hey, gang ✌︎
I’m Kerriann Otaño and a small pocket of the internet knows me as the Opera Hype Girl. Maybe you ended up here after seeing one of my TikToks or you follow me on Insta (thank you!) or maybe you just happen to be the type of person who searches for OPERA on the internet and I dig that.
i believe that opera is for everyone.
Opera, to me, is this incredible, larger than life experience. Watching dozens of people make art for you live is exciting and it’s an honor!
Attending the opera should be a joyful experience. I want you to know that you belong at the opera, and I’m here to help demystify this art form that I love with the help of the artists in my life.
Check out my DETV show CULTURESCOPE along with my Leadership Delaware brother Matt Ford where we learn about artists of all specialities (including some dope opera singers, painters, actors, and more) in my community!
tedX
Opera is so much more than Viking horns and Valhalla. The traditional way that we talk about opera leads to gatekeeping and has limited our ability to see all that opera can mean to a community. Without joyful advocacy, opera's reputation for elitism and exclusivity will continue to drive away curious audiences. In this TEDxOldHickory talk, I talk about audience and artist advocacy through the power of authenticity. The connection between grief and gratitude, vulnerability and belonging, has played an important role in my career shift from professional opera singer to Vice President of Engagement.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx