Megan Ihnen is a highly accomplished mezzo-soprano, champion for composers, and an influential coach for musicians and composers. With a diverse range of experiences and a deep commitment to fostering artistic growth, Megan is focused on making a lasting impact on the classical and new music communities.
Megan’s passion for supporting emerging artists and promoting contemporary music is evident in her extensive work with various organizations. When Megan was the Communications Director of Nief-Norf, she played a pivotal role in communicating about and developing audiences for interdisciplinary music festivals, workshops, and performances that push the boundaries of musical expression. As the current Executive Director of the Live Music Project and through her past work with New Music USA, Megan has actively contributed to the development and accessibility of live performances, championing new works, and connecting audiences with contemporary composers. Megan is also a faculty member for the Peabody LAUNCHpad “Breakthrough Curriculum” which is an innovative program offered by the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University that focuses on career development and entrepreneurial skills for musicians.
In addition to her work with organizations, Megan has worked closely with numerous individual artists, guiding them through the intricacies of their musical journeys. Her expertise in vocal performance, the business of composition, and career development allows her to provide holistic coaching to musicians and composers. With a compassionate and collaborative approach, Megan creates an encouraging space for artists to explore their unique path and overcome obstacles that hinder their growth.
Megan’s contributions extend beyond traditional performance and coaching. She is an ardent researcher and advocate for creative placemaking, recognizing the transformative power of music in shaping communities. Her expertise in audience development and music entrepreneurship has enabled her to explore innovative ways of engaging with audiences and creating meaningful experiences. Through her research and practice, Megan has fostered an inclusive and vibrant musical ecosystem that connects artists, audiences, and communities.
Megan Ihnen’s impact as a coach, performer, and advocate has been widely recognized and celebrated. Her passion for music and commitment to supporting artists have earned her accolades and opportunities to collaborate with renowned composers and ensembles. With her multifaceted skill set and unwavering dedication, Megan continues to inspire and empower musicians and composers to achieve mastery in their artistic endeavors.
Megan’s work as a mezzo-soprano, composer advocate, and coach has positioned her as a vital figure in the classical and new music realms. Her work with organizations like Nief-Norf, Live Music Project, and New Music USA, as well as her collaborations with individual artists, demonstrate her commitment to fostering artistic growth and pushing the boundaries of musical expression. With a focus on creative placemaking, audience development, and music entrepreneurship, Megan is a catalyst for positive change within the music community, creating vibrant connections between artists, audiences, and communities.
Looking for coaching for individual musicians?
Looking for consulting for non-profits?
Are you looking to level up in your composition business?
If you’re feeling stuck and want to find focus, clarity and ultimately more freedom in your professionally creative life, you’re in the right place…
Are the commissions and royalties flowing for you?
If so, that’s fantastic! Drop me a line and we’ll toast over a delicious cocktail or coffee.
Not so much? Don’t fret! I work with creative entrepreneurs all the time who feel like:
– I have more and more unperformed scores piling up.
– I’m getting commissions, but I’m somehow still losing money on my creative work.
– I want to be seen as working composer.
– I’m full of ideas, but too busy to know where to even start.
– I want to move away from all the administrative work.
In the time that I worked with Megan, she was very quick to identify issues I’ve encountered in running a private piano studio and working as a freelance composer/conductor in LA. She provided helpful insight and invaluable resources. She has given me many new tools to work with and has helped pave the way for me and my business to grow.
Ryan R., Composer & Conductor, Los Angeles, CA
In 1:1 Coaching/Consulting, I work with individual composers and collectives to avoid burnout and feel like they have a road map for success.
That looks like…
- Developing your income streams through clear, manageable steps.
- Attracting ideal collaborators for commissions and performances.
- Establishing visibility in your field.
- Achieving clarity on long-term goals.
- Creating templates for building relationships with performers and presenters.
- Building a positive and profitable private teaching studio.
- Expanding your audience development efforts.
