too many sopranos

Opening Night!

2006-11-10T07:13:00.000-08:00

Well, it's finally here...Opening night (for me) of Die Fledermaus. I went to see and help the other cast last night. I had a really weird energy though...The show was good, but I felt dazed about it. I think that because we had somewhat of an audience at our last dress rehearsal, that it didn't have all of the energy of an opening night, though the cast was certainly excited.

I am mostly excited because of my family coming into town. My mother is actually bringing my WEDDING DRESS which finally arrived! Plus, the President of Miami University and the head of residence life (my uber boss for my graduate assistantship) are coming, and three of my good friends from CCM.

Tonight, tonight, tonight!

The Revenge of the Rat

2006-11-07T21:38:00.000-08:00

I think Fledermaus is eating my soul. I am sleep deprived, vocally and physically fatigued, emotionally strained and LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT. But hey, we have to be a little nuts if we're going to be starving artist...Right? We open the show in two days and one of the local news papers advertised our show as "The Revenge of the Rat". Seriously.

Rosalinda has begun to take life inside of me. In the weeks and months up to now, I have felt that this role was too big for my voice. But, in the past week and a half, the music and notes have begun to mold themselves into my vocal chords, allowing for the most incredible sounds to come forth. And I don't mean that in a cocky way; I mean it in an out-of-body experience kind of way. Her character has really started to become three dimensional. I started http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.italic.gifworking on her about three months ago, but she is a completely different beast than I had first envisioned. She has become human and I am really going to miss her when the run is over.

We spend so much time, energy and love on a character and then let go and move on to the next. I fell in love with Gilda from Rigoletto two summers ago and now it's Rosie. Where does the love go? Certainly not from one character to the next. Are we personality polygomists? Or do we simply move on with no regrets?

A time to BREATHE

2006-11-02T06:33:00.000-08:00

Or in my case, not. Instead I am taking a sick day. Yes, I have once again worn myself down to the point where I really have to go to the doctor again. But I will do whatever it takes to be able to sing next week. Oh yeah! Next weekend Die Fledermaus opens!

We have been nose deep into rehearsals for about six weeks now...We have a bit more time to rehearse in academia. Rehearsals have been going well. We have a wide range of professional levels--from first year college students to well-seasoned singers whose careers are starting to take off. The tenor playing Eisenstein is an incredible singer and very entertaining to watch. I have even been proud to find that my own voice is not tired by the end of the show.

We recently moved into the actual theatre space and have been working on the set pieces. Within the first 3 hours on the stage with props I had already broken something...Typical. The director applauded because it was the first time since we started rehearsing that he had to ask for "smaller". We just had our costume parade and I never felt more like an opera singer. I fell in love with the moment I was in costume and walked out onto the stage that was completely decked out in set pieces.

Let the posting resume!!!

2006-10-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm back! So much has happened since the last post, so there will be a lot to write about. I am currently sitting at Fledermaus rehearsal...yes sitting. We are in the middle of staging the party scene...Much fun is to be had. I promise a thorough post later tonight! Auf wiedersehen.

Candide, Or Optimism

2006-06-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

Dear fellow bloggers and readers of my blog,

I am auditioning for a production of Candide to be performed next spring and they are asking for a 2 minute comic monologue. I have not done a monologue in years and have no idea of any really good ones. Do you have any advice or ideas?

Sincerely,
Bryn

Just checking in

2006-06-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

I start coachings for Rosalinda tomorrow!!! I read online that the former title of the operetta was Rosalinda. I really need to get crackin' on this music though. It is taking me some time to learn. I find Verdi so much easier than Strauss. That goes for either Strauss you are working with...So much chromaticism.

Oh well...I did have to take some time to read Voltaire's Candide by the pool today. It was too gorgeous not to take in some sun. Now I must go home and make a fruit pizza for our church choir party tonight.

Ciao down! (I'm such a dork.)

A Balancing Act

2006-05-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

Since Cam has flown the coop (for the summer), I have had much time to spend with my female friends. This always seems to be the case when a girl is left to her own devices.

So, after indulging in our addictions at our favorite ice cream joint, my two girlfriends and I got to talking. One of them had just returned from the Classical Singer Convention in Pennsylvania, where one the topics discussed was couples in the business. Why aren't there more opportunities for people in their home towns, so that they can have a little stability? Wouldn't it be great if more companies would practice the hiring of people's partners? Apparently there is one company in New Mexico that does just that.

