Where Are They Now?

Hayden Kiker

Please introduce yourself and tell us how long you were a student of Dan and Venita Burch.

I studied under Dan and Venita Burch from the age of 10 years old until I graduated high school when I was 18.

What, if any, school did you attend after high school graduation?

I am now close to completing my vocal performance degree at Tennessee Tech University.

Why did you choose that school?

I chose to study at this university for many reasons, but the primary is my private instructor. He has a similar voice type as my own and has been indispensable in the technical and artistic progression of my voice.

What have you done to prepare for your future career in addition to school?

To prepare for my future career I have been participating in summer festivals while I am not at school. For these festivals, I travel both nationally and internationally, where I’ll stay for a few weeks to sing operatic roles, take lessons, participate in masterclasses, and much more.

What are your future goals?

In the future, I plan to attend graduate school. After that, I hope to perform opera and oratorio, though I am open to whatever opportunities present themselves!

What advice would you give to young music students?

My advice for younger and beginner musicians is just to stay consistent in everything you do musically, from practice to performance - you must stay consistent. It sounds simple, but it can be very difficult when you’re a beginner. So often, younger musicians get lost trying to sound like the people they hear online. In doing so, they ruin their consistent, efficient technique. But, no one ever became famous for sounding like someone else.