Artist Statement
I am producing my own projects as an independent classical musician. Join my mailing list to keep up!
I’m Siena Forest, a lyric coloratura soprano based in the Twin Cities. I specialize in opera, art song, new works, immersive productions, and adapting on the fly thanks to a quick-wit and adventurous spirit.
Opera, when boiled down, is sung storytelling. I’ve always loved to escape into a good book. As a kid, I would make a blanket fort in my closet and spend hours reading Goosebumps and the Dear America series by flashlight. Books gave me an inside view as I was (and still am) fascinated by the inner workings of the mind, consciousness, awareness, our relationship to our thoughts, and understanding what motivates action.
Ruminating on the question of why people enjoy opera and classical singing, I believe that people want to bear witness to human greatness - to see the limits of the human body and spirit. Because of the ubiquitousness of high quality media, audiences are exceedingly sophisticated. I, too, am cursed with good taste and impossibly high standards, which drives my desire to be the best possible technical singer in order to deliver an honest, engaging performance. My dream is for you to forget that I’m singing because you are so drawn into the story and at the same time, are enthralled by the sound.
To me, the immediacy of live performance is a meditation. We all come together - audience, performers, musicians, crew, and staff - for one collective, fleeting experience that grounds us firmly in the present moment.
My love of music goes beyond singing and behind the scenes, producing, fundraising, and consulting. In the pandemic, I founded a non-profit called OOPS MN (Opera-Oriented Project Sponsorships in Minnesota), with a mission to support well-sung classical art in Minnesota by co-producing projects with local artists. Additionally, I currently serve on the board of Loft Recital and formerly on the board of Out of the Box Opera (2019-2021).
