Conversations with Taylor Stilson
Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Stilson.
Hi Taylor, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have quite a unique story! I grew up in a single parent household in a small town in Michigan. I knew from the start I was different and wanted to trailblaze an adventurous life for myself. I didn’t realize how many adventures it was going to take me on.
I began playing piano as a young child, my grandmother pushing my high chair up to her little baby grand piano. My mom would often say to her, “how can you listen to that- he’s just banging!” I started instruction at a local university by age 10 and by 7th grade I was a concert pianist. I attended Interlochen Arts Camp, a prestigious summer arts program for gifted children, but one of my instructors told me I wasn’t talented enough to make it as a professional. As devastating as it was, it actually lit a fire under my ass to broaden my musical horizons. That fall, I began studying singing and ended up attending The Boston Conservatory on a full-tuition scholarship. I tackled a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously, and by 27 I began my doctoral studies in vocal performance and pedagogy. But, during my 20s, I struggled with my health and was constantly searching for new ways to unlock my mind and ground my body.
I began studying all different kinds of yoga, I found meditation guidance, began working out, received personal training, bodywork, breath work, and lots of therapy. But, it felt like something just wasn’t lining up for me. I felt locked and stifled in who I was as a person. After being dismissed from my doctorate, I landed an adjunct position at my Alma mater teaching musical theater voice and, a few years later, a teaching position at Harvard University. But, as much as I loved Boston, I was ready for a change. When the pandemic hit, I decided to take the next few years to certify in modalities that I found helpful to me in my quest for body and mind freedom, including massage therapy and laryngeal massage, personal training, hypnosis, life coaching, science-based mindfulness, and trans voicework. I landed a coveted full-time professorship at University of Cincinnati, a top musical theater program, I had the encouragement of the administration to launch my Institute- a mind, body, voice experience for singers and professional voice users. I began developing the Stilson Method, a biproduct of this workshop and was in the beginning stages of publishing it.
But, something felt off. My time in higher-ed was filled with pushback, difficult colleagues, and horrible compensation. So, in 2024 I decided to quit my professorship roles and explore life outside of what I knew, professionally. I moved to Los Angeles and built a very thriving private singing and massage practice, launched a freelance career in modeling for brands, and started OnlyFans. I felt like, for years, I was working my ass off for institutions that didn’t value my avant-garde teaching style or expertise in mind-body-voice paradigms. So, I figured why not begin a new adventure in freelance work, travel, and have fun with my life. I couldn’t be happier 🙂
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh gosh, no it hasn’t. I had almost a full week of panic attacks in grad school because of past trauma and emotional issues I never dealt with. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the community I built around health and well-being, who knows where I would be today. I think the hardest part for me was accepting my sexuality and understanding that being gay is actually a blessing. The LGTBQIA+ community is incredibly resilient and it has taught me to accept myself and love the skin I’m in.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a voice instructor, with specialties in laryngeal massage, voice habilitation, and voice flexibility. I love helping singers and actors have “ah hah!” moments in the studio and see their discoveries unfold right before my eyes. I love feeling like I’m guiding my clients through mind-body-voice unlocking on a daily basis.
I am a massage therapist and, with my other certifications and modalities, allows me to bring a unique skill set to my clients. I do breath work and movement based strategies to facilitate a more client-driven experience in my practice.
In the last 10 months, I started an Onlyfans. What I love about it is that I have complete autonomy over my body and the choices I make and, in this economy, it’s catapulted me into financial freedom that I would never have achieved otherwise.
I think what sets me apart from others is that I am not just a fit, muscle 30 something with a story: I am extremely intelligent, kind, business savvy, and adventurous. “He’s got brains and brawn!”
What makes you happy?
I’m most happy when I travel and workout. I love exploring new places, meeting beautiful people, and learning new languages. So far, I’ve been able to get by with Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. But, at the end of the day, what brings me most happiness is when I’m able to focus on me and my self-care. “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?” RuPaul
Pricing:
- Voicework and laryngeal massage: $200/hr
- Massage: $250/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taylorstilson.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/taylor.stilson
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/taylor.stilson
- Other: https://linktr.ee/taylorstilson
Screenshot
Image Credits
Rush Kemp Nimrod Peled Nathan Lusk Brian Kaminsky
