March 14, 2018 29:11 When Millicent Scarlett Smith was in grade school in Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada, her music teacher urged her mother to allow her to begin studying voice. This was a shocking recommendation since no one in her family knew she could sing. From that unlikely start Millicent went on to be crowned winner of the Metropolitan Opera Mid-Atlantic region competition, a National finalist in the same competition, and winner of the Luciano Pavoratti Voice competition. For a number of years, she's maintained a busy performing and teaching career working as Adjunct professor at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Millicent shares the importance of listening much and talking little. It's a strategy she has used over the years to learn quickly while avoiding pitfalls. She also speaks candidly about how small, seemingly insignificant behaviors can get the best and brightest singers placed on the "don't hire" list. She explains why having a beautiful voice simply isn't enough to sustain a career.
