One of the important distinctives about the MaJoVTA is that members don’t receive “just voice lessons.” Instead, members engage in a far more comprehensive training regimen that involves both Vocal Training and Mental Conditioning.

These concepts come from the world of Vocology – blending science with historically-grounded voice teaching – and training people not just as singers, but as Vocal Athletes.

Related to this is the assumption that all members perform – the training you receive has direct, practical application. Some members perform once each year at the Annual Recital – others perform professionally. What matters is, ultimately, the practical application of the training you receive – just as Olympic Athletes “perform” and demonstrate their abilities on the world stage.

In this week’s blog post, I want to take a riff from current culture and connect us to how elite world-class Olympic Athletes do what they do. It’s truly gratifying to see how much similarity there is between the world of elite athletics and elite singing.

Several recent interviews with American medal winners at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina reveal common theme: mental resilience, a passion for their sport, and defying age expectations. Athletes also emphasized controlling their own performance, balancing heartbreak with gratitude, and leveraging team support to overcome pressure.

Here are some key concepts:

• Defying Age & Mindset: Moguls silver medalist Jaelin Kauf (29) highlighted that age is just a number, focusing on passion rather than limitations.
• Mental Toughness & Perspective: Skier Mikaela Shiffrin and others spoke to the intersection of disappointment and gratitude, noting that elite success often requires embracing the risk of failure.
• Focus on Process: Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates focused on controlling their own performance and finding accomplishment in doing their best, regardless of the final score.
• Team & Joy: Figure skaters, including Ellie Cam and Danny O’Shea, emphasized the joy, team atmosphere, and emotional culmination of years of hard work.
• Pure Excitement: Slopestyle silver medalist Alex Hall expressed intense joy and appreciation for the moment.

These athletes frequently mentioned that their success was a culmination of long-term dedication, with many focusing on emotional, rather than just physical, preparation.

At the MaJoVTA the first full month of training in 2026 is behind us. As we move into the rest of 2026, my best encouragement is to Keep Going, and with that, to discover within yourself who you are at your very best.

Dig Deep … Soar High.

M