Meet Jared Brooks

We recently connected with Jared Brooks and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jared, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My work ethic comes from two main influences: my upbringing and my experience wrestling in high school. Growing up, I watched my parents work tirelessly. My dad worked every third day at the fire department and picked up part-time jobs on his off days to provide for our family. From a young age, he taught me that if you commit to something, you give it everything you have and see it through to the end. When he coached my baseball team, he had a saying that I eventually engraved inside my high school class ring: “Play every play like it’s the last one you’ll ever get to play.” That phrase has stuck with me ever since. I try to approach everything in life through that lens and to treat every opportunity like it’s the most important, defining moment I’ll ever have.

Wrestling also played a huge role in shaping my mindset. It taught me countless lessons, but the biggest one was simple: never quit. My coaches always told us to keep fighting until time ran out. At the time, I thought it was just something coaches said to motivate us, but now I see how much deeper it really was. It meant that no matter what challenges you face, you have to keep pushing until the whistle blows. I don’t think I fully appreciated that lesson back then, but looking back, it’s one that continues to guide me in everything I do today.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m currently pursuing dual master’s degrees in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting at the UMKC Conservatory, where I study with Dr. Aidan Soder and Dr. Jennifer Sengin. I earned my Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2024 from Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia, where I studied with Dr. Cory Schantz and Dr. Martha Shaw. Reinhardt is also where I met my wife, Melody, and we got married in July 2024.

I originally came to UMKC to focus on Vocal Performance but quickly realized how much I missed conducting and teaching choir, which led me to add the Choral Conducting degree as well. After completing my studies, I plan to teach high school choir while continuing to perform with professional ensembles and in opera productions.

Even as a student, I remain an active performer in the Kansas City area. I currently serve as a choral intern at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas, and sing with the professional ensemble Te Deum. This past summer, I performed the role of Canio in Lawrence Opera Theatre’s production of Pagliacci, and I am now preparing to sing Don José in UMKC’s Spring 2026 production of Carmen. In addition, I will be conducting UMKC’s chamber opera The Old Maid and the Thief in May 2026.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think the three most important qualities that have shaped me so far are:

1. Failure is not fatal.
2. Celebrate what you know.
3. Find a non-music hobby.

The first two lessons come directly from my undergraduate choral director, Dr. Martha Shaw. You can’t be afraid of failure if you want to make it in this world. The earth won’t stop turning if you crack a note or sing the wrong lyric, but it is up to you to figure out how to fix it. Failure usually means you’re trying, learning, and growing closer to where you want to be. That leads directly to the second point: celebrate what you know.

Life is hard, especially in music. That’s why it’s so important to pause, reflect, and take pride in how far we’ve come. Music isn’t a straight path, it’s full of highs and lows, successes and setbacks. But if we can take a breath and appreciate our progress in each moment, we’ll find the strength to keep going.

The third point is one I believe every musician should take to heart: find a passion outside of music. Some of the most talented musicians I’ve known eventually burned out because they never allowed themselves space away from the constant hustle. Having other interests helps you stay balanced and grounded. For me, that means golfing, watching football and baseball, and playing video games. These things help me relax and reset, and when I come back to music, I do so with a clear, refreshed mindset.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

This is a question I’ve wrestled with for a long time, and still do, but I think it is a little bit of both. I believe it’s important to recognize your strengths and lean into them so you can build confidence and experience success early on. At the same time, it’s equally important to be aware of your weaknesses and actively work on them. Focusing only on what you’re already good at can limit your growth, while addressing your weaker areas helps you become more well-rounded and capable in the long run.

Maybe it’s because of my background in music, but I’ve always believed that learning and improvement should never stop. In music, there’s always something to refine, no matter how strong a singer or conductor you are, there’s always room to grow. One quote that has always stuck with me comes from Yankees Hall of Famer Derek Jeter: “There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do—and I believe that.” That mindset reminds me that while strengths give you a foundation, weaknesses give you direction. If you’re willing to acknowledge and work on the areas that challenge you, not only do you grow as a person, but you also strengthen the skills you already excel at.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jaredbrookstenor
• Youtube: Jared Brooks, tenor

Image Credits

Emily Henry
Brandon Parigo
Patrick Oliverio