Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Pastin.
Hi Danielle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My father was the leader of the US Navy Band for 30 years as a saxophone player and band leader, so we moved a lot growing up, but my parents were born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, so we always considered Pittsburgh to be “home.” I always knew that I wanted to be a singer, and as soon as I was able to start training classically, I did (you can’t start operatic training until you’re completely through puberty). My degree is from the University of MD, and then I went into the Young Artist world to complete my training. My last Young Artist Program, ironically, ended up being in Pittsburgh. After graduating that program, I stayed in Pittsburgh. Once you become a professional opera singer, you are hired as a private contractor by companies around the world for a particular role in a particular opera. After the performances have concluded, you are no longer under contract, and you either go home or move on to the next contract. You are only paid when you sing, so we spend the majority of our lives trying not to get sick!
Alright, 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?
You often times sacrifice a personal life, a family of your own, to do this. Since we are only paid when we perform, we try to book as many contracts as we can fit into a season. And since we cannot sing when we are sick, if someone does get sick there is a necessity to find a last-minute replacement. So, some contracts are last minute. I typically spend half of my year living on the road, and that can be hard (especially if you do have a family).
Also, since you are a private contractor, you are essentially running your own business; you are your own CEO. We do have agents that are negotiating contracts and “selling” us to companies, but we are steering our own ship.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an opera singer. More specifically, I am a lyric soprano which means I die in almost every opera I perform! I have a very Italian-sounding voice, so I am hired mostly for Italian opera, although I can sing in most other languages as well, including French, German, English, Czech, Russian.
I think that something that sets me apart is that I was raised in a family of musicians and have a lot of experience in other genres of music, including jazz and rock. This is something that most classical singers don’t get a lot of opportunity or exposure to. When you train classically, it is generally frowned upon to ‘confuse’ your technique by trying other genres. Since I was born and raised in those other genres though, it’s second nature to me.
Another thing that sets me apart is that I began investing in income properties in Pittsburgh in 2010 and have continued to invest in real estate since. I am a landlord, and I do a great deal of my own home improvement projects as the #DIY_Diva_PGH! I own more power tools than most men that I know at this point, and I know how to use every one of them!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me is being able to do what I love: to sing, to create music, and to share that with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.DaniellePastin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laforzadelpastino/ https://www.instagram.com/diy_diva_pgh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniellePastinSoprano
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdxO7HzBgTUc5vCpwnj6KGA
