For Sandra Wettergren, the choice fell on Ingesund School of Music when she decided to become a music teacher and later also a singer at a higher level. Much of this was due to the school’s faculty, which she believes is crucial when choosing an educational institution. After further vocal studies at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg and eventually three degrees under her belt, along with a busy schedule, she is ready to embark on a singing career this spring, with the whole world as her workplace.
Sandra Wettergren, 31 years old, sang in a children’s choir at an early age and started playing the cello at Tranemo School of Culture in her hometown of Limmared, a few miles outside Borås, when she was eight years old. First on the cello and then on vocals at age thirteen. When choosing a high school program, she decided that music was what she wanted to work with professionally.
“It was an emotional struggle between how much to focus on cello/viola and singing. Singing won when I realized during my time in the music teacher program that I wanted to sing myself, not just teach others. I wanted to test if I could become an opera singer and then seize the opportunity while the iron is hot.”
You have a teaching degree in singing and cello, have completed a bachelor’s degree in music with a major in classical singing at Ingesund School of Music, and are now studying in the opera programme at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg. A bouquet of knowledge! What do you think you will work with after obtaining another degree? Or will you continue studying?”
“I need a break from education after another degree, I will have studied for 12 years at the university level and want to “spread my wings.”. I hope to work as an opera singer, perhaps freelance, but as a day job, I currently have a temporary position with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra as a music librarian, and I also work as an extra chorister at the Gothenburg Opera. Maybe I will teach again part-time? Who knows? It is not impossible that I will seek out an opera studio or a “Young Artist Program” to better establish myself. I am currently in an internship at the Gothenburg Opera as a soloist, so it is difficult to think about what I will do next. I am in a “here and now” mindset.
How did you find the bachelor’s programme in music at Ingesund School of Music?
“The program started while I was in the music teacher programme, so I have followed it from the beginning. The program with a focus on singing had only been running for a year when I started, so I am the second person to graduate from it.”
Do you think the education met your expectations?
“I didn’t have much to compare with since the program was relatively new, at least in singing. For me, it turned out very well; I had a lot of influence as a student on what I wanted to get out of the education. I worked part-time as a teacher at Eda School of Culture simultaneously, so Ingesund was very accommodating with schedules and times, which in a way is far beyond expectations. I gained many valuable insights and much knowledge from those three years.”
To make music is to live
Is it important when applying for music education programmes to know who the teachers are at the institution?
“I would say it is crucial. A teacher who is not or has not been active in the industry you want to enter lacks perspective and invaluable experience. The singing industry, if it can be called that, is also constantly changing despite us singing according to a very old tradition, so it is important to keep up. It is difficult to find good singing teachers; they do not grow on trees. Ingesund has several competent singing teachers, which is a privilege. They have all given me something I really needed to learn and receive at different stages of my education.
What do you think of Arvika as a student city?
“Arvika is cozy and pleasant. For better or worse, there is a limited range of activities, which made me practice a lot. It is also easier to connect with your fellow students in a completely different way. It is a big difference compared to studying in, for example, Gothenburg.”
I see on your website that in addition to being a classically trained soprano, you also sing folk songs, pop, and musicals. One does not exclude the other?
“Absolutely not, it depends on the context. For me, the breadth of genres has been beneficial, but of course, it creates its challenges technically. Today, I would say that I professionally sing opera and classical music, and other genres in my spare time. I occasionally play in a genre-diverse trio because it is so much fun to make music. And I also teach completely genre-free.”
Being able to devote yourself to what you are passionate about during work hours is a privilege. What does it mean to you to work professionally with singing and music?
“At this point, I cannot imagine not working with music. I freelance as much as I can, I take private students as much as my schedule allows. I love singing; if for some reason I cannot work as a singer, I will still work with music. There are so many different ways to be close to music. One example is my work as a music librarian where I get to arrange, transpose, and much more - it is working with music and living in it. For me, time is invaluable, and to waste 8-9 hours a day on something that does not make me happy feels impossible. I feel that I must make music, otherwise, I become very unhappy.”
What is your dream workplace?
“Well, I don’t know - the world maybe?”