- Workshopping your vocal scores for insight on idiomatic writing.
It’s about finding solutions for your exact situation. It’s about having someone you trust who can help you think through all of the details. It’s about having someone who actively cheers you on toward achieving your big, audacious goals.
I studied under a dozen composers at colleges and universities, but before I met Megan, I had no idea how to navigate my career. Megan has great advice on networking, finding performers to play my music, finding listeners, finding patrons, and weathering the emotional turbulence an artist must often endure. After speaking with Megan, I feel a lot more confident.
Composer, Baltimore
Are you ready?
I support composers just like you.
You might be realizing that you didn’t learn how to do a lot of this stuff in school. That’s okay. It’s your time right now.
Do you need help:
- Establishing your offerings?
- Creating an online store for your scores?
- Crafting materials for a consortium project?
- Building systems into your infrastructure so you can spend more time working in your business and not on your business?
- Letting yourself dream big dreams again?
My 1:1 coaching/consulting support is designed to offer creative entrepreneurship support to anyone who:
- is a team of one, and needs help to get past a block.
- feels like they have a lot of ideas but needs help focusing on impact.
- wants access to support to keep growing and to reach new goals
- realizes you can’t do this stuff alone.
In all my years studying music, practical career guidance was rarely–if ever–offered as a part of my education. Like far too many musicians, as I transitioned from graduate work to professional work, I felt totally unprepared for what to expect and the strategies needed to succeed in the current music scene. Working with Megan was an absolute life-raft, not only for the concrete advice and information she shared, but for the strategies and perspective she offered. Each time we have worked together, Megan has listened carefully and asked crucial questions to truly understand my goals, really allowing me to critically evaluate what I want my career to look like. In a creative field where many of us feel uncomfortable strategizing or even talking about our career, working with Megan helped me make and take proactive steps towards my goals that have been essential. I can’t thank or recommend her enough.
Brandon J. Rolle, Composer & Conductor, Los Angeles
The Process
Before the meeting:
Sign up for a time via Calendly below. I recommend an hour for our first session. After that, I’m happy to do longer or shorter sessions at prorated fees.
Before we meet, I ask my clients to send me an email with their biggest concerns (or what task/project they want to focus on during our meeting.) This email can be as stream-of-consciousness as you want it to be. No need to spend a ton of time making it look pretty – I’ll use it to create an outline for myself.
I’ll share that outline with you via Google Docs before we meet but no need to do anything with it until we’re in the session together.
During:
Whether you prefer phone, video chat, or in-person (if possible), is fine by me. We’ll meet in the way that makes you feel the most comfortable. I’ll make sure to get your contact details beforehand.
If you want to talk financials, feel free to have any documentation on hand that is appropriate. But, there’s no need to prepare any materials for it unless I ask.
After the meeting:
I’ll send you an invoice via Wave apps. My fee for individual sessions in 2023 is $112/session. (Non-profit consulting is available on a project basis.)
You can pay via Wave or through PayPal/Venmo. Let me know if you prefer another method.
We set up another meeting if you want to. I want my clients to know they can see me as often or as little as fits their budget/consulting needs.
About two weeks after our meeting, I’ll email you to hear about what feels awesome and what still feels “stuck.” This feedback from you really helps me become a better coach/consultant.
Working with Megan has been a game changer for me. I used to feel self-conscious and reluctant to put myself out there. Taking risk scared me. Even sending an email with the hope of getting a commission took me weeks to write. However, I feel empowered and directed now. Megan helped me realize so much: the importance of building relationships and how to effectively do it, having systems in place in order to achieve your goals, understanding what you need to fulfill your life and using that as a starting point to build a career. She takes the time to understand what I’m thinking and how I’m feeling and provides practical advice that I can immediately act upon. My confidence has gone up, I’m taking action everyday, and I have clarity. A career in music seems entirely possible now, thanks to Megan.
Adam Kennaugh; composer, podcaster, music instructor