Loghan Bazan graduated from CMU in 2011 with a degree in Voice Performance, and since then, she has taken a cross-country road trip, won the Showcase on The Price is Right, and started graduate school at the University of Maryland. You might say she’s experienced a lot in just two years, and she’s certainly gained a lot of wisdom.
Loghan knew she would take time off after graduating before applying for graduate school, and she stayed in Pittsburgh for a little over a year. She worked as a receptionist, applied to schools, and took her cross-country road trip during that time. “My boyfriend and I traveled from Pittsburgh to LA,” she said. “If you ever get an opportunity to take a cross-country road trip, do not pass it up! It was amazing.”
Loghan has a positive, contagious personality. Not even being rejected from her top school choices kept her down. She went with the flow and moved back home, then went to spend some time in California. It was then that Loghan had the kind of luck most people only dream about; she won the Showcase on the Price is Right. On her emotions when winning the prizes, worth $32,000, Loghan said, “Oh my gosh, I think I blacked out or something. I just could not even believe that it was all happening. If you watch the episode, you can hear me say “Oh My God” over and over and over, out of pure disbelief. Too exciting!”
In case you were wondering about the prizes she won: a 3-piece luggage set, a 4-night trip to New York City with helicopter tour of the city, a 3-piece stainless steel kitchen appliance set, a 6-night trip to Cabo San Lucas with snorkeling and horseback riding excursions, and two Kawasaki Ninja 650 motorcycles. Now, that’s lucky!
How does one end up on The Price Is Right? That’s a perfectly reasonable question. Loghan auditioned three times before ending up on the show, and it was kind of a family tradition. “Both my grandmother and uncle had tried in the past without success,” she said. “It was definitely one of my bucket list items.” It’s no easy task to get on the show; there is an audition process. “I waited in line for hours,” said Loghan. “I did my 30-second interview with the producer, waited in line some more, got into the studio, and once they started taping, ended up being one of the first four contestants called down to contestants’ row.” It’s no surprise Loghan was chosen with her fun, positive attitude.
Winning a game show wasn’t the only lucky thing that happened in California for Loghan. She also spent 3 weeks in San Diego at a voice program called Opera NEO. “The voice program was incredible,” she said. “I consider it a game changer for the way I approach singing. After the program, I knew exactly what I needed to work on and was ready to try to apply to schools again to find a place where I could really focus on my goals.” After going back home, Loghan became a receptionist again for a short time (she calls it her “go-to ‘I need to pay the bills right now’ thing.”), and shortly after was accepted to her current graduate program at the University of Maryland.
Loghan says she absolutely loves the program she is in at U Maryland. “The program is so well-rounded and dedicated to creating artists not just musicians,” she said. “I feel like I am really being challenged in an encouraging environment to grow into the best version of myself.” Challenging just might be an understatement; Loghan sings in Italian (standard and Venetian dialect), French, German, and English.
On how she learns an entire opera in a short time, Loghan said, “The process is rather involved. I always read a synopsis and the full English text, and then translate the text myself.” She says she finds that translating first helps the process of learning music faster. Then, she said, “I listen to recordings of the opera before sitting down in a practice room so I understand the musical arc of the show. Then I learn notes and fit everything into my voice and technique.”
Loghan always knew she wanted to sing. “I never really “decided” per say,” she said. “I like to think that singing chose me, in a way. I have never been able to imagine myself being happier doing anything else.” On why she loved CMU, she said that the atmosphere, culture and traditions were her favorite aspects. “I haven’t experienced anything like it anywhere else,” she said. “The students, faculty, and staff all love CMU so much, and that love comes through 110% in everything they do. Work hard, play hard, be plaid.”