Navigating Health Setbacks and Careers Challenges for Female Singers: An interview with Capucine Chiaudani

Dear Capucine, I really love the concept you’ve brought up. Addressing the unique challenges women face in the industry, particularly from a health and career management perspective, is such an important and often overlooked conversation. To begin, I would like to bring your story to the readers’ attention. Could you briefly share your experience and how you managed to reinvent yourself after this period?

I have always had a natural talent for singing since childhood. It was my way of communicating with the world, a way to express that I was here. Singing came naturally to me, so it was an easy decision to study music and pursue a career as an opera singer. 

However, it wasn’t an easy journey. My family didn’t have a musical background, so I had to work hard to fund my studies, relying solely on my own strength. After years of training, auditions, competitions, and traveling the world to find good teachers, I finally reached my goal: performing as a soloist in my beloved operatic soprano roles. 

Things were starting to fall into place—I was getting more contracts, recognition, and success—when everything changed in an instant. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in 24 hours, my life completely shifted. I had to act quickly and pause my career. 

The treatments were long and intense, and they devastated my voice. I lost my voice completely, like a 10-year-old child’s, as though all the years of hard work had been erased. It was a terrifying, painful experience, but I knew there was only one option: to fight and find solutions. 

   

I never considered giving up. My thoughts were always focused on recovery—how to heal quickly and regain my physical and vocal strength. I took it one step at a time, with endless patience, and kept telling myself that I would get my voice back. 

I saw this experience as a “time out” from the pressure of competition and constantly proving myself. It took the weight off my shoulders, and I embraced the chance to rest and focus on healing. As I rebuilt my voice, I gained a deeper understanding of my body and voice and the incredible things we can achieve with determination. 

Guided by skilled laryngologists and years of training, I gradually put the pieces of the puzzle back together. This experience taught me the power of the human will and made me a stronger person. Eventually, I was able to perform on stage again. 

However, the operatic world is competitive, and the industry doesn’t wait. New and younger singers had emerged, and I had to work hard to regain the trust of agents and artistic directors. It wasn’t an easy comeback. 

A few years later, I was diagnosed with a second breast cancer (not a recurrence, but a new one). At this point, I began to think about a Plan B: how could I use my skills and expertise in a new way? My Plan B was to reinvent myself as a Singing Teacher and Vocal Coach, sharing my experiences with singers who needed guidance. 

To my surprise, I became incredibly successful in this new role, with students from Japan, China, Australia, the USA, India, and Europe, and thousands of followers on social media. How did this happen? It all stemmed from what I had learned while rebuilding my own voice. 

I also realized the power of online coaching, especially during the pandemic, which became my most productive period. Instead of dwelling on the global crisis, I focused on solutions. I offered free online Masterclasses, shared vocal tips on my social media, and created diverse vocal technique courses in multiple languages. 

People started to notice, and important institutions and universities invited me to teach online and in person, even for university voice professors. I understood that to stand out, I needed to create my own niche—teaching Italian Belcanto worldwide in a way that everyone could understand, especially in English. 

An important academy in New York named me an ambassador for Belcanto, which resonated deeply with me and my mission. Lastly, I founded an online academy for singing ladies, Belcanto4her Practice Room, which has been running successfully. 

In this online space, we focus on vocal technique and I actively coach women on their beloved arias. In the end, I reinvented myself by focusing on solutions, not on the limitations. Creativity, imagination, and boldness were key. 

My motto became: never lose hope, and this is what I teach and preach to my students.

Your personal journey involved rebuilding your life and career after health issues. What did you learn about the vocal instrument during this time that you now pass on to your students/singers which your work with? 

My personal experience of losing my voice completely—my only capital—and rebuilding it from scratch has taught me how to help and guide other singers, especially those facing vocal crises. 

Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the voice as an instrument. In my younger years, I relied mostly on my talent and musical instinct, but I didn’t truly know how I was able to produce such beautiful and powerful sounds. 

The human voice is a hidden instrument; we can’t see or hold it in our hands like a violin. Because of this, many singers don’t have a clear understanding of how they create those magnificent sounds. 

After my illness, I had to analyze the phenomenon of voice production and truly understand how operatic sound is made. This led me to a new and deeper consciousness about the voice. 

Today, I can help, guide, and inspire others because I am now a conscious singer—and because I know what I know. I advise every singer not just to rely on talent, but to become a conscious singer. It can happen to anyone to lose control of their voice for various reasons: illness, grief, a divorce, or an unexpected trauma. Becoming a conscious singer is the key to discovering or rediscovering your true voice. 

Through my experience, I also learned that miracles can happen: our mind and soul have the power to make them happen. I truly believe that everyone can learn, and that anyone can overcome a vocal crisis by working hard and taking small steps. I always encourage my students to never lose hope, just as I never did.

How did your own experience change the way you view the connection between the body, mind, and voice? How do you help others to tap into that connection?  

From my own personal experience, I have learned that our voice is not just a physical phenomenon; it is also a reflection of our mind and soul. Many singers lose their voice not only because of poor vocal technique or physical issues, but because their soul is wounded or unwell. 

This became very clear to me. Therefore, a good singing teacher should not just focus on the vocal folds, but on the student as a whole. In other words, a good teacher should inspire students to grow as human beings, encouraging them to overcome their limits, much like a sports coach does. 

