Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Zabala.
Hi Liz, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I always assumed I was going to become a doctor. Most of my family members are doctors, and that’s simply what I grew up knowing. I did well in school, had strong grades, and for most of my life, medicine felt like the obvious path. Music was always something I loved and something I spent most of my time doing outside of school, but both my family and I viewed it more as a hobby than a realistic career option. Even when I was applying to universities, I applied almost exclusively to biology programs. Berklee College of Music was the one exception. I applied almost as a test for myself, thinking that if I got accepted to one of the best music schools in the world, maybe that would mean I was good enough to seriously pursue music.
When I received my acceptance to Berklee, I was genuinely excited. Looking back, that was the moment everything became clear. I had been accepted to other universities as well, and while I expected those acceptances because of my grades, I wasn’t particularly excited about any of them. Berklee felt completely different. For the first time, I found myself excited about what my future could look like. That excitement made me realize that music wasn’t just something I enjoyed doing, it was something I wanted to pursue seriously. So I took a leap of faith and decided to attend Berklee College of Music, where I studied Voice Performance and Contemporary Conducting.
While I was at Berklee, I became passionate about finding opportunities outside of the classroom. One of the most valuable lessons I learned during my time there was that many opportunities come from simply reaching out and asking. During my studies, I contacted Alyssa Wang, co-founder of the Boston Festival Orchestra, and asked if they ever needed volunteers. I didn’t have a specific role in mind, I just wanted to learn and get involved. I began volunteering with the orchestra, helping organize their music library. During my first time volunteering, Alyssa and I discussed ways to engage younger audiences and make orchestral music more accessible. From my perspective as a college student, I suggested that students would benefit from being able to observe a professional orchestra rehearsal and see firsthand what happens behind the scenes. That conversation led to one of my first experiences leading a project from start to finish. I organized an open rehearsal initiative for students, coordinated communication with school departments, managed registrations, and helped bring the event to life. The experience showed me how much I enjoyed building programs that connected people with opportunities and education. The project ultimately led to an internship with the Boston Festival Orchestra as Artistic Operations Assistant. In that role, I gained valuable insight into how professional arts organizations operate while building relationships with musicians, conductors, and arts administrators throughout the Boston music community. Following the internship, Alyssa offered me the opportunity to serve as Assistant Conductor for the orchestra’s performance of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” at Jordan Hall. Conducting the choir alongside a professional orchestra was an experience that strengthened my confidence and helped me envision a future as both an educator and conductor.
At the same time, I was also training under my voice teacher and mentor, Linda Balliro, learning not only how to perform but also how to teach. During my final year of university, I launched my own private studio and began coaching young musicians. What started as a handful of students quickly grew into an international coaching business focused on helping young artists gain admission to top music schools and build successful careers in music. Through that work, I realized that many talented young musicians weren’t lacking ability. They were lacking guidance. The music industry can be difficult to navigate, especially for students who don’t have access to experienced mentors or clear information about the audition and application process. I became passionate about helping young artists bridge that gap and realize that their goals were achievable.
Today, a large part of my work focuses on youth empowerment, mentorship, and career development for emerging musicians. I coach students from around the world and have helped many gain admission to prestigious institutions, including Berklee College of Music, often with substantial merit-based scholarships. Watching students achieve opportunities they once thought were out of reach has become one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.
To expand my impact beyond one-on-one coaching, I created the Accelerated Berklee Mastery Course, a comprehensive online program that walks students through every step of the Berklee College of Music audition and application process. The course combines video lessons, practice exercises, mock auditions, and personalized guidance to help students confidently prepare for one of the most important auditions of their lives. I also created the One-Year College Audition Preparation Course, which provides students with a structured week-by-week roadmap for preparing competitive college auditions. Each week focuses on a new skill, milestone, or aspect of the application process, helping students make consistent progress while building confidence, accountability, and strong audition habits over time.
As my coaching practice grew, I began noticing another challenge. Many young musicians graduate from excellent programs but struggle to find meaningful performance opportunities and professional experience afterward. Having experienced that challenge myself as a young conductor looking for opportunities, I suspected many other emerging musicians were feeling the same way. On a whim, I posted in a Boston musicians’ Facebook group asking whether anyone would be interested in joining an ensemble and performing a concert together. Within a week, more than 30 musicians had responded. That response made it clear that there was a need for a community where young musicians could continue developing after graduation, gain professional experience, and support one another.
That idea became the Young Professional Musicians Collective (YPMC). What started as a single concert project in Boston has since grown into a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to the career development of emerging musicians. Our first concert took place in partnership with the Public Library of Brookline in April 2025, and the organization has continued to grow ever since. Today, YPMC is based in Calgary, Alberta, where I grew up. As Founder and Executive/Artistic Director, I oversee every aspect of the organization, from recruiting musicians and developing partnerships to conducting rehearsals and mentoring participants. Our mission is to remove financial barriers to professional music development by providing tuition-free performance opportunities, educational workshops, mentorship, networking, and real-world artistic experiences. Since our inception, YPMC has presented multiple community concerts featuring dozens of emerging musicians, premiered new works by young composers, partnered with organizations including the Calgary Public Library and Alberta Ballet School, and created opportunities for artists to perform in collaborative and interdisciplinary settings. All of our concerts are free or pay-what-you-can because we believe music should be accessible to everyone.