But, seriously, at some point a lot of performers leave the business to spend time with their families. Ultimately, which is more important: reaching the top alone, or making it to base camp three with good company? I understand that love and relationships are not priorities for everyone. But what if you are already waste deep in the thick of it? How do we balance our two loves to achieve success in both?

Leaving on a jet plane...

2006-05-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

On a brighter note...It turns out I WILL be going to Europe! Miami U. basically demoted me from Residence Director to First Year Academic Advisor, in order for me to get the time off for the trip! Don't worry...It's still the same pay and benefits.

Now, I basically fly in to Paris for a day and a half, and then it's on to Edinburgh. I get back in town just in time to finish up Fledermaus rehearsals and start the school year.

I love jet setting!

In The Ghetto

2006-05-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

I think Cincinnati is getting to me. Everything around here becomes more and more ghetto by the minute, including me. For example, Cam and I have no car therefore I walk to my voice lessons (thankfully my teacher lives a mere two miles away). Usually this is not bad because of the nice weather we've BEEN having. This past Thursday started as a sunny day with only a few clouds in sight. But as I trod along my usual path it started to pour--and not just rain. It began to sleet and then the tornado sirens started going off. My pour little umbrella was caving in on me and I was soaked from the waste down. I couldn't help but laugh watching the bus pass by knowing I had 2 cents in my Coach purse and singing along to Cam's ipod. Talk about ghetto fabulous!

I love the fact that I live in the 21st century, yet I can tell my kids that I trekked to miles in the freezing rain to get to my lessons!

*In case you are curious about my use of the word trod in the past tense, just think about "Good King Wenceslas".

From dusk 'til Don

2006-05-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

I love it when people get excited about opera!

It is going to be a crazy weekend for Cam and I because of his show Don Giovanni FINALLY opening. We will be entertaining our soon-to-be cowboy friend Todd tonight, our parents are meeting for the first time tomorrow, and his crazy friend from Pennsylvania is in town on Sunday.

I also invited my Italian girlfriend because Giovanni is her favorite opera to listen to, but she has never seen it! She cracks me up, because here she's from Italy but her favorite opera composers are Wagner and Mozart. And she doesn't much care for Donizetti, Rossini, or Puccini! I promised her I wouldn't tell the Italian government.

2 Many Sopranos

2006-05-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

Well, not only will I be beginning my coachings and rehearsals for Rosalinda this July, but also for Cleopatra! I will explain...

About six months ago I tried to organize a production of Rigoletto with some of my friends and colleagues. I had two guys who could sing the roles of the Duke and Rigoletto, but they ended up being busy will school/professional gigs. Imagine that. Needless to say, without being a student I neither had priority for all the singers nor access to the free rehearsal and performance spaces.

Now that I am going to Miami U., my girlfriend (a mezzo with a voice perfect for Handel) and I are organizing a production of Giulio Caesare! It is a lot easier when you have other people excited and on board. So, I will be playing Cleopatra to her Caesar. It will be a lot of work, and I can't wait!

Wow! That is one BIG fish!

2006-05-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

I am officially ROSALINDA in next year's production of Die Fledermaus! I am soooo excited and a little nervous. I can't wait to start coaching the role!

So, I am now beginning to feel the effects of being a big fish in a little pond. While attending a studio party last night, held by my fabulous teacher, I was quick to realize that I was one of the oldest students there. Now don't get me wrong, I'm only 24, but I am one of the few sopranos in my new graduate program! Hard to believe I know.

So, the new journey begins...new place, new program, new people and my first lead role. Wish me luck!

In memory...

2006-05-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

In regards to all of those wishing to donate to the scholarship fund in memory of the five lost, I have requested and received the following information...

Those wishing to make a donation for general scholarship support to the School in memory of the five students, may do so in any of the following ways:

· On-line - Go to www.iuf.indiana.edu and choose “Make A Gift”. Select the Bloomington campus and indicate "General Scholarship support, in memory of five students“ when asked where the gift should go.

· By check - Send a check to the Office of Development, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, 1201 E. 3rd Street, Bloominigton, IN 47405. Please note in the memo line that the donation is for general scholarships, in memory of the five students.

