Contact Cherise da Cunha for Zoom link (contact info in the OMTA directory, login required.)
10:30am - Welcome & Brief Business Meeting
11:00am - Presentation by Dr. Lisa Neher
Overcoming Money Myths
As artists, most of us were encouraged to focus only on our passion for music, because art is
supposed to be its own reward. To make matters more complicated, our broader culture avoids
talking about money, treating the topic as gauche. But music teachers offer incredible value to
their students and families and need and deserve financial stability in exchange for the services
we provide. This workshop will discuss prominent money myths in our music culture, how they
impact our careers in areas such as underpricing and giving away extra unpaid time to our
clients. Next, we will discuss strategies to overcome these money myths. You will leave with
practical tools that you can apply to how you manage your studio, set your rates, set boundaries around your time and expertise, and re-wire your internal perspective and emotional life
regarding money.
About the Presenter
Multi-talented mezzo-soprano, composer, and actor Lisa Neher delivers “intensity,
power, and vocal prowess” (Oregon ArtsWatch), captivating audiences with richly attuned
musical fluency and heartfelt performance. “A supremely talented artist,” (Willamette Week),
Neher channels a signature combination of high intelligence, deep passion, fierce tenacity, and
an ever-youthful spirit, offering a rare degree of excellence and versatility alongside the ability to
“sincerely convey… joy and wonder” (Oregon ArtsWatch). Her wide-ranging experience across
genres informs gutsy character portrayals integrated with vivid storytelling through musical
performance, making her a magnetic presence onstage known for a voice that is “especially
alive… full and rich” (Oregon ArtsWatch).
Alongside her flourishing vocal career, Neher is an award-winning composer whose music
has earned recognition from the Oregon Music Teachers Association (Composer of the Year
2025), the Flute New Music Consortium, ICDA/ICF, Mirror Visions Ensemble, and the Celebris
Ensemble. Commissioning ensembles and organizations include the National Association of
Teachers of Singing, American Harp Society, Cincinnati Song Initiative, and Opera Santa
Barbara.
Her interdisciplinary training and Doctor of Musical Arts degree inform not only her
compositional craft but also her interpretive depth as a performer, giving her singing an
uncommon level of clarity, intention, and emotional resonance. A visionary creator and leader,
Neher is the Founder and President of New Wave Opera, a company that shares fresh,
relatable stories by living composers through the medium of opera. Through all facets of her
work, Neher champions contemporary storytelling that embraces both the wildness of the
natural world and the intimate complexities of human experience.
https://www.lisanehermusic.com/