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Hello and Welcome!
About Me...
Hi, I'm Brian Witkowski!
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my work!
My story at a glance...
I tried to "make it" as a professional singer, actor, voice teacher, and more. And in many ways beyond my imagination, I DID! But I also had some serious failures. I failed to put myself out there enough, I failed to stand up for my worth, and I failed to charge according to the results I could deliver. Maybe, as a baritone, I performed too many roles where the character died, almost died, or their scheme failed!
I lost most of what I had waiting around for the "perfect" and "secure" job I thought my degrees guaranteed. I nearly lost everything else when I had serious imposter syndrome around selling to the people I'm most meant to serve.
But not any more…And I don’t want this to be the story for anyone else either!
Over the years, I've done a lot of personal development studying, pursued money mindset coaching certification, and worked with multiple master coaches while learning to prepare to be a coach and mentor for fellow artistic entrepreneurs, mentors, and leaders where they really need help...
Mind(set) over Matter!
Entrepreneurship, or your next level of it, doesn't have to be hard. It should feel easy because you're doing what you most want and you're most meant to do. But we need to master our mindsets and overcome the subconscious beliefs and value systems that can really hold us back from really going after the success we desire and deserve.
So with a boutique blend of business strategizing and personal coaching or mentoring, I specialize in supporting artistic leaders and business owners, including new entrepreneurs as well as long-time entrepreneurs, to confidently offer what they are most meant to offer, as well as have a more empowered mindset with money so they can feel virtuous earning MORE!
To put it another way, I help clients feel worthy of earning the "big bucks" they deserve by transforming their thinking so they confidently can master the art of earning more. AND they can master the art of teaching others to earn more too!
My Background
Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Arizona
Master of Music, Oakland University
Bachelor of Music, Loyola University New Orleans
Money Mindset Certification
Applied Voice Instruction
Academic and Career Advising
Mentored First-Generation College Students
Musical Theatre Workshop Instruction
Audition Techniques Instruction
Adjudicator for NATS and Other Competitions
K-12 Opera Outreach Performing and Teaching
Arts Integration Seminar Facilitation
Professional & Leadership Development Workshops
20+ Years of Music Ministry
Performance Career (20 Years and Counting)
Some Favorite Stage Roles and Solo Repertoire:
- Lord Farquaad in Shrek: The Musical
- Papageno in The Magic Flute
- Lancelot in Spamalot
- Charles Guiteau in Assassins
- Marius in Les Misérables
- Anthony in Sweeney Todd
- Beethoven's An die fern Geliebte
- Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin
- Schubert's Winterreise
- Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn
- Ravel's Don Quichotte à Dulcinée
- Vaughan Williams' Songs of Travel
- Paul Bowles' Blue Mountain Ballads
- William Bolcom's Cabaret Songs
- J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata
- J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass
- Handel's Messiah
- Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass
- Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem
Podcast Guest Appearances
The Musician Toolkit with David Lane (April 22, 2024)
David Lane and I talked about deciding whether or not to take a gig and how to create more value in your teaching studio worthy of getting you paid way more!
Creative Conversations with Hollis Citron (September 24, 2022)
Hollis Citron and I dove in and explored clarity and what it means to earn more as an artist, forming authentic relationships, life expansion and more!
Choralosophy Podcast (June 23, 2021)
I was the guest on the 72nd episode of the Choralosophy Podcast talking about entrepreneurship for singers and the realities of academia and industry. If you want more insights into the lives of different kinds of choral directors and the different choral director perspectives on many of the issues all performing artists are facing, there are a lot of great episodes worth checking out!
Mindfulness of Singing Podcast (June 28, 2021)
Are you a voice teacher or professional singer looking to improve your relationship with money? I was on the Mindfulness of Singing Podcast to talk about the various money challenges we face! Check it out!
What Would Mozart Do? (May 28, 2021)
What would Mozart be doing in 2021? This podcast talks about the possibilities of the "real world" in the arts and academy, and I talked about the Lucrative Artist and being an entrepreneur as a singing artist. Check it out!
Relate Podcast (June 18, 2021)
How is your relationship with money? Do you hate it some times and love it at other times? Do you wish it was easier to bring into your life? I had the opportunity to talk about this and the money mindset coaching work I do on this episode of Relate Podcast!
Take the Stage: The Opera Podcast (April 9, 2021)
Take the Stage: The Opera Podcast is a new podcast dedicated to helping young classical singers achieve their artistic goals. In this episode, I opened up about some of my own experiences as a professional singer, we talked about money mindset, ideas for additional income, the importance of financial well-being, and more!
The Business Savvy Singer Podcast (March 31, 2021)
The Business Savvy Singer with Dr. Greta Pope offers weekly conversations with professional singers and industry professionals with a variety of experiences! I opened up about some of my journey and talked about The Lucrative Artist!
ActorCast (Feb 16, 2021)
ActorCast is a new podcast that broadcasts the work, advice, and insight of actors, writers, directors, producers, and other industry experts in show business. Patrick McAndrew and I talked about overcoming the "starving artist" stereotype, why money should be important to artists, and how to start creating a financially sustainable career.
The Self-Compassionate Professor Podcast (Feb 14, 2021)
The Self-Compassionate Professor Podcast supports academics and former academics in finding career wellness. I talked with founder and coach Danielle De La Mare about going into business for yourself to create your living beyond the usual job market!
Personal Finance for PhDs Podcast (February 24, 2020)
I was the guest on the February 24, 2020 episode of the Personal Finance for PhDs Podcast, where graduate students of all fields can learn more about finances, career options and more.