· By phone - Call the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Office of Development at 812-855-4737 to make a direct donation with your credit card.

A Tragedy

2006-04-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

I am sure by now you have all heard about the unfortunate tragedy at Indiana University last week. Five of my beloved friends and colleagues are no longer with us. Their talents and contributions to the music community will not be forgotten. Since they have been gone from this earth, many benefit concerts have been held in honor of each individual and a scholarship fund has been started. Robert had composed and conducted his first opera at IU this year, which I'm sure will be performed in many years to come.

Cam and I have scheduled our own memorial tomorrow in Bloomington to be shared with friends we have long since seen in honor and remembrance of each of these amazing individuals.

A Weight Lifted

2006-04-19T01:32:00.000-07:00

By the way...did I mention I was OUT OF DEBT!!!!!!!?

Insomnia

2006-04-19T01:16:00.000-07:00

Can't sleep, so I decided to post...especially since it has been a while. I have great news to report! I was offered the Residence Life Director graduate assistanship! So, I am basically getting $27,000 dollars to go back to school. I am very excited about this.

So now Cam and I will be moving up to Oxford, Ohio and living for free. I have to be up there by mid-July in order to start training. It is going to be a very busy summer. Unfortunately, this means that going to France is out of the question, but Scotland may still be feaseable. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Wiki what???

2006-04-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

Cam has come up with a brilliant way to collate the ideas of an opera to those who may be less informed. Check out his wiki for Don Giovanni that he created for his dad!

PS-We have that actual opera poster signed by the artist, but I will post more about that later.

Updates

2006-04-04T16:19:00.000-07:00

Right now I am sitting in Starbucks (the brand we love to hate) on CCM's campus, hyped up on caffeine after a VERY long day at work, and I have so many new important and exciting things to blog about...unfortunately, none of them are to do with music (really).

I have found a buyer for my car (great article!) which means that in T minus 7 days I will be out of debt completely! A HUGE weight off my shoulders. And we are getting Cam's grandmother's car at the end of the summer for basically free.

In the midst of locking down a graduate assistantship at Miami U., I applied for the Residence Life GA. They are now interviewing me for 3 hours on Friday for the Residence Life Director GA. I have to prepare.

And last, but not least, something to do with singing. I have my audition for Kentucky Opera this Friday (as well as my interview) and my Rosalinda audition is the following Tuesday. Wish me luck!

L'Egisto

2006-04-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

The youth of opera are quite an invigorating bunch. Cam and I went to see the undergraduate opera L'Egisto by Franceso Cavalli at CCM this weekend and it was a pleasant surprise. The basic plot breakdown is this: Two couples are seperated by the Gods, and end up doing a bit of a lover swap. Venus wants to keep them apart with the help of her son, Cupid, and Apollo wants to get them back together (in order for his son, Egisto, to be happy). Our hero, Egisto, begins to go mad and (of course) everyone is falling in love and fighting over our heroine, Clori. By the third act no one has died, the couples return to their original loves, and all are happy. The end.

First of all, it was a Baroque opera--which can a lot of times turn out to be "bore-oque"--but done in a way that was both entertaining and impressive. Even comical at times. Sometimes I just have a hard time processing that these performers are just undergrads. Gives me quite a fire under my butt. Not only am I competing with the older performers with more experience than me, but now I have to watch out for the younger ones with more talent. But hey, I have always been one to love a challenge! So bring it on. It only makes me work harder.

But I digress. This opera was performed by an inspiring group of talented actors and singers. The opera was in typical baroque style: character enters, has short recit and sings their aria, then exits the stage. There was a lot of ensemble music and really some beautiful duets and trios. All in all, a very enjoyable, musical experience. Bravo.

A change of name

2006-04-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

I have officially decided to change my name. I feel that this is the best thing for my career...especially since I am always being confused with the Welsh baritone, Bryn Terfel.

At first, I was just going to pull a "Cher" and go by my first name alone, but then I thought why stop there? I went one step further and had my name changed to the symbol for boron. But then I thought, really? Let's be a bit more original.

Everyone must now address me by vocalizing a C above middle C. This has proven to be somewhat of a problem in my romantic life, seeing as Cam cannot vocalize that note. So, he has insisted on continuing to stick with the boron thing.

