"Productivity" is a Relative Term

So, I feel as though I've had the laziest week EVER. Except for Xmas Eve/Day services, I didn't work...this wasn't by choice....the new company who hired me is a little slow with giving me jobs to do, so I'm hanging out until they give me more definite hours.

However, I finished my final application for school - the DMA program at Boston University. It was a bit more strenuous than the other applications - an essay, a complete repertoire list (...me trying to recall the composers that I studied 6 years ago in Italian Art Song Lit....), a resume, an employment resume ("real" jobs I've held), and a graduate recital program. But I did it! And got an audition. So I'll be home in Boston next month for a weekend. Mark your calendars!

I also have been scheduling more auditions. Being your own agent is hard. I personally go through spurts of productivity - contacting 5-10 theaters/opera companies in a day, or filling out and mailing a few applications. Then I wait. And wait. And there isn't much return. So I get frustrated and stop trying for a couple days, then get mad at myself for being lazy, and the whole cycle starts all over again.

I hope I get back into school. I'm really good at school. At least getting these 3 school auditions (North Carolina School of the Arts, Indiana, and BU) are forcing me to practice daily and get my repertoire in good shape for the next month. I also am working on one of Jon's song cycles to record, I have the Opera Playhouse outreach tour at the beginning of February, and an art song recital at the end of February. So busy-ness will pick up again. I should learn to enjoy the down time.

Hope everyone has something fun planned for New Years!

...Except when you CAN'T sing tomorrow

All of the intense crazy singing gigs over the last 2 weeks have rendered me speechless...literally. My voice sounds very scratchy today. It doesn't bode well for the xmas eve and day masses that I'm scheduled to sing. But I will go into cord protection mode: no talking or singing (luckily I've learned the pieces I need to sing so I don't have to stress over practicing them), lots of Throat Coat and Gypsy Cold Care tea, a tiny bit of apple cider vinegar in every drink (disgusting, but it works), and sleeping as much as possible. 48 hours of that should cure the hoarseness. Occupational hazard, but it shouldn't last long.

Job Satisfaction

So it's been an absolutely INSANE week....I worked at the restaurant every day, had 3 rehearsals, was a substitute cantor on Friday night, and had 2 concerts today.

The concerts were performances of our chamber Messiah...8 singers, a string quartet, a pianist, and 2 trumpeters. We were at North Park Covenant Church in the afternoon and St. John Berchman's church this evening. Both concerts went wonderfully; we performed the Christmas portion (part I) of the Messiah, and were asked by both churches to come back at Easter and perform parts II and III. Which is exciting and awesome.

While I've been performing all these musical opportunities that I've created for myself, I continue to get a mixed bag of wait list/rejections from various schools and companies. And for some reason, I let that bother me more than I let myself enjoy the singing jobs that I DO have. It's part of wondering when I will become a "real" singer instead of having the confidence to know that people do enjoy my voice and want to hear me perform. And I WANT to perform for them, but seek validation from the companies that won't hire me.

My mantra for now is: At least I get to sing tomorrow!

'Tis the Season

So with a few more auditions out of the way, this week turned out not so bad. Jon is here, which is awesome, and I sang a gig at my synagogue tonight. It was a choir concert/Shabbat service. The choir is made up of half ringers (professional choristers) and half amateurs. We made a decent sound, I think. The pianist of the klezmer band (yes, the synagogue has an amateur klezmer band as well) came up to me afterward and told me I had a fantastic voice. It is moments like that where I think I can keep trying to sing and "make it." Or maybe by virtue of comments like that, I already have....but then I remember I have to work my non-singing job tomorrow night...oh well.

Here is the first plug of MANY for my MESSIAH CONCERT! woot. The dates and times are:

Dec. 19, 3pm, North Park Covenant Church, Chicago
Dec. 19, 7:30pm, St. John Berchman's Church, Chicago

Dec. 20, 2pm, St. Norbert's Parish, Northbrook.


Anyone local who is reading my blog, PLEASE come see us! It should be pretty awesome.

Jazz

Sometimes, with all the classical music learning, I forget that other genres are out there. Then I am happily reminded....as I was last Saturday night.

I was hired through my restaurant to bartend at a catering event. The event was a party at this enormous, gorgeous townhouse in the Gold Coast of Chicago. The hostess told my manager that they were expecting 50-60 people, and that a pianist was hired to come and play during the party. He informed her that I was a singer, and after the pianist arrived, she told me that I could sing if I wanted. As if she had to ask.

The pianist she hired was Matt Conway - he's a fairly well known jazz pianist in the Chicago area, playing at big-name jazz clubs like Andy's and the Green Mill. He was fantastic, and more than happy to have me sing with him.

So, instead of pouring drinks, I got to sing jazzy Christmas tunes for 2 hours! It was so much fun....I've enjoyed singing jazz since I dated a bassist in my undergrad years. Even though I haven't been formally trained as a jazz singer, I know many standards and am learning as I mature as a performer to follow my instincts, which helps when I need to scat or improvise during a piece.

A wonderful evening and adventure! So much fun.

Professionalism

So, I've been putting together this chamber concert with my roommates for the holidays. We are doing the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah, with 8 vocalists, 4 string players and 2 trumpets. It has truly been a group effort on all fronts, except that I am the one in charge of organizing the singers.

And it has been quite a trial! We had one rehearsal last Monday night which was sparsely attended, but was useful in working out breaths and dynamics for our music. But then I've been struggling to find a reliable singer for one of the voice parts.

I've tried to be as fair and patient as possible with all of these musicians. I know in the "real world" of opera that nobody is this patient. Decisions are made quickly, and singers are thrilled to find work in a professional company. Granted, this project and group are not professional, but we are trying to run the rehearsals and performances in as professional a manner as possible. It made me realize that I could never be on the casting side of things - I want to make everyone happy, and a casting director simply cannot do that.

As soon as this concert is over, I'm sticking with singing. Although the project promises to be a fun one!

On a happier note, my website is up and running...thanks Dad!

you can view it here:

www.samanthastein.com

Enjoy!