Megan Gillespie, Social Media
Megan Gillespie
Social media
email: socialmedia@natslachapter.org
IG @NATS - Los Angeles Chapter
Founder Megan Gillespie’s Studio
YouTube @MeganGillespiesStudio
TikTok @MeganGillespiesStudio
Professor Megan Gillespie holds both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Her distinguished opera career has taken her to renowned venues worldwide, including the Royal Opera House of Oman, the Palacio de la Ópera de La Coruña in Spain, the Castleton Opera Festival, Central City Opera, Carnegie Hall, and international stages in Italy and Austria. Locally, she has also performed at the Beverly Hills Sundays at Two Recital Series, Opera Buffs, and LA Opera Chorus.
As a sought-after speaker, Professor Gillespie regularly delivers keynotes and workshops on topics such as Conflict Resolution for the Performers, Power Skills for Performers, and Acting for Singers. Her upcoming keynote, Power Skills for Performers, will be presented to the Music Department of Santa Monica College.
In a recent episode of the High Notes Podcast with Ted Zimnicki, Professor Gillespie discussed her experience as Stage Director for Orpheus in the Underworld and a musical theater revue at Santa Monica College, highlighting how her keynote skills play a pivotal role in her stage directing work.
Through Megan Gillespie’s Studio, she empowers students to realize their potential through an inclusive, positive, and humorous approach. She works with students ranging from beginners to established performers aiming to refine their skills. Her students have participated in recitals, concerts, competitions, and performances across various media, with recent successes in the Hal Leonard Competition, Spotlight Awards, and Classical Singer Magazine Competition.
Professor Gillespie incorporates techniques such as bel canto, Alexander, Meisner, and Breath Technique to help her students improve their rhythm, diction, pitch, breath support, acting, and repertoire selection, whether working with tracks or live accompaniment. Students have gone on to Universities such as Harvard, NYU TISH, USC, UCLA, Miami U, SMC and more.
Her operatic repertoire includes iconic roles such as Maddalena in Rigoletto, Petra in A Little Night Music, Emilia in Otello, Wowkle in La Fanciulla del West, Hyppolita in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Lyubasha in The Tsar's Bride, Barbara in One Penny Opera, Annina in La Traviata, the title role in Carmen, and Dorabella in Così Fan Tutte. She has also performed in oratorios such as Rossini's Stabat Mater, Bach's Christmas Oratorio, and Handel's Alexander's Feast. Annually, she performs multiple concerts of Handel's Messiah.
Professor Gillespie has been a Young Artist at prestigious programs, including Central City Opera in Colorado and The Castleton Festival in Virginia under the baton of Lorin Maazel.
She has directed over 50 youth musicals, often serving as music director. Recently, she co-directed Orpheus in the Underworld with Santa Monica College Opera Theater.
During the pandemic, Professor Gillespie continued to perform through session work and voiceovers from her home studio, contributing to commercials, podcasts, and operatic projects.
Her awards include recognition in the MET National Council Auditions (Regional), Fe Bland Vocal Competition, Beverly Hills Music at the Mansion, LACMA Sundays Live, Opera Florham, AMTL Recitals at Carnegie Hall, the Birgit Nilsson Scholarship, YoungArts Finalist, Palm Springs Opera Guild, and the Classical Singer Competition.
In addition to her private studio, Professor Gillespie is deeply passionate about supporting educational and scholarship programs for young artists through her work with organizations such as YoungArts and The Music Center.