Fist of conquest

2006-03-31T16:31:00.000-08:00

My muse has left me. I have not felt the need to write for a while because I do not feel that I have anything really interesting to say. I talked to Cam about it and he just said that he writes about mundane stuff all the time. I do not agree. I find his blog to be very clever and witty...but don't tell him I said that, or he will get a big head.

I do feel, however feel that I need to up the anty. I will make my fellow bloggers proud. As God as my witness, I will blog again!

Is that my voice?

2006-03-30T15:12:00.000-08:00

I had one of the BEST lessons of my life the other day! Talk about a breakthough. Come to think of it, every lesson I've had since began with my current teacher has been great. I feel like we accomplish so much as a team.

It all started with the simple comment, "You need to sing out more." I know I have posted about this before, but it is finally starting to sink in. My teacher likes to describe dynamics as being on a dial from 1 to 10. You never want to sing 10, but apparently I have been stationing myself around a 3. When I do sing out it is usually a blasting 10, but this is unhealthy to do all the time. She told me I should strive for 8. I should remember my own favorite saying, "Piano is a state of mind."

I really worked myself at a level 8 on the Czardas, which I am preparing for the upcoming audition. Though this piece is easier for me in some regards, it really challenges my stamina. I was amazed at the volume and ring that was coming out of my mouth. I almost, quite literally, had to take a step back.

I cannot WAIT to have my next lesson!

Brown Sugar Baby

2006-03-27T18:18:00.000-08:00

Well, we are back from sunny Mexico and officially back into the swing of things. I litterally had my last margarita at 8:30am San Diego time on Sunday (hey, it was five o'clock somewhere!). Cam had his first day of classes today, and I was in the office by 8:00am. Real life stinks.

Our condo in Mexico had a back porch view of the ocean. It was sunny, 75 degrees and gorgeous the entire time I was there. I came home with a very nice tan--thankfully, considering that my appearance was taking a liking to Casper. I only hope that the weather here in Cincy will improve soon and stay that way. I have spring fever, and the only remedy is more cow bell. [Haven't I used that in a previous post?]

I have been asked to audition for the part of Rosalinda in Miami U.'s production of Fledermaus for the coming fall. The audition is in two weeks and while I am in Oxford I will be interviewing for my graduate assistanship as well. We may have to relocate to Oxford for next year, though we had hoped to base out of Cincinnati. Oh well...you do what you have to.

Cam's mum thinks that if I don't lock down a summer program I should come to France for the entire month that they will be there. Darn. I really do want to be singing in a young artist program, but plan B is starting to look pretty good ;)

After an eight-hour long work day, dinner, piano practice, a lesson, and more music practice, I now need to successfully finish unpacking and get a decent night's sleep.

Goodnight.

Decisions, decisions

2006-03-18T08:21:00.000-08:00

Finally! I received my official acceptance letter from Miami University of Ohio yesterday! I did get accepted to University of Louisville as well and am being offered a graduate assistantship. I am still waiting for an assistantship from Miami. It was so hard to be patient when my parents and friends would call me every day asking if I had heard anything yet...As if waiting isn't hard enough.

Isn't it nice to feel accepted? I was thinking about it yesterday. I auditioned for three undergraduate programs and was accepted into one, wait-listed for another, and rejected from the last. I do not regret going to Indiana University because I had a great time and certain things would not have been the same if I had gone elsewhere (like meeting Cam and being Miss Indiana 2003). But I wish I could have had a choice. Well...Now I do.

Her candle burned out...

2006-03-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

I was very sad to hear recently that our beloved Anna Moffo is no longer with us. Her funeral was today in NYC. She was only 73 yrs. old and passed due to complications from breast cancer. My only regret was that I was never able to meet her.

Still No Word

2006-03-12T18:49:00.000-08:00

I'm beginning to think that the mail system does not like me. Still no acceptance letter from Miami, though they said it was mailed out last Thursday. Plus no word from Opera North. Cam has been gone for six days and my friends have all been busy with studying for finals and their new boyfriends/girlfriends. Originally Cam was scheduled to arrive back in Cincinnati by 11:20pm, but his flight was delayed due to the weather...Now he won't get in until 12:30am.

