Meet the Student: Q&A with Soprano Shikta Mukherjee

Soprano Shikta Mukherjee, from Edison, N.J., entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2022 and studies voice with adjunct faculty member Julia Faulkner. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Ms. Mukherjee is the Charles and Judith Freyer Fellow.

What inspired you to pursue a career in opera and classical voice?
After beginning to take voice lessons in elementary school out of mere interest, I was immediately thrown into the world of opera and classical music, and I couldn’t help but love it. Over the years, this interest bloomed more and more. Yet, it wasn’t until I reached high school that I realized just how much the craft meant to me. Singing wasn’t just a mere hobby; rather, I couldn’t imagine devoting my life to doing anything else.

Prior to Curtis, you participated in the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Voice division and Westminster Conservatory’s young artist program. How did you hear about Curtis, and what excites you the most about being here?
I first heard about Curtis when I entered the Juilliard Pre-College Program! My mentors always spoke about it in high regard as one of the best places a singer could end up after high school. Since then, I’ve always dreamt about being here, and fortunately enough, I get to be here. I would say what excites me the most about being at Curtis is the immense opportunity it offers every single one of its students. From the world-class teachers, amazing group of peers, and endlessly diverse performances, the opportunity this school offers its students is simply unmatched.

What are your non-musical hobbies?
Aside from music, some things I love to do are hike and cook! Hiking is absolutely my favorite way to de-stress away from the world, whether it be alone, with family, or with friends. I also love the challenge of leveling up hiking difficulties and trail lengths over time! Cooking is something I also love to do in my free time, especially when experimenting with new recipes and cuisines. It almost feels like I’m putting together a puzzle with a delicious end result.

Tell us about one of your most memorable performance experiences?
I would have to say my most memorable performance experience was my senior recital. Though I’d previously performed often, this was the first time I put on a recital completely on my own. It was an extremely treasured experience for me, having all my loved ones and mentors in one room to celebrate my achievements at the end of the year. Acknowledging this, the height of emotion I felt during this performance was really indescribable.