A Bachelor of Music degree wasn’t in Karina Matys’s plans but while in FYP she found her voice in the King’s Choir and never looked back.
What drew you to King’s originally?
I originally was drawn to King’s for the Foundation Year Program. I was one of the students who chose King’s for the versatility and academic diversity. I have always been interested in too many things. It’s a curse at times.
What program are you graduating from, and what inspired you to pursue that program?
While I’m graduating with a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in voice performance, I never intended on studying music when I arrived at King’s. I was originally in contemporary studies and gender studies (a BA Combined Honours that I graduated with last year). My music pursuits began when I joined the King’s Chapel Choir in first year. I realized how out of my depth I was and desperately reached out to Dr. Betty Allison, who was the head of the voice department. After two years of pursuing voice as a minor, I realized how much I loved singing as a practice. I chose to pursue a BMus concurrently because it opens so many doors should I decide to pursue performance professionally.
Was there a course, professor, reading requirement or experience that has had a lasting impact on you?
There have been so many people during my time at King’s who have shaped the course of my degree. Dr. Mike Bennett was my thesis supervisor, and I will always be grateful for his support, scrutiny and honesty. Cindy Townsend at the Fountain School of Performing Arts has also fundamentally changed me as a person and musician. However, I have to give the most credit to Dr. Daniel Brandes as the reason I am graduating from King’s this year. Dr. Brandes was my tutor in FYP and my professor twice. He single-handedly convinced me to remain at King’s post-first year. I had applied to the University of Toronto and planned on moving back to Toronto. It was his support, conversation and his genuine interest in my ideas that made me feel like I had a place at King’s and still had important work to do in Halifax. I blame him for my still being here, six years later! Of course, I do kid. His mentorship has been very meaningful for me.
What’s your top study tip?
Studying and academics are important, but only you know where they land on your list of life priorities. The most important skill you can learn is how to parse through what classes and assignments demand your focus and dedicate your time accordingly! Not every assignment needs an all-nighter or hours of perfection. In the same vein, repetition is the best form of skill building. You are going to write a LOT of essays. Not every essay needs to be award-winning and not every thesis needs to be an original thought. The more you can get out of your own way and spend less time trying to come up with new ideas and instead spend more time digesting the ideas that are already out there, the more you AND your work will benefit from it.
What’s your favourite spot on campus?
To be honest, I don’t have a favourite spot on campus. Most of my time has been spent loitering and delighting in the delicacies of the nearby Turkish restaurant Chef In The Kitchen. If you’re looking for good, reasonably priced food close to campus, Chef In The Kitchen has you covered!
What’s one thing from your time at King’s that you’re especially proud of?
When I began at King’s, I had no prior vocal training. After singing in the choir for a year, I began singing lessons and had serious vocal issues. My performance anxiety was sky-high. My first Noon-Hour Recital performance resulted in my crying, throwing up in the bathroom and then running away. I was so embarrassed that my performance had not gone perfectly. So, throughout my performance degree, my mantra has always been: “If I don’t cry, throw up and run away, I will have done my job!” Since that first performance, I have sung leading roles in the DalOpera three times, presented three solo recitals, sung across the city in a professional capacity, and am now considering further performance training. One of the proudest moments I had was last month when I presented my graduating recital “Selves at Sea.” Not only did I not cry, throw up or run away, but I can say that I really did have fun! As someone who has had such difficulty with finding joy and pride despite the imperfections of live performance, having fun and being proud of what I presented was one of the biggest accomplishments of my degree.
Thinking back to who you were when you received your acceptance letter, what would you tell her?
It has been the same kind of bullish certainty you felt when applying to King’s—that gut instinct—that has carried you through these years. You don’t know what you’ll do, and you still won’t. But you have a vision, even if somewhat kaleidoscopically, of where you want to go, what you want to see and what you want to experience. Rather than agonizing over the unknowns and the knowledge you don’t have, know that the knowledge you have is enough. The direction is there. It pushes you regardless of whether you can see the forest through the trees.
As Encaenia approaches, do you have any insights you’d like to share for incoming students?
It might be corny, but undergrad is what you make of it. None of it is easy. Actually, some of it is terribly difficult. But you have an opportunity to have FUN. Study what interests you, don’t be afraid to pivot, take advantage of every opportunity you’re given and goodness gracious, do not use ChatGPT! As a teaching assistant I can assure you, we know. Your own words will always be more valuable. Be proud of the work you do.
Where do you hope your degree takes you next?
While it might have disappointed 18-year-old me, I still feel just as unsure about my future as I did when I graduated high school. It appears that this uncertainty is not a characteristic of undergrad but your 20s in general. What a disappointing revelation that turned out to be. However, I do have my sights set on Europe. I am creating audition packages to apply to artist diploma programs for opera performance, while at the same time looking at masters in public policy and global affairs in schools across Europe. I feel grateful King’s has given me the chance to pursue both my academic and artistic interests, so all doors are still open to me. Now the plan is to throw paint at the wall and see what sticks!