So, today I decided to goes to Dayton Opera to see Die Fledermaus. My former CCM teacher was in the cast and it is one of the shows that Miami U. is doing next year. Many of the actors were extremely funny and amazingly talented. My favorites were John Easterlin who played the hilarious Alfred, Deborah Selig who was the charming Adele, and Ken Shaw as the frisky warden Frank. Comedy is so much harder to do than drama! I am intrigued to see how the production goes at Miami. I am going to audition for Rosalinda in April. I'll let you know how it goes!

A singer without a home

2006-03-08T23:04:00.000-08:00

Literally. As of May 1st Cam and I do not have a home. Here's the deal: We have to downsize for next year since we will both be in school and making minimal income. Because I work for the apartment complex I was able to re-rent my apartment for the summer and then I can just live in a one-bedroom to save money while Cam is in Denver. I am still waiting to hear if I will be going elsewhere for the summer.

I do know this for sure though, I will be going to France and Scotland for a few weeks this summer with Cam and his family. They are actually renting a hamlet (and NO it's not the movie with Mel Gibson)! I am extremely excited about this. I was bitten by the travel bug last spring break when Cam's family took us to Barcelona and London. This break we are heading down south of the border to sunny Me-hi-co (that's Mexico for all you northerners). But the big trip will be the summer. After Europe, Cam and I will be bringing back a car from Vancouver. So we basically have to drive from the very northwest part of the country all the way back to Cincy. I can't wait!

Out of the Funk

2006-03-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Well...I'm back! I have to thank those who gave me advice about future postings and encouraged me to continue with my blog. Who knew people actually read it? ;)

It seems as though I am not only out of my blogging funk, but also my vocal funk. After a disappointing audition last week, I received some constructive criticism from my teacher that really stuck with me: you need to sing out more. I have long been guilty of singing to the size of the room. So when my audition was surprisingly in a voice studio, I held back a bit. Since that audition I have had two more where one had less than five feet between the judge's ear and my mouth (again a small studio) and the other was a nice, resonant hall. I sang full out for both...it felt great.

I have definitely had conversations with my colleagues about university singing. What I mean by this is we all try to be "artsy fartsy" with dynamics and sing along to a piano like lieder even when we are performing arias. This type of singing would NEVER be heard over any kind of orchestra to an audience of thousands. But we think we are being musical and creative. Since my last days of undergraduate I have received the comment to "sing out" more than five times. I am just glad that it finally stuck. Remember, "Piano is a state of mind."

Time off

2006-02-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

To whom it may actually concern, I am taking a little time off from blogging. It has already been two days, so I am maybe thinking just another day. I realized that though I have the right to post whatever information I want to put out there, I do need to be cautious how specific I am in that information. I have never been a person to censor who I am and I am a person with opinions and questions, but I also to not want what I post to haunt me later.

More to come...

Like a fine wine...

2006-02-12T17:59:00.000-08:00

What voice type are you? This is the question that plagues most of us from the moment we begin singing--sopranos, tenors, mezzos and baritones alike*. From the time I began singing until now, I have come full circle in my share of labels. First, I was a lyric colouratura. Then, I was just plain lyric. Next came the questions of possible mezzo-territory. This was followed by a huge gear shift to just colouratura before making it safely back to lyric colouratura land. This may sound trite to the non-singers reading this entry, but it is emotional hell on a singer.

Just think about the art of singing compared to the art of wine tasting. Every voice is as complex and subtle as a wine. Each bottle is unique and everyone thinks this kind would go better with that role. Each pallate will taste varying overtones and suggest alternative repertoire selections. All in all, you prepare this wonderful audition package of five arias that you have studied researched, practiced and perfected for months (maybe even years) only to receive the comments that these selections are all wrong for your voice and you should be singing something completely different.

And lest we forget that just like a bottle of wine ages and the flavors change over the years, so does a singers voice. Therefore, what we are today may very well change in the future. The art of opera singing is an ongoing learning process not to be underestimated or compared to the world of popular music. Opera is not a fad that will soon fade away, but instead is like a fine wine that only gets better with age.

*I purposely left out basses, because of the few true basses I have known personally, they seem to avoid this whole question process. It just takes their heavier voices longer to develop into full capacity and range period.

The Magic Flute

2006-02-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

You scored as Flute. Flute.
well, flutes are very.....flutey.
Kind of indescribable but I can always recognize a flute player when I see one. (not really)

Just click here to find out what kind of instrument you are. Apparently, most opera singers are oboes. Go figure.

