I’ve always been inspired by artists who have shown musical and intellectual curiosity and the courage to take risks.

In this remark, Fleming identifies the traits she most values in artistic role models: curiosity that ranges beyond a narrow repertoire, intellectual engagement with the work, and the willingness to take creative risks. The quote reflects an ethos often associated with her own career—moving between opera, song, contemporary commissions, and cross-genre collaborations—where growth comes from exploration rather than safety. It also implies a standard for artistic excellence that is not merely technical polish, but a restless desire to learn and to test boundaries, even at the cost of uncertainty or criticism.