Among the important realizations I had in my own days in the practice room was that if any one route to any one phrase didn't work after days of trying, then the exact opposite route should at least be explored, as well as every alternative in between, as counterintuitive as that often seemed.

I have a certain image that's more classic, and I'm happy to stay out of the fray.

For years, I had no time for exploratory travel.

I'm reserved, so I've always needed to find a way of opening up. Jazz helped me do that.

I have a noble history of being rejected by a lot of places, only to discover that the one that finally lets me in is in fact the perfect fit.

I want to get out of the major opera houses.

In a sense, it's less about seeing how high up I can vault than about seeing how deeply I can explore my potential...Ambition for me is about the willingness to work, the ability to mine my own soul fearlessly.