If you build it, will they come?

2006-01-27T05:51:00.000-08:00

So I have been going a bit nuts for about 6 months now. I am a performer with no stage! It's funny to think about it now, but when I was younger (and I really mean up until about three years ago) I had the WORST stage fright. So bad that once at a recital, when I was a teenager, I forgot the words to a song after four measures and ran off stage crying. Ah, memories. Now, you can hardly pull me off stage! So what is one to do when opportunity has stopped knocking at your door? You simply barge in on theirs!

After a modest beginning in the audition circuit, and with my current standings as a non-student, I realize that I will not get to perform my dream role of Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto unless I make the opportunity myself. As Miss Indiana, I had access to an entire audience of patrons who would fill the seats in the performance halls. My biggest concern now, is how to entice the crowd into coming...period.

My idea is to put on a concert version of Rigoletto. I have the singers (who already know the roles) and I can get the accompanist. Now, I am searching for a venue and a sponsor. I would like to combine with the American Heart Association (of which I was formerly a member) or the American Cancer Society. I figure that I can use a percentage of the profit to reimburse costs, such as the accompanist, and donate the rest to the non-profit organization.

My question is this: What is the best way to go about approaching these organizations? Does anyone have any experience with organizing an event like this?

Suggestions please!!!

Food for thought...

2006-01-22T11:53:00.000-08:00

Last night at dinner, Cam and I were discussing opera with my folks when an interesting point was made. Applications for young artist programs have almost doubled and new opera houses are popping up everywhere around the states. So what has led to this recent rise in opera population? We have a couple thoughts of our own, for instance that opera skipped a generation of interest therefore our generation is picking up the slack. Or it might be that pop music and the like have reached such a low point of art that the pendulum is swinging in the complete opposite direction.

What do you think?

Dating and the Opera World

2006-01-12T06:40:00.000-08:00

Well, I think that we are way past dating, but the same holds true for any kind of relationship that one is trying to maintain while pursuing this career...

Cam and I have been discussing my graduate study options and factoring in distance, money, and teachers. I know that I will probably go insane if I take another year off simply because it just feels so stagnant. Don't get me wrong...I have lessons and masterclasses each week, auditions every other week, and I have had a few church gigs this winter. But all in all, I hate working this day job just biding my time until something better comes along. I am a doer, not a waiter.

Thus far, here is what has been decided: I am looking into two programs that are no more than an hour-and-a-half away and that can give me good scholarship. I have already met with a teacher at one, and she is wonderful. We really hit it off...She spent two-and-a-half hours with me (at no charge!) and we were able to develop a great rapport with our musical chemistry. I am still waiting to hear from a teacher with the alternate program. I hope that I will have just as good of an experience with their faculty as well.

If neither of these programs is suitable for my needs right now, I will wait another year to attend a school further away (by then Cam will have graduated and would come with me). I am still auditioning for young artist programs that would be held during that year. If none of those opportunities works out I still have the option of spending two months back in Vancouver working with my mentor, Joe.

Ah...Decisions, decisions.

My 12 Days of Christmas:

2005-12-28T09:06:00.000-08:00

12 Family Members
11 Wine Bottles Empty
10 Deer heads hanging
9 Cars-a-parking
8 Hours of Driving
7 Pounds of Hummus
6 Gifts to wrap yet
5 Hours of sleeping
4 Fireplaces burning
3 Hundred Dollars
2 People singing

And a log cabin in the country!!!

Happy Holidays everyone!

And the quest continues...

2005-12-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

Well, my funding continues to be cut. I am now down to 2 (maybe 3) graduate programs--U. of Kentucky, U. of Houston, and U. of South Carolina's music schools. I really cannot afford the fees and travel expenses to apply/audition for more than that. Not bad really, considering I have a wonderful back-up plan. If I don't get into a program, if I can't find another great teacher, or if I cannot get enough funding (i.e. scholarship, grants, etc.) I will simply stay here and continue working with the wonderful voice teacher I have and then try again next year. It is times like this that I realize what an amazing partner I have in my boyfriend. He simply says, "If we have to put each other through our master's degrees one at a time, so be it. We do what we have to do."

