Victoria M. Evens

mezzo-soprano, piano

Bio

Victoria M. Evens, mezzo-soprano, hails from Cold Spring, Minnesota. A distinguished graduate of the University of MN, Morris, Evens holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and gender/women/sexuality studies. She was named the 2020 recipient of the Mimi Frenier Award, recognizing high academic achievement and political, social, and civic activism. During her studies, Evens served the UMM Concert Choir as alto section leader and vice president. Evens currently resides in Saint Cloud, MN, where she is the Assistant Director of the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. Evens continues her personal study of music as she prepares for graduate programs in musicology. She strives to pursue a career in music as a professor and writer.

Evens is a current member of local a cappella group Vocal Envy as well as the Minnesota Center Chorale.

Victoria M. Evens Featured in Sound Mind Podcast

Listen to Victoria M. Evens speak on their experience with music, queer identity, and mental health in episode 4 of the Sound Mind Podcast. Sound Mind is an original podcast created and produced by One Voice Mixed Chorus, Minnesota's ensemble of queer voices. The podcast features queer voices in Minnesota to explore mental health through art.

Evens recounts their experience as a queer musician experiencing generalized anxiety and panic disorder. They explore their coming out journey and how they used music to cope with the struggles of queer identity and mental illness.

The episode, "Leave Your Baggage at the Door" can be streamed on all podcast platforms in addition to the Sound Mind website.