Recently, soprano Ailyn Perez spoke with students in New York as part of the Metropolitan Opera Guild's four-day intensive program to prepare aspiring music students for their next big step.

According to Stuart B. Holt, the director of School Programs and Community Engagement at the Met Opera Guild, the program "is designed for 10th, 11th and 12th grade students preparing to study vocal music in college, conservatory and beyond."

The participants got an opportunity to engage in a number of diverse activities throughout the week, including workshops and training sessions led by guest teachers and Met Opera Guild staff, daily master classes, song interpretation, audition tips and technique and a Backstage Tour of the Met Opera house. They even got an opportunity to attend a performance of "Don Giovanni" at the Met Opera House.

And on the final day, the students had opportunities to perform a recital for their family and friends. They also had an opportunity to meet Perez, who recently made her debut at the Met as Michael in Bizet's iconic "Carmen."

The Mexican-American soprano initiated her hour-long session by talking about her past experiences, her inspirations as well as the difficulties of working in the business. At one point, she talked about anxiety and how to control nerves on stage. To help the students better understand her process, she asked all of them to close their eyes and listen to her count every beat of a measure out loud. At the fourth measure, they would all vocalize the beat together.

After going through the process once, Perez changed things up by not counting out every beat, thus throwing everyone off in the room. On asking students how they felt about the second experience, they all spoke about having different emotional reactions and confusion from the disorientation.

"I felt an emptiness in my stomach," one student said.

"My heart sped up," another said. 

At this point, Perez said they were all likely to feel some variation on those feelings at some point prior to or even during performing, but it was up to them to find ways to overcome those sensations individually. 

"You have to find a process to slow yourself down," she said. "Do it in your practicing. Stop yourself, go through your music, and breathe through your phrases. Break it down."

At the end of the session, Perez opened the forum up for questions from the students, and after, she took group pictures with the students.

"I was so thrilled to meet these young artists at this stage in their life," Perez told Latin Post after the event.

"It's important for me to let them know how much is possible and to empathize and exchange helpful advice on managing and living with the certain aspects of being a vocal artist that comes with the territory. I wanted to meet them and let them know and understand that there are helpful and healthy ways to cope with the excitement and stress along their way.

"My hope is that after this experience, they may realize how the artists who have shared their thoughts with them are all paying the art form and experience forward."

Perez performs at the Met in "Carmen" on Feb. 26, March 4 and 7. Then, she heads off to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to perform a concert with legendary Mexican tenor Ramon Vargas. In April, she takes on the role of Adina in "L'Elisir D'Amore" before playing Norina in Barcelona's production of "Don Pasquale" throughout June. The soprano remains in Barcelona for a production of "La Traviata" in July before finishing the summer with performances of "La Boheme" in the renowned Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy.