I've just spent a week at home, resting and seeing family. My mother and father threw a great engagement party for Jon and I, so he could meet all the relatives and friends. He did VERY well...he's all used to talking to crowds, with the singing and everything.
Next up, I have 10 auditions in as many days. I am a little frazzled, mostly by the thought of going through 5 cities for all of them! Singing isn't that stressful to me, but travel sure as hell is.
I am excited to share my voice with all the companies, and hopefully something awesome will come of it. Wish me luck!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
I'm Backstage!
At my Puccini gala concert with the Verismo Opera Club of Chicago. I've finished my portion of this evening's program. And...it was FUN. One hopes that, having to put so much time and energy into getting onstage, that it would be fun once you're actually ON it. But it isn't, always. Sometimes it's nerve racking, if you haven't prepared adequately. Getting something "performance ready" generally takes a lot of time and energy for me..if I haven't put in the time, I tend to overthink what I'm doing, and that is when I'm most likely to screw up.
I will say that I spent a bit less time on the repertoire I sang tonight than I normally do...and yet everything went quite well. It leads me to believe that I am sabotaging myself when I doubt that I can, in fact, do my job. I just did it, it was fun, and I get to do it again on Sunday.
I will say that I spent a bit less time on the repertoire I sang tonight than I normally do...and yet everything went quite well. It leads me to believe that I am sabotaging myself when I doubt that I can, in fact, do my job. I just did it, it was fun, and I get to do it again on Sunday.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Birthday!
I am no longer even in the shade of "early 20's"
a hard-and-fast age of 25 means there are no more excuses. When I was about 18 I decided, after hanging out with an older crowd, that I was going to do every stupid thing there was to do until I was 25, and then that would be IT and there would be NO MORE SCREWING UP ALLOWED.
Then this morning I left a pancake in the pan for 10 minutes....thanks smoke detector! 5 minutes later, I blew a fuse while trying to blowdry my hair. WIN.
There is a certain confidence I'm gaining in my career, though. I am now officially at the age where Things Can Happen...big comp wins, young artist programs, etc. I have no more excuses of "oh I'm a baby, it's fine." The normal uncertainty of career is there, but hopefully this "wisdom" I'm gaining through all of my past stage experiences will calm me down a bit and make this audition season one of smooth sailing.
And now, to go fill out some forms where I have to check the "25-40" year old box instead of "18-24."...I'm sorry, WHO made that call? Maybe this means all the angst of adolescence will just melt away.....fingers crossed. Off to rehearsal!
a hard-and-fast age of 25 means there are no more excuses. When I was about 18 I decided, after hanging out with an older crowd, that I was going to do every stupid thing there was to do until I was 25, and then that would be IT and there would be NO MORE SCREWING UP ALLOWED.
Then this morning I left a pancake in the pan for 10 minutes....thanks smoke detector! 5 minutes later, I blew a fuse while trying to blowdry my hair. WIN.
There is a certain confidence I'm gaining in my career, though. I am now officially at the age where Things Can Happen...big comp wins, young artist programs, etc. I have no more excuses of "oh I'm a baby, it's fine." The normal uncertainty of career is there, but hopefully this "wisdom" I'm gaining through all of my past stage experiences will calm me down a bit and make this audition season one of smooth sailing.
And now, to go fill out some forms where I have to check the "25-40" year old box instead of "18-24."...I'm sorry, WHO made that call? Maybe this means all the angst of adolescence will just melt away.....fingers crossed. Off to rehearsal!
Friday, November 12, 2010
It's about time somebody wrote something in this thing.
When I set out to start this blog, I wanted to fill it with all the excitement and mishegos of singing. I think I have done a pretty good job of that. One of my rules is that I try to keep entries pretty positive while still being true to my life.
And now we come to the center of the maze of a young opera singer's career: Audition Season. Audition season is a very trying time in which you can send out applications for several dozen young artist and summer programs throughout the country (or, if you're super ambitious, the world) and then you wait to see if you've been granted an audition. Never mind being given a contract....sometimes companies give you the breakdown of apps received, auditions granted, and contracts offered, and the numbers are Staggering. You just take it one step at a time and hope for them to hear you...cuz you can't get hired if you don't audition.
Knowing all of this, I bravely forged ahead and sent out my 2 dozen or so apps...and I have to say, the return has been pretty good. Perhaps 2 out of 3 times, I've been granted an audition. Yay! Even with those high numbers though, it's difficult to deal with rejections. We all go through it, and are told over and over again to "develop a thick skin." The competition for opera nowadays is comparable with that of Broadway...opera is super cool, and everyone wants to do it (less people want to SEE it, but that's another post...) so I've developed some coping mechanisms ("I am not my voice...there is more to me than my voice...even though it's what I've been working on since I was 4 years old and I feel like I'm baring my soul every time I open my mouth"...ok maybe that one won't work so well) and am so grateful every time I get an opportunity to share my voice with another person.
So...5 auditions behind me, 12 or so ahead. Time to forge on! With a WONDERFUL thanksgiving beforehand.
And now we come to the center of the maze of a young opera singer's career: Audition Season. Audition season is a very trying time in which you can send out applications for several dozen young artist and summer programs throughout the country (or, if you're super ambitious, the world) and then you wait to see if you've been granted an audition. Never mind being given a contract....sometimes companies give you the breakdown of apps received, auditions granted, and contracts offered, and the numbers are Staggering. You just take it one step at a time and hope for them to hear you...cuz you can't get hired if you don't audition.
Knowing all of this, I bravely forged ahead and sent out my 2 dozen or so apps...and I have to say, the return has been pretty good. Perhaps 2 out of 3 times, I've been granted an audition. Yay! Even with those high numbers though, it's difficult to deal with rejections. We all go through it, and are told over and over again to "develop a thick skin." The competition for opera nowadays is comparable with that of Broadway...opera is super cool, and everyone wants to do it (less people want to SEE it, but that's another post...) so I've developed some coping mechanisms ("I am not my voice...there is more to me than my voice...even though it's what I've been working on since I was 4 years old and I feel like I'm baring my soul every time I open my mouth"...ok maybe that one won't work so well) and am so grateful every time I get an opportunity to share my voice with another person.
So...5 auditions behind me, 12 or so ahead. Time to forge on! With a WONDERFUL thanksgiving beforehand.
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