When I look at everything I do, whether it’s coaching students through college auditions, creating online educational programs, conducting ensembles, or leading YPMC, the mission is ultimately the same: empowering young musicians to believe in themselves, access opportunities they may not otherwise have, and build meaningful, sustainable careers in the arts. Throughout my own journey, I was fortunate to have mentors, teachers, and people who believed in me, but I also experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the music industry as a young artist. Many of the opportunities that shaped my career came from seeking them out myself, asking questions, and creating pathways where none seemed to exist. Today, my goal is to make that path a little clearer for the next generation. Whether through mentorship, education, performance opportunities, or community-building, I am ultimately trying to build the support system I wish I had when I was starting out. If I can help young musicians feel more confident, more prepared, and less alone in pursuing their goals, then I consider that my greatest success.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a completely smooth road. Looking back, the biggest hurdle wasn’t necessarily external. It was believing in myself enough to take the first step. For most of my life, I assumed I was going to pursue a completely different career path. Choosing music professionally felt risky, and there were many moments where I questioned whether I was good enough or whether I belonged in the spaces I was trying to enter. I think a lot of people experience that feeling, especially when pursuing something competitive or unconventional. I’ve learned that once you take that first step, the next one becomes easier. Moving to a new city, starting my teaching studio, launching online courses, founding YPMC, and creating opportunities that didn’t previously exist all began with deciding to try before I felt completely ready.
Even today, one of my biggest challenges is defining success for myself. I’ve been fortunate to achieve goals that I’m proud of, and I’ve watched my students accomplish incredible things, but I’ve often struggled to fully acknowledge those accomplishments. In some ways, that has been a strength because it pushes me to keep learning, improving, and growing. At the same time, it can also be limiting because self-doubt can make you hesitate to pursue opportunities or take risks.
Over time, I’ve realized that growth doesn’t come from feeling completely confident. It comes from moving forward despite uncertainty. Many of the opportunities that have shaped my career happened because I was willing to take a chance before I knew exactly how things would turn out. Learning to trust myself and take action despite fear has probably been the most important lesson of my journey so far.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I wear a lot of different hats, but at the core of everything I do is helping young musicians build successful careers in music.
I’m a music educator, conductor, entrepreneur, and the Founder and Executive/Artistic Director of the Young Professional Musicians Collective (YPMC). I specialize in helping students prepare for college auditions, particularly for Berklee College of Music, and guiding them through what can often feel like a confusing and overwhelming process. Through private coaching, online courses, and mentorship, I’ve worked with students from around the world, many of whom have gone on to be accepted into top music schools with substantial scholarships.
What I’m probably best known for is creating opportunities. Whether that’s helping a student get into their dream school, building an online program that makes audition preparation more accessible, or creating a nonprofit organization where young musicians can gain professional experience, I’ve always been drawn to building the things I wish existed when I was younger.
What I’m most proud of isn’t necessarily my own accomplishments. It’s seeing what the people around me accomplish. Watching a student open an acceptance letter, earn a scholarship, perform with confidence, or achieve something they once thought was out of reach is incredibly rewarding. The same is true with YPMC. Seeing young musicians connect, collaborate, and grow into confident professionals has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career so far. I think what sets me apart is that I approach music education from multiple angles. I’m not just focused on teaching someone how to sing or perform. I’m focused on helping young artists build sustainable careers, develop confidence, find community, and navigate the realities of the industry. Everything I do, whether it’s coaching, conducting, creating courses, or leading YPMC, comes back to the same goal: building the support system I wish I had when I was starting out and helping the next generation of musicians realize that their goals are possible.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I’ve only had the opportunity to visit Dallas once, and most of my time there was spent attending a conducting workshop, so I didn’t get to experience the city as extensively as a local would. What stood out to me most was the strong culture of music education. As someone from Calgary, where we don’t have nearly the same scale of arts programming in our schools, I was amazed by the size of the high school music programs and the level of support available to young musicians. It was inspiring to see how much value is placed on arts education and the opportunities available to students. As someone who has dedicated much of my career to supporting young musicians, it was exciting to see that level of investment in the next generation.
If I had to choose something I liked least, it would probably be the humidity. Calgary certainly has hot summer days, but our climate is much drier, so the humidity in Dallas was something I wasn’t accustomed to. That said, my experience was overwhelmingly positive, and I’d love the opportunity to spend more time exploring the city in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elizabethzabala.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethzabala_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581440169787
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-zabala-742091220/
- Other: https://ypmcollective.org
Image Credits
Eluvier Acosta
