbodies.com/the-project/michael-nyby monthly 0.5 2023-02-22 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/submit daily 0.75 2023-05-17 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/newsletter daily 0.75 2024-09-02 https://www.oursingingbodies.com/home daily 1.0 2025-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/12839710-6be0-45b9-8941-adcb0223e659/Favicon+OSB.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/4bca740e-c8bf-4a72-bed6-1ecc6e88ad71/OperaInReachLogo-BLACK.png https://www.oursingingbodies.com/osb-x-oir daily 0.75 2023-09-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fef75650400f40890052f10/4bca740e-c8bf-4a72-bed6-1ecc6e88ad71/OperaInReachLogo-BLACK.png https://www.oursingingbodies.com/contact daily 0.75 2024-05-28