Meet Nanette McGuinness | Soprano and Artistic Executive Director of Ensemble for These Times (E4TT)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nanette McGuinness and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nanette, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

First, because I could only be happy and fully myself if I followed music’s siren call: I’ve often felt that people who become musicians do so because they can’t not. And I’ve been fortunate to be able do so—as not all have the opportunity—and to be able to use my own voice and my music to shine a light on unheard, forgotten, or unrecognized voices. Finally, because music, and particularly singing, is such a direct method of communication: it lets me speak directly from my spirit to the listeners’ hearts.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’m an opera/classical singer with a doctorate in music. During my career, I’ve performed over 25 roles on two continents and have sung in fourteen languages.  I’m also the Artistic Executive Director of Ensemble for These Times, which I co-founded with composer David Garner in 2007.  We’re celebrating our 15th anniversary season, which is amazing for a tiny contemporary chamber music group like ours! We’ve released four award-winning recordings along the way, too.

One of the things I’m especially proud of is that long before folks in music, particularly classical chamber music, were paying much attention to diversity and inclusion, we focused on women—poets, composers, and creative artists—and forgotten, underrepresented 20th and 21st century musical voices. So it’s an important part of our identity.

I’m also proud of our more recent initiatives, such as: pivoting quickly during the pandemic to live-stream our concerts at no charge to viewers (so they’re accessible to our fans in all walks of life and locations. This season, even though we’re back in the concert hall, we continue to live-stream our concerts for those who can’t attend or aren’t comfortable doing so.), and our new podcast series, “For Good Measure,” which consists of short, bite-sized interviews with BIPOC and women creative artists. We started it in June this year and already have 20 episodes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

First, if they don’t mind crowds, they should come in July for San Diego Comic-Con International at the Convention Center. It’s always fabulous but also a hard-to-get, hot ticket. So they need to sign up ahead of time to even have a chance to snag one. But even if they don’t get a ticket, they can watch all the cosplayers (or participate if that’s their thing).

For evenings, the San Diego Symphony has some wonderful programming, plus a new fabulous outdoor waterfront venue, the Rady Shell. Their Summer Pops series will please all comers. So that will be a must. Balboa Park for the museums and the world-class zoo. For walking: La Jolla Cove, Del Mar beaches, downtown along the waterfront, and Torrey Pines.

Where to eat and drink is challenging as there are so many amazing great restaurants and artisanal craft breweries and wine spots. Some of my favs are in South Park and Little Italy… There are too many to list!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I’m grateful to my longtime voice teacher, Jane Randolph, who has kept me in great vocal shape for over two decades; my co-founder, composer David Garner, whose notion it was 15 years ago that we form the group that became Ensemble for These Times; E4TT’s fiscal sponsor, InterMusic SF, without whose help we everything we’ve accomplished would have been considerably more difficult; all the musicians, composers, and other singers I’ve had the honor to work with and be helped and encouraged by; and last but definitely not least, my family, especially my husband, Dave, and son, Nick.

Website: https://E4TT.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e4tt/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanettemcguinness/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/E4TTimes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnsembleforTheseTimes

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ensembleforthesetimes

Other: E4TT’s podcast, “For Good Measure”: https://forgoodmeasure.buzzsprout.com/ My own website: https://nanette.biz My personal FB page: https://www.facebook.com/nanettemcguinness/

Image Credits
Photo credits are part of file name. Credited photographers are Colby Bond, Mister Wa, Attila Nemeth, Michael Halberstadt, and Edwin Schaap. Names of musicians in photos available if you need.