Name: Jocelyn (Aschnel) Hansen
Major at ISU: Voice Performance
Graduation Year: 2012
Hometown: Fort Dodge, IA
Current Residence: Denton, TX
What were you involved in during your time at ISU:
I was involved in the Iowa State Singers, Stars Over Veishea, 10-Minute and One Act play festivals, and Opera Studio. I was also auditioning outside of school and made my musical theatre professional debut in a production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at StageWest Theatre in 2009. My operatic professional debut happened at the end of 2011 at Cedar Rapids Opera. I also began my teaching career at Ames Music Studios. I also met my husband at ISU, who would be one of the biggest supporters and cheerleaders in my career.
What do you currently do for a living:
I balance performing and teaching as well as I can! I serve as the Voice Coordinator for the BFA Musical Theatre program at the University of Texas at Arlington. I also have an increasingly active performing schedule, much of which is in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. I perform regularly with The Dallas Opera as a local artist, and I also work with professional theatres in the area.
Can you share a particularly interesting or inspiring story that occurred in your career?
This year I had the pleasure of getting to debut two original works across either side of the musical aisle, so to speak. In July I was in the world premiere of the new musical "Goin Hollywood" at Watertower Theatre. The rehearsal process was one of the most enjoyable I've ever experienced, and the community of artists who came together to create that new work was particularly inspiring. On opening night we had a snafu where we had to quickly replace a cast member, and due to the nature of the show, there were no swings. We had to help a castmate prepare a split track he had never performed before, with only about 20 minutes of preparation. The support and collaboration displayed by the whole cast, creative team, and crew were incredible. I am currently in production for my second world premiere of the year at The Dallas Opera, a new opera based on "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", which opens in early November. Because of the relationship I built at Watertower, I was then cast in the title role in Mary Poppins next summer (July 2024) and offered my Equity card by Watertower Theatre as part of the contract.
Are there other ways that you participate in your community and/or how you engage as a Citizen Artist?
I do my best to give back to my artistic community as much as I can, especially by teaching and mentoring young artists. I am passionate about outreach, which started during my time with Simon Estes on the Roots and Wings tour in 2012. I also have burgeoning aspirations as a producer, so I hope to help create opportunities for performers to engage with in the future.
How did your time at ISU prepare you for your career?
I talk about ISU frequently, and the profound impact it had on my career. Most importantly, I was never forced to choose between genres, particularly between musical theatre and opera. My interests were always fostered and supported by the faculty. As a school without a graduate program, I got ample stage time and attention from the faculty. Most of all, I was gifted with confidence in myself as an artist and a realistic view of the career path I had chosen.
What was your favorite class while you were at ISU? Why?
I loved Script Analysis. Digging into plays and discussing subtext, themes, style, etc. gave me a love of dramaturgy that I try to incorporate into every one of my professional contracts. Iowa State Singers helped to make me the musician that I am, and while I despised count singing and sight reading at the time, they are skills I impart to my own students every day. My lessons with Mary Creswell and coaching with Jodi Goble were perhaps the most formative. Mary and Jodi pushed me when I needed it, gave me honest and practical career advice, and supported me unfailingly. Ultimately it was Mary telling me that I could make a career out of the arts that gave me the courage to dive in and pursue my dreams, and the gift of that honesty and support is one I strive to give to my own students.
How was your involvement in music and theatre beneficial in different parts of your life?
The arts teach incredible 'soft skills' that can be applied in any industry. The ability to REALLY listen, to understand a wide variety of different communication styles and to communicate openly yourself, to jump into any situation and problem solve with a 'show must go on' mentality, an eye for detail and aesthetics, quick memorization skills, and a healthy relationship with rejection (that one takes a lot of time!).
Any words of wisdom for current or prospective students?
So many! Find your team. This should be a small group of people you trust implicitly, both to uplift you during hard times and to give you honest feedback when you need it. It should be a mix of people in the arts, like your teacher, coach, or peers, and people who aren't, like your parents or a partner. You should also do your best to 'touch the grass', so to speak, and find things outside of the arts that you enjoy spending time doing. Choosing a career in the arts is a blessing and a challenge; a blessing in that you get to pursue your passion and make it your job, but it can also be all-consuming. I found during the pandemic when I couldn't pursue the career I had doggedly chased for a decade, that I had to find other ways to find joy and fulfillment. Finding friends outside of the arts is also important to help broaden your horizons, there is a big world out there beyond the theatre!
Is there anything that you would like to share?
I am very proud of my roots. While I had originally wanted to apply out of state for college, ISU proved to be the perfect launching pad for my career. The faculty challenged me and believed in me implicitly, and their standards gave me the foundation I needed to meet the rigors of professional work. I was gifted with the confidence and sense of self I needed to pursue performing. I also got to experience a Big 12 university and all of the activities it offered, including Greek Life. ISU provided me with a safe, loving, encouraging environment in which to grow and challenge myself as a singer and as a person.