I am finally starting to get excited about some of these other programs. About time...I just wasn't finding anything to really get excited about for a while. I fell in love with CCM so much--I know how good their program is and I know I have a wonderful teacher here--that I couldn't see myself being satisfied to go anywhere else. Unfortunately, I was left with no choice. But I have accepted this fate and have picked myself up to continue moving forward.

I have also been in a bit of a musical "slump" lately. Without getting into too much yuckiness, my family woes have begun to weigh heavily on me and I have not been in the most musical mood. I used to tell my best girlfriend that maybe we were too upbeat and happy to be great dramatic artists, but my family is doing very well at proving me wrong! ;)

As I always say, "You can pick your nose, you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family!"

New score!

2005-12-14T07:21:00.000-08:00

well, i am now 2 for 2. cam and i just had our auditions for pine mountain music festival in ann arbor, MI. because of my work schedule, we couldn't make the 4 hour drive until the morning of the audition, and we had to drive back that night. so much to do...so little time!

i was very excited and nervous about this audition for a few reasons:

1) they are programmed to do the magic flute
2) young artists perform the leads
3) this was my FIRST time auditioning with queen!

all in all, i sang solidly and really immersed myself in the performance. i opened with the queen's vengeance aria, then i was asked for baby doe's willow song. they told me in advance that they may have to stop me halfway through, but they DIDN'T! i ended up finishing the entire aria! cam is always very charming towards auditionees and usually strikes up a conversation with them, but by the time i was done singing i had such an endorphine rush that i could barely make out a "thank you". i left the room with a huge idiot grin on my face. not all of the notes were perfect, but i think that that was the most fun i have ever had singing for an audition! and now we play the waiting game...

Trials & Tribulations

2005-12-14T06:42:00.000-08:00

so, not that i was trying to put all my eggs in one basket, but i was really hoping to be given a chance. i just received my letter from CCM stating that i was not accepted for an audition (they asked for a prescreening tape this year). this came as a major blow. i was at least expecting an audition. i spoke with my voice teacher afterwards (who happens to be on the staff) in hopes that it would shed some light on the matter and maybe make me feel better. instead i felt worse. here are the highlighted comments:

1) needs work in the passaggio (i have known this, and have been working on this issue relentlessly!) though her high and low are warm and strong
2) should not have started with caro nome-first three notes are in the passaggio
3) the recording was not my best singing
4) they think i will get more performance opportunities elsewhere

the toughest issue to overcome as a soprano is this: you much register yourself at a much higher level them some other fachs. i could not be "a work in progress", instead i needed consistent technical perfection. my teacher also reinforced that my undergraduate institution (unfortunately) did not give me the proper tools. i knew that while i was in the program.

i spent five years in a fach that was not suitable for my voice (ie fuller lyric) before finding a teacher that began to nurture my high range and to give me repertoire in which my voice sit perfectly (ie Lakme, Queen, Lucia). i vocalize to an A above high F, but these notes were never heard in my vocal training before. instead i was weighted down with Musetta, Pamina, and Laetitia.

we expect that voice teachers have more information and better tools than we do, and we trust them with our instruments. but the harsh reality is that we can trust NO teacher completely. we must be skeptical of there suggestions and audition them to be sure that they can conceive what is better for our voices. we cannot blindly accept their teaching as what is best. singing should not be easy, but the voice should not have to struggle so much. i also must stress that, more often than not, vocal instructors try to fix the symptoms and not the cause-which only tends to cause more symptoms.

sorry to go on a rant, but i only really began singing about six months ago, yet i have been in training for 7 years. better late than never, but i hope that my honesty will help any other singer to more careful with whom they entrust their instrument.

New Template

2005-12-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

New template. You like? That's me on the right... right here ------->

We were in Barcelona, and I was looking pensive.

Cam made it for me, because he is the best boyfriend in the world, and very muscular.

MUST SEE!!!

2005-12-10T13:07:00.000-08:00

this is an amazing site for information on and recordings of famous opera singers: www.cantabile-subito.de. some of the recordings are so old, that you can barely get over the crackling. trust me though...it's pretty incredible.

Not another one...

