An Interview with Sasha Cooke: Wellness and Movement
Our team was so excited to ask two-time Grammy Winning Mezzo-Soprano Sasha Cooke some questions on her approach to wellness and movement for singers. Check out some highlights and watch the full interview below!
On the importance of wellness for singers:
“We are the only flesh instrument.”
Sasha talks about how, for singers, every choice that you make in a day can affect your instrument and your ability to perform. Simple things like when you sleep and what you eat can have a major impact on both your health and your instrument.
“We have to take care of ourselves. No one else is going to do that.”
To enjoy a long career, we have to take care of our bodies, our minds, our relationships with others, and our voices! Like Sasha mentioned above, our bodies are our instruments, and we have to strive to take care in every part of our lives if we want to keep everything working well and running smoothly.
© Cory Weaver
On staying active on the road:
“I always bring my tennis shoes on the road. I always check to see if my hotel has a gym.”
It’s so easy for exercise to fall to the back-burner during a busy season, especially if you’re on tour or performing in a new city. Sasha makes some wonderful points about planning ahead to ensure that you’re keeping up your physical health while traveling.
On how to start your journey towards living well:
“Start small. Anything is good - just taking a walk!”
Building an active lifestyle is a big undertaking, so starting small keeps you from getting overwhelmed! On a different note, though, Sasha makes a wonderful point about how important it is to get out of the practice room. As artists, it is so important for us to see the world around us, both for our artistry and our mental well-being!
Sasha Cooke in ENO’s Marnie, 2017. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith.
On the importance of rest:
“When we fill ourselves up, then we’re there to give ourselves to the audience. If we’re empty, there’s not a lot there to give”
Sasha speaks on the importance of truly resting between performances, and how working constantly while running on fumes prevents performances from being the best they could be. Performing with a well-rested, well-maintained, healthy body makes for a much more fulfilling experience on stage.
On maintaining a busy traveling schedule:
“Figure out what your needs are, and then [have] the bravery to state them.”
When discussing how she manages her schedule, Sasha places a great deal of emphasis on communication. By checking in with yourself regularly and expressing to those around you (be it cast members, partners, or friends) what you need from them, you are setting yourself up to maintain relationships through any number of busy periods.
© Stephanie Girard
Two-time Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke has been called a “luminous standout” (New York Times) and “equal parts poise, radiance and elegant directness” (Opera News). Ms. Cooke is sought after by the world’s leading orchestras, opera companies, and chamber music ensembles for her versatile repertoire and commitment to new music.
This season marks the release of Ms. Cooke’s new CD, entitled how do I find you, on the Pentatone label. The recording, which features songs by Caroline Shaw, Nico Muhly, Missy Mazzoli and Jimmy Lopez, among others, is intended as a tribute to both the struggles and hopes of artists that have been wrought by the pandemic. All 17 songs were written in 2020. Ms. Cooke performs the world premiere on January 30, 2022, as part of the San Francisco Symphony’s Great Performers Series, before giving subsequent recitals at the Shriver Hall Concert Series and elsewhere, with pianist Kirill Kuzmin.
