Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Feliciano.
Hi Sandy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, which, though located on Kentucky’s Fort Campbell campus, is just inside the Tennessee border. At three months old, my parents relocated to Miami, where my dad studied Nursing before leaving the Army to join the Navy. We moved to Chicago, then Puerto Rico, and finally settled in Jacksonville, Florida, where my father retired after 20 years of service.
As a child, I was fascinated by music. My favorite movie growing up was The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland was my inspiration. My first “public” performance was at six years old at my mom’s baby shower, where I sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to my baby sister. Since then, music became a large part of my identity. I played clarinet and flute in elementary school, sang the role of Maria in The Sound of Music in middle school, and competed with my chorus in high school. When it came time to decide on a college major, I was encouraged to pursue a STEM career, but I couldn’t imagine not having an artistic outlet during my four years. Ultimately, I decided to enroll at the University of South Florida with a double major in Chemistry and Voice Performance.
As I approached graduation, I came to an inflection point. I had long since decided to leave my chemistry program to dedicate myself fully to music, but I had no clue how to make a career. In the months leading up to me leaving school, I wondered how I could merge these two parts of me: the analytical, left-brained strategist with the creative, right-brained artist. I decided to pursue a career in arts administration, where I could create access for others to enjoy music and the performing arts. Eight years later, I feel I’ve found my purpose.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Singing is really vulnerable. When I was studying in college, I became frustrated with my voice and my lack of progress. I knew that having a performing career meant being top talent, and I was always comparing myself not only to my peers but also to the greatest singers in the history of classical music. Because your voice is part of your body, the criticism and feedback feel personal. It was really hard on me emotionally and mentally. Towards my junior and senior years, I developed anxiety over performing. The negative self-talk had bled into other areas of my life, and I found myself really depressed. I started going to therapy and talking to my friends and family about how I was struggling. It really helped me recognize my strengths and all that I had to offer. I eventually realized that using my voice didn’t have to mean performing on a stage. It could mean advocating for others off of it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the Associate Director of Development Operations for The Atlanta Opera. In this role, I develop data-driven fundraising strategies that help support the Opera’s mainstage productions, education programming, and community initiatives. This involves overseeing our event fundraising, data management, and department operations.
Outside of work, I volunteer with arts education, greenspace, and Latino advocacy non-profits. I’ve been an adjudicator for the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards for the past three seasons, which allows me to advocate for the theater programs that were so formative for me as a student. I served on the board of Hispanic Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs as Chair of Marketing and Communications for two years and am about to step into a new volunteer role as the Community Engagement Director for Sara J. Gonzalez Memorial Park.
I’m most proud that I’ve been able find opportunities to grow my leadership and help causes I care about.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Self-knowledge is the greatest gift! When you know what you’re good at and what matters most to you, you can find a career or pursuit that aligns with your purpose. I knew I loved music and I was a good singer, but I cared more about sharing art that moved people and gave them insight into their own lived experiences. Once I realized that I knew that there were other things I was good at that could still have that impact.
For any artist, creative, or professional: explore other media or other avenues that can still achieve your intended impact. You might discover a new talent or strength you didn’t know you had.
Image Credits
Don Hansen Visuals
