Izzy

What were the best things about your course?

The best thing about the music course at Surrey was how much flexibility there was to make it your own. I chose mainly performance-based modules, which suited my interests, but other people on the same course were able to focus more on composing or take a mix of both. That meant everyone could shape the degree around their own strengths, interests and future plans. I had the opportunity to perform at some fantastic venues and I look back fondly on our Chamber Choir concerts at the stunning Guildford Cathedral.

I also loved the class sizes. They were small enough that I got to know my whole cohort, which made the course feel supportive and collaborative. 

Another thing I appreciated, especially looking back, is how transferable a lot of the learning was. Although I studied music, I ultimately decided to build a career in the charity sector and social media, and many of the skills I developed have still been incredibly useful. My placement year in particular helped me build the confidence, professionalism and communication skills I needed to enter the working world.

What do you do now? How did your degree from Surrey help you achieve this?      

I describe myself as a bit of a Hannah Montana of classical music! By day, I work in the charity sector, and by night, I have a social media alter ego: Isabel Canto.

While I loved my degree, my greatest sense of purpose at Surrey came from my extra-curricular life. I founded PetSoc and AutiSoc (the society for autistic students) and I was also an elected officer. Through those roles, I developed a real passion for supporting student mental health and decided to pursue a career in wellbeing.

When I decided not to pursue music performance professionally full-time, I started my social media page as a way to keep sharing my love for opera. I soon found a niche creating comical parodies of songs you would never expect to hear sung operatically, from Cardi B to KATSEYE to cupcakKe. I now entertain over 1.3 million followers across TikTok and Instagram.

My Surrey degree gave me the technical singing skills to perform effectively, while modules such as Music Project and my placement year helped me develop practical skills in areas like social media marketing, project management and communication.

My career away from social media has been great too. I have worked across the higher education sector in student wellbeing roles, and more recently in the charity sector, where I currently lead a national mental health programme. My course helped me build the confidence, communication and collaboration skills I use every day, and my experiences outside the classroom played a huge role in shaping the career I have now.

What’s your advice to current students?               

My advice to current students is that it’s okay if your ambitions or goals change, whether that’s by choice or because life takes you in a different direction.

When I decided not to pursue performance professionally full-time, I knew it was the right decision for me, but I still felt a sense of regret at first. I had imagined a very specific version of what success in music would look like, and it took me a while to realise that changing direction didn’t mean giving those ambitions up completely.

In fact, I have still achieved some of the things I once dreamed of, just not in the way I first envisioned. As a student, I imagined working with organisations like The Royal Opera and Ballet, Southbank Centre, Opera North and other major names in the industry. I actually did end up doing paid work with all of them, but as a social media content creator rather than as a member of the company.

So my advice would be: stay open-minded about what your future could look like. The path you end up on might not be the one you originally planned, but that doesn’t mean it is any less valid, exciting or successful.