Though the paths that lead to a career in music are myriad, guides are invaluable to aspiring singers. Linda McAlister’s unique background may have given her the ideal foundation to oversee the robust roster of programs at Schmidt Vocal Arts, the umbrella entity that includes the Schmidt Vocal Competition, Schmidt Vocal Institute, and Schmidt Vocal Education, as well as scholarship opportunities for high school and college-age singers. An accomplished soprano, McAlister also holds a degree in international business. “It’s important for young singers to know that when you build a career in the arts, you’re also an entrepreneur,” she told American Essence.
Born and raised in Hector, Minnesota, McAlister’s dad, Willard Fluck (pronounced “Fluke”) raised corn and soybean crops on a farm of about 900 acres. McAlister said she inherited her love of music from her mom, Heather, a school teacher in St. Paul. “She was a city girl,” McAlister said. “Because of her, I took up violin at 3 years old, piano at 5, and flute and choir by middle school.” Though she participated in choir, and she had private lessons, McAlister’s musical ambitions compelled her to study voice at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota, during her junior year of high school. Around that time, she became interested in the business of music, too. “I thought I might become an agent for artists,” she said. She pursued a double major in vocal performance and international business, which would help immensely in the world of classical music. “Opera is an international art form,” she said.