2005-12-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

i have truly become one of those singers...you know, the kind who can only talk about opera and who will sing anywhere, anytime, for any reason.

i used to always pride myself on being able to control my art. i hated impromptu singing and would listen and sing along to more popular music in my car. i hated it when opera singers would sing songs like "happy birthday" in the classical vocal style, or burst out singing in public venues like restaurants. but now, i can't get enough. i want to sing all the time (for any one, or anything that will listen) and i find myself listening to classical music 24/7. it just got to the point where no other music was satisfying. i had a fever, and more cowbell just wasn't doing it for me ;)

seriously, all day at work i have the classical radio station playing--the only ONE in the cincinnati area--and if ever i am in my car it's the same thing. when i get home i put on one (which usually turns into five) of the LP's from cam's and my AMAZING record collection. not to mention the time we spend practicing and singing for each other!

so what caused such a drastic change? well...the transformation truly began this past summer while i was in vancouver rebuilding my voice. for 3 months i had three lessons a week with my mentor, joseph shore (the best baritone i've heard since merrill) and practiced for an hour every day. i was growing more and more confident with my singing and truly learning how to make my instrument work correctly (about frickin' time!) when i realized it...i was in LOVE! completely in love with the sounds coming out of my mouth. now, don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that my voice is the best. i just mean that i began accepting my instrument for its capabilities and potential. i really began to actually LIKE my voice. this is a major hurdle for singers. we all tend to want what we don't have--higher notes, and bigger sound, etc. but now i feel truly ready to begin...to begin on this long, and hard journey towards becoming a member of the next "golden age" of opera singers.

More Moffo!!!

2005-12-09T17:48:00.000-08:00

i have to say it...i LOVE anything moffo. as far as i'm concerned the woman can do no wrong. if you are an opera singer, especially a soprano, and you have not listened to her you should be drawn and quartered. some may call me crazy or extreme, but that is how it is. and if you asked my boyfriend he would tell you that i'm right all the time ; )

fatal faux pas

2005-12-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

so here's the deal. we have all made this mistake before, but i thought i had learned my lesson by now.

i had my cincinnati opera audition tonight for their young artist program. now, being a lighter type of soprano it doesn't take much for me to warm up--10 min. max. it also doesn't take to long for me to tire out either. today was supposed to happen like so: i was scheduled to work my "normal" job from 8-11am (my boss was supposed to have a meeting that ended up being cancelled!) and then i was supposed to have a lesson at 11:30 this morning. that would have been perfection. my audition was at 6:10pm so it would have given me plenty of time to rest, relax and get ready. well, there was a glitch in the "flawless" plan: we got a ton of snow last night. so, because this bumped everyone's schedule back a couple of hours, my voice teacher and i decided to get together to warm me up right before i had to go sing. naturally, it turned into a full blown lesson--some of the best singing i have ever done--which left little voice for me when it really mattered.

oh well, you win some, and you lose some.

so far, here are my stats: i am 1 for 2. meaning that i have only been happy with my singing at one out of three auditions. why are we our own worst critics?

part of it bums me out because it costs so much money just to apply and travel to get to these opportunities. but also because i work really hard to be prepared. i always wonder what would happen if i just stopped after a bad note and said, "hold on, i'm going to start that again." would it actually fly? i would love to know if anyone has actually tried, or has heard urban legends about anyone trying that stunt.

Best Blog Ever!

2005-12-06T10:44:00.000-08:00

ok...so this is my first blog ever. unfortunately, it has to be short and sweet because i am at work. you know, a paying gig! by day i am assistant manager of the apartment complex in which my boyfriend and i reside. by night, i am a crazy colouratura soprano...ok, so i admit it...i'm really crazy all the time.

my boyfriend is working on his masters in voice at the cincinnati college-conservatory of music. he is fortunate enough to be a basso profundo (one of ten in north america!), and a handsome one at that ; ) i am studying voice privately with a professor at the conservatory while i slave away 40 hrs. a week to make enough money to pay my bills and go back to school.

i had forgotten how nerve racking the whole audition process is, given that it has been five years since i auditioned for my undergrad--the indiana university school of music. i ended up having to take a year of in the middle of my degree to serve as miss indiana 2003, but i will write more about that later.

recently i started auditioning the summer programs--santa fe, central city, pine mountain music festival, and cincinnati's young artist program--but now i am working on grad school applications. i have narrowed it down to the four following: ccm (obviously), yale (they pay full tuition now), boston university (revamping older program, now up-and-coming), and rice (also has a lot of money to allocate).

well, so much for short and sweet. i will have another update soon...poker night is coming up, followed by my cincinnati opera audition.