Sybaritic Studios
Build a creative life that doesn’t erode your soul.
At Sybaritic Studios, I help Performers, composers, and Arts Administrators design working lives that are sustainable, strategic, and deeply aligned with who they are and what they actually want.
This isn’t an e-course factory. This is a coaching studio for grown-ass artists.
Hi, I'm Megan
I help creative professionals in music get out of the grind-and-guess cycle and into careers that feel focused, sustainable, and creatively alive. Think of this as the space where your professional instincts meet real-world execution — with accountability, clarity, and that signature sybaritic flair.
As a performer, I've collaborated with over one hundred living composers to premiere and advocate for new works.
I hold leadership positions at national arts organizations that span classical music, community access, and tech-for-good.
I am a faculty member for the Peabody Institute’s Professional Studies Department, a Voting Member of the Recording Academy, and a frequent presence at national convenings like New Music Gathering and Americans for the Arts.
These are my
SIGNATURE OFFERS
Perfect for Performers, Composers, and All Sorts of Professionally Creative Folks
.01
One-Hour Sessions
Book a single session for when you need sharp eyes, clear questions, and a grounded plan. We’ll dig into whatever’s most pressing: grant strategy, project rollout, or just untangling your brain.
.02
Three Sessions over Five Months
Perfect for people moving through a big season — premieres, job cycles, shifting career lanes. You’ll have breathing room between calls to implement, and I’ll keep you tethered to your Most Desired Outcomes.
.03
Twelve-Month Partnership
For composers, performers, or administrators ready to build their next-level career structure. This is where we map long-game vision and move project by project, month by month. The goal? More time freedom, more financial freedom, and a professional life that finally fits you.
All About My
Workshops
Perfect for cOLLEGES/universities, Arts Organizations, and Independent Music Studios
MAKE IT RAIN: In this session we break down the process for building and growing your work through logical easy-to-follow steps even while living a busy musician’s life. We also discuss how to stand out from the crowd and dramatically increase your odds of getting booked regularly. Make It Rain covers how to advance through your career levels: Generalist ↠ Specialist ↠ Expert ↠ Authority. The workshop also involves elements like creating digital press kits, building an email list, cultivating a robust personal network and more.
CREATIVE PLACEMAKING: Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire, and be inspired.” Have you ever wondered how to make your city a “new music city” or an “opera city”? For this workshop I focus on three aspects of strategic placemaking: cross-sector partners, a place-based orientation, and a core of arts and cultural activities. This workshop is most often held at schools, community centers, and arts conferences.
MUSIC IS A REFERRAL BUSINESS: The goal of increasing your professional network is to make sure you are the first person that people think of when they have a particular issue or need. They need to call you. But if they don’t know to think about you, they’re gonna call someone else. Together, we’ll talk about developing low-risk ways to meet new people, learn about their interests, and lay the foundation for a deeper bond. We will also cover some personal PR basics that will make growing your professional network easier to do.
Some Kind Words
TESTIMONIALS
FROM CLIENTS JUST LIKE YOU
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In all my years studying music, practical career guidance was rarely–if ever–offered as a part of my education. Like far too many musicians, as I transitioned from graduate work to professional work, I felt totally unprepared for what to expect and the strategies needed to succeed in the current music scene. Working with Megan was an absolute life-raft, not only for the concrete advice and information she shared, but for the strategies and perspective she offered. Each time we have worked together, Megan has listened carefully and asked crucial questions to truly understand my goals, really allowing me to critically evaluate what I want my career to look like. In a creative field where many of us feel uncomfortable strategizing or even talking about our career, working with Megan helped me make and take proactive steps towards my goals that have been essential. I can’t thank or recommend her enough.
Brandon J. Rolle, Composer & Conductor, Los Angeles, CA
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I sought Megan’s help at a time in my career where I felt extremely stuck. I needed direction, and someone outside of my head to organize my thoughts. As singers, we are given a lot of tools on how to get ourselves seen and start our careers. However, there is little direction when we get past a certain point. I was able to share these thoughts with Megan, as well as talk through what I wanted to see in the future. She was able to give me a comprehensive and cohesive plan to move forward. She talked me through ideas so I could find clarity in my goals and mission. I highly recommend her to any individual or organization who needs clarity and planning to move forward.
Candice Shaughnessy, Soprano and Voice Teacher at AMDA NY, New York, NY
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Working with Megan over the last few years has been extremely beneficial to my work. She is a master at creating space for self-reflection, while also helping to create a plan of attack for solving some of the recurring issues that we face as creatives. As adults, we often lose the support network we had in younger mentored years, and having Megan [read: a dedicated professional not attached to my day-to-day circles] available to help me navigate some complex professional decisions has been beneficial to not only me and my work, but to my professional relationships as well.
Andy Bliss, Percussionist, Educator, and Artistic Director of Nief-Norf, Knoxville, TN
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Megan did a fantastic job of reducing a gargantuan task into small, manageable bites. She carefully considered my issues (too much to do, not enough time) and responded with incisive suggestions to make my processes more efficient and effective at the same time. All of this will help me get back to being a professional artist, not just a professional e-mailer!
Eric Malmquist., Composer, Chicago, IL
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It’s one of my guiding principles to offer others a permission slip to follow their own path...
"As a performer, educator, arts administrator, and coach, it’s one of my guiding principles to offer others a permission slip to follow their own path, to enjoy the things they’re curious about, to focus on the creative calling they hear in their soul." - Megan Ihnen
MY GIFT TO YOU
Your Sybaritic Spark
Starts Here!
The Diva Audit is a candid self-assessment for performers, composers, and arts leaders who are tired of winging it. It’s not about striving for perfection. It’s about clarity. Download it, pour a cup of something strong, and see what’s working and what’s missing.
