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About
My Story
From Silence to Voice: A Journey of Transformation
My path from international opera stages to Fortune 100 boardrooms began in the most unlikely place: complete silence.
In 2018, at the height of my career as a performing artist, researcher, and educator, my voice simply gave out. A traumatic vocal injury forced me into two months of absolute silence—no speaking, no singing, no sound at all. For someone whose life revolved around voice and expression, it felt like losing my identity entirely.
But transformation often comes through our greatest challenges. The breakthrough came through painstaking rehabilitation—speech therapy, slow deliberate practice, and a complete reeducation of my body as instrument. I had to rediscover my voice through play, joy, and laughter, learning that healing happens not just in the mind, but through the entire embodied system. This process of rebuilding from the neurological level up revealed a profound truth that would reshape my entire approach to human potential.
That silent period taught me something I'd never learned in all my years of training at Eastman, Indiana University, or during my doctoral work at the University of Miami: breakthrough solutions emerge when we engage our whole selves—cognitive, somatic, and creative intelligences working together. The same principles that helped me reclaim my voice were exactly what teams and organizations needed to solve their most complex challenges.
From Opera Houses to Boardrooms
My artistic journey had taken me to international stages, from masterclasses in Salzburg and Rome to performances across Europe and America. I'd built a career bridging performance and pedagogy, eventually becoming Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute and designing the Kennedy Center's Washington National Opera Institute. My scholarly work appeared in publications like The Laryngoscope and Oxford University Press, while my recordings featured everything from world premieres to art songs by Black composers.
But my vocal injury recovery opened an entirely new world. I discovered that the embodied intelligence I'd developed as a performer—the ability to command presence, communicate authentically under pressure, and create profound connection with audiences—translated directly to executive leadership and organizational transformation.
The Science Behind the Art
This realization led me deep into neuroscience and applied neurology. I became certified as a Neurosomatic Intelligence Educator and LEGO® Serious Play facilitator, discovering that the hand-brain connection could unlock insights that traditional approaches couldn't reach. I learned that when we make abstract concepts tangible—whether through physical building, vocal expression, or embodied practice—we activate neural pathways that create lasting change.
My work evolved to bridge these worlds completely. At Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, I now teach Executive Presence and Organizational Improv alongside my performance work. Through DuPont Consulting, I help leaders and teams embody breakthrough thinking, whether they're navigating strategic challenges, building authentic communication skills, or transforming organizational culture.
Recognition and Impact
The University of Miami honored me with their 2025 Centennial Medal from the Frost School of Music, recognizing this unique integration of artistry and practical application. My clients have ranged from singers preparing for Metropolitan Opera contracts to Fortune 100 executives developing authentic leadership presence. Each engagement reinforces the same truth: when we work with the whole person—mind, body, and voice—transformation becomes not just possible, but inevitable.
The Work Continues
Today, my work spans from intimate coaching sessions to large-scale organizational workshops, from opera stages to corporate retreats. I've learned that whether you're preparing for Carnegie Hall or the C-suite, the fundamentals remain the same: authentic presence, embodied communication, and the courage to fully inhabit your voice.
That period of forced silence taught me that our greatest limitations often become our greatest teachers. By learning to work with our entire nervous system—not just our thinking minds—we unlock potential we never knew existed. This is the foundation of everything I do: helping individuals and organizations discover what becomes possible when they truly find their voice.
Carl holds a DMA from the University of Miami, MM from Indiana University, and BM from the Eastman School of Music. He is a certified Neurosomatic Intelligence Educator and LEGO® Serious Play facilitator.
Let’s Work Together
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