Meet Emily Heumann

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Heumann. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.

Emily, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
As a creative who gets to work entirely in the arts, I consider myself very fortunate. It’s not the easiest path I could have chosen, but I have always found that by following what calls me, my daily work feels fulfilling and is enjoyable. I have been in love with the arts for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been drawn to music, theatre, and visual art. To me, art is an essential part of life; it helps me to fully experience and understand the world around me. When I was younger, there’s no way that I ever could have imagined the career that I have today. There were several points in my life where my path led me to unexpected opportunities, and by saying “yes” to the things that seemed scary, I’ve been able to experience things that I never could have dreamed of. In some ways, I feel that I’m still finding my “purpose,” but it is so fulfilling to be able to do work that I truly love.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Emily Heumann and I am a creative professional working in the arts.

I am the new Executive & Artistic Director of The Howey Mansion Music Series (HMMS), a non-profit music series based in Florida. At HMMS, we present intimate, educational classical and jazz concerts in beautiful spaces. Through this format, we are breaking down the barriers of traditional concert formality and inspiring new audiences to love and appreciate great music. We hire world-class artists from around Florida and across the nation. Our mission is to “breathe new life into musical treasures.” Our classical concerts are presented in the European salon style, often including food and drink, creating an atmosphere that feels more like a friend’s living room than a concert hall. Our jazz concerts are primarily outdoor events, with tailgaters and elaborate picnic setups, dancing, and families. Visit howeymusicseries.org for more information.

Additionally, I am a professional mezzo-soprano, and I perform regularly around the country. I also serve as Adjunct Professor of Music at The College of Central Florida, where I teach Applied Voice (voice lessons) and vocal coach the college’s musicals. I also coordinate the college’s Community School of the Arts, where members of the community can take private lessons with college faculty. For more information about my singing career, please visit emilyheumann.com.

I currently live in Clermont, Florida with my husband, composer Eric Heumann (ericheumann.com) and our son, Lucas.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most important qualities or skills on my journey have been relational skills, work ethic, and keeping a positive mindset.

First, in my mind, the most important skill that anyone can have in the music industry is the ability to communicate with others and form relationships. Music is such a collaborative field, and it really demands openness and honest communication. So many opportunities that I have received in my career have come from the connections and friendships that I have made. As an opera singer, I work with people from around the world–oftentimes people who have very different backgrounds from me. It is so important to be able to communicate and work positively with others. Auditions can definitely get you initially hired by a company, but it’s the relationships that you form that get you hired back again and again.

Another vital skill to succeeding in the music industry is work ethic. A career as a performer requires many hours of solitary practice and study. It also requires discipline to take care of yourself–your mind and your body. As a music educator and administrator, there are many unusual hours required as a part of my job. In everything that I do, there is a lot of self-motivation and self-direction required. There is no boss organizing my daily tasks, so nearly everything that I do comes from my own planning and drive.

Finally, a positive mindset is essential in the music industry, where rejection is rampant and criticism is a part of the process. I’ve had to develop skills to protect myself and separate myself from my art so that the seemingly negative aspects of the industry don’t become soul crushing. I think it is so important that anyone pursuing this career is able to find joy and fulfillment through their art on their own, without the need for external validation. I think it’s also key to have a life outside of your art so that you can put your work into perspective and have other joys. My family grounds me and I am so thankful for their love and support. I find great joy in spending time with my husband, Eric, and our son, Lucas.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are always looking for new high-quality classical and jazz artists to feature at the Howey Mansion Music Series. Our past artists include Internationally acclaimed musicians, university professors, and recording artists. We hire jazz ensembles and small chamber groups who are highly skilled at connecting to audiences in intimate spaces and relating to audiences through education. If you think you’d be a good fit for us, materials from those interested can be submitted via email to [email protected].

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Courtney Ruckman, Opera Orlando, Stefanie Cohen, Ben Jimenez Media

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