The voice is much more than just two vocal folds. If you listen attentively, it can reveal many things about the person in front of you.

Your story has a happy ending. How do you stay inspired and continue to make a positive impact on others? 

I am constantly inspired by the messages of gratitude I receive from singers who tell me that I gave them new hope and completely changed their lives. I never imagined I could have such a strong impact on others as a singing teacher, and that my Plan B would, in fact, become my true mission in life. 

We all have more than one talent, and I was fortunate enough to discover mine. Today, teaching, guiding, and inspiring is no longer my Plan B; it is my passion and my mission in life.

 

What message would you like to send to women who are facing vocal or health challenges of their own, especially those who may be struggling to continue their vocal journey?

1. Never lose hope. 

2. Always seek the best voice doctors. 

3. Always work with the best singing teachers or vocal coaches. 

4. Be patient, because recovery is possible in small steps. 

5. You are not just your voice; you are much more than that. 

6. You don’t have just one talent. Sometimes, an underestimated talent or Plan B can reveal itself as a new opportunity.

 

 

You’ve turned your experience into a thriving business helping others. Can you share how you’ve used your journey to create a space where women can feel supported and empowered in their development? 

I have created an online academy for singing ladies: my Belcanto4her Practice Room. 

We meet twice a month on Zoom, and members join from all corners of the world. Together, we learn and sing. In our meetings, I give lectures on vocal technique, answer questions, and coach the ladies in their beloved repertoire. 

It is open to all levels: beginners can learn from advanced singers, and advanced singers can refresh their knowledge. I am very proud of our Belcanto4her Practice Room because all the ladies are incredibly supportive; we feel like one big team. 

While I coach some ladies, I can always read in the Zoom chat how the others cheer them on: “Brava Jacquelin!” “Well done, Vasiliki!” “Great job, Soraja!” Ladies truly support each other wonderfully. 

I believe that, among all my initiatives, this one is the best. I am very proud of my beautiful ladies! Some of them have traveled from very far to meet me in Italy, and it is always a great joy to meet and hug them in person. 

My dream is to see my Belcanto4her Practice Room grow and flourish even more.

What advice would you give to other women who may have experienced health issues and are considering a career in vocal coaching, teaching or even cultural management? How can they use their own experiences to inspire others?

It is great to help, inspire, and guide others. To do so with conscience, it’s essential to be well-prepared and to approach it honestly, with heart and soul. 

People need to feel your competence and integrity. It’s about trust, and there are no half measures in this. Intellectual honesty, competence, and passion are the keys. 

I also advise not to view a Plan B as a failure: very often, it is simply a new road that opens before us, with unexpected possibilities. 

Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” This is also my wish for all men and women of goodwill.

What do you believe is the most common misconception singers have about their voice – and how do you help them move past it?

The most common misconception singers have about their voice is this: that they need to blow out air — and as a result, they blow out their voice. 

In reality, consistency of sound doesn’t come from pushing or forcing air out. It comes from resisting the air. How? Muscularly. So, do we need tons of air to produce a consistent sound? 

No. More air does not equal better sound. What makes the difference is control of the air — and that control starts with the vocal folds. 

Pushing air upward will only force the vocal folds apart, which leads to breathy sounds, breaks in the voice, or worse — rigidity in the vocal folds, which are struggling against a tsunami of air. Understanding this is a game-changer. 

Applying this makes singing feel much more organic, reliable, and simple. I was a “pusher” myself in the early years of my career. As a result, I was constantly vocally fatigued. Learning what to do, when, and why had a huge impact on mastering my voice and managing my breath. 

In fact, we need less air than we think. By resisting the air, the inhaled breath lasts much longer, allowing us to sustain longer musical phrases. So the first thing I always check in my singing lessons is this: Is the singer in front of me a “pusher,” or are they resisting the air?

This applies to any style — even pop or modern genres — because the voice is the same instrument in all of them. Proper vocal technique is about getting the most consistent, reliable, and repeatable results with the least amount of effort.

What would you suggest to a singer who wishes to start an operatic career?

An operatic career is not only about the voice. You need many other skills, such as physical fitness, focus, memory, mental and physical health, endurance, stamina, and even diplomatic skills. 

But one truly essential skill is mindset. An opera singer needs the mindset of an Olympic athlete. 

Without it, even a beautiful voice and all the related qualities won’t be enough to succeed and thrive in such a competitive field. 

So, any singer who dreams of becoming an opera singer must work on their mindset. Without the right mindset, there will be no discipline or mental resilience to overcome the inevitable disappointments that come with this career. 

And disappointments will come — it’s impossible to please everyone. It’s often not the best voices that make it, but the best minds.

One important thing I would say to young singers pursuing this path is: do not identify yourself solely with your voice or your singing career. You are so much more than just your voice. 

An operatic career may not bring the happiness or fulfillment you imagine. It involves far more obstacles, trials, sacrifices, and renunciations than happy moments. 

So, it’s always wise to: 1. Have a plan; 2. Understand that you are much more than your voice or your career; 3. Realize that every one of us has more than just one talent.

Thank you very much, dear Capucine! It was a pleasure!