David Lomelí has moved across opera from every angle: tenor, Santa Fe Opera Chief Artistic Officer, Dallas Opera CEO, consultant to major houses, and mentor to many of today’s top singers.
Artist Playbook caught up with David to talk about patience, readiness, and the work it takes to become an artist.
“The artists I most admire don’t chase peaks. They build a relationship with their craft that compounds over time.”
What did performing teach you about leadership?
Performing taught me how to be in a room.
How to listen, how to risk,how to fail publicly and recover with grace.
When does a singer become ready?
Readiness rarely announces itself.
I look for the moment when a singer stops asking, How do I sound? and starts asking,What does the music need?
What separates talent from artistry?
The strongest artists stop trying to sound impressive and start trying to say something truthful.
Talent can open the door. Artistry is what remains when a voice starts serving something deeper.
How should singers think about ambition?
Opera is an art form where mastery genuinely takes decades.
A role that overwhelms you at 30 can become central at 50.
The goal is building something sustainable over time.
What do great artists have in common?
Commitment.
Great artists emerge from very different systems, cultures, and personalities.
What travels is the willingness to go further than the room expects.
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