photo: Kingmond Young

Talise's ultimate goal in her formative years was to move to New York to become a professional dancer, but her dream was taken away before it could be realized. Preceding her completion of high school, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament or ACL. There were no experts to help rehabilitate her, so the knee went unrepaired. "I had no idea what to do my senior year," she recalls.

Attending La Fastas High School, she sang in the chorus simply to fulfill her elective requirements. The school had an orchestra and a teacher who sought out Talise's voice. "The choral director called my mother down to the school without asking me to ask HER if I could sing this solo." Talise thought very little of the request. At the time, she was class president, homecoming queen and the captain of the cheerleading squad. But while rehearsing with her director, her mother appeared at the door. "She didn't know it was me singing."

After dropping out of cheerleading, Talise took a few voice lessons and decided to apply to college at Juilliard and Manhattan Schools of Music based on the advice of her then teacher, Page Swift. "My mom only allowed me to audition for Cincinnati... but nothing further East!" The secret New York City audition took place in the Bay Area. Talise was offered a scholarship to Juilliard, an offer that even her mother could not refuse.

Intimidated by her move to New York at the age of 17, Talise recalls that she had to learn "from rock bottom." She studied with Adel Addison for both her undergraduate and graduate years, a teacher who emphasized "the importance of writing your own story." At Manhattan, Talise studied with legendary teachers George Shirley and Hilda Harris. Of the school, she says, "the environment was supportive and open. I felt nurtured. They created artists, but didn't stress perfection. It was a great place to grow up as a musician. Singers didn't just hang out with singers, but with instrumentalists as well. I think it's important for singers to not only think about singing, but to surround themselves with others." Given her upbringing, Talise naturally gravitated toward jazz musicians.

The workload was often stressful for Talise. "I had to be taught how to practice and had to learn to play the piano... I couldn't even tell the keys on a piano when I moved to New York!" Given the musical levels of many of her peers, Talise felt discouraged at times. However, her parents were very supportive. "Supportive but mortified," she added. "I come from a long line of Berkeley and Stanford grads, who couldn't understand why I wasn't like them." But her mother argued in her favor. Talise added that she welcomed questions but her "extended family just didn’t get it." She concedes that her ongoing conversations, although sometimes tedious, are all part of educating her family on classical music and the life of a professional musician.

"My mind is never fully turned off from work," she said. "You're constantly thinking. If you turn that phone off, you could miss that important job. So many people see the glamour and the polish, but it doesn't give you an insight on what it takes to maintain that. You must be a package."

When asked how to increase audience and performer participation in the classical arts amongst people of color, Talise stated, “Make it accessible and help them to understand. [In opera,] even though stories are hundreds of years old, they're relevant… It’s all about the human condition.” And did this work with her own extended family who didn’t get it? “A few family members are season ticket holders!”

So where does Talise believe that opera is going and is she ready? “I'm just waiting for nude scenes. I hope no one asks me to do that!” Then she conceded, “As long as it’s down with taste and class. I welcome a challenge any time.”

“We're entering into a new phase in opera… getting back to more theatre where you must look the part. They want beautiful young singers… you have to be in physical shape. I run upstairs, 33 foot stairs and sing an aria. But that's what makes it exciting! Sometimes, I have to sing on my back.”

Talise believes that the goal a true artist is to “transport the listeners. You spend $150 at The Met, you want to be transported! I love to sing but I'm focused on the theatrical side of singing. The minute the downbeat happens, I am that person. That's my job and my responsibility to my audience. Young audiences don't just respond to man and woman on stage.”

Her advice for singers? “Put yourself out there. When you first starting out, sing for everyone. Don’t think about anxiety or sickness. Just [see singing as] an opportunity to do what you do best. Sing for everyone. Sing as much as possible. Then, overtime, try to find your unique voice. Auditioners want to hire you. Go in with that mindset and never sing anything you couldn't sing in your sleep.”

Talise is a United Kingdom resident as well as a US citizen. Her goal is to continue to perform throughout Europe and in the United States. In her spare time, Talise loves to be at home with her son.