Go with your favorite

After hearing some auditions recently, where I was not adjudicating, I had singer lamenting to me that they didn't get the opportunity to sing their favorite aria (since the judges didn't ask for that one).
My question to the singer was - why didn't you offer that one???
The simple point here is that always assume that "they" might not ask for your favorite tune.  The way around this is to OFFER it. 
I have said this before in different ways, but never, ever leave your best stuff on the table - assume you'll get one shot, and give them your personal desert island aria.  Don't worry about what you think they might want to hear, or what they might be casting, etc.....
Your best chance to win a competition or to get hired is to sing what you do best!!

In Memoriam.....

All of us who are on this journey of being professional singers, have had people in their lives that have inspired them and led them on their way.
This past week I lost the person who was my first inspiration, and my high school choral director.
Sam Shie, who was also my first voice teacher, passed away last Monday.  I was lucky enough to be able to drive to Ohio for his memorial service and visitation.
I feel very lucky to have had this man start me out in my career all the way back in high school, and I'm happy to say we never lost contact, and I was proud to call him friend over all these years.
I share this to say that if you have past mentors or teachers, and have been meaning to give them a call or drop them an e-mail to tell them again how much they have meant to you - do it!
None of us knows when this journey will end, and thanking those who have made it a worthwhile trip is an idea to not put off.

Happy New Year

I hope you all had a restful holiday, and are ready to jump back into the fray!!
I wanted to let you know that applications for the 21013-14 Florentine Opera Studio are now available at YAP Tracker.
Looking forward to sharing some more ideas about auditioning this year!!

Happy Holidays

I hope to post again before the end of the year, but in the meantime, I hope you will all have a happy holiday season (and I'm sure many of you are finishing up auditions, Messiahs, etc.!!!) - a rest will be welcome!
The new year will bring new opportunities and challenges, but that's the great thing about turning the page - it's all in front of you!!

How is the audition season going?

Many of you are probably in the midst of auditioning, and I applaud your efforts.  As I recall my own efforts in this regard, I am reminded again how tough a constitution - physically, mentally, and emotionally - is required for successful auditioning.  And I should clarify, by successful, I mean how you met your goals for those auditions.  Since you have no control over how you are perceived or chosen, you cannot judge success by those exterior criteria.  Rather, judge yourself by how well you meet your personal checklist.
Of course, your goal is to get hired, accepted into a program, or to win a competition, but the first step toward meeting that goal, is to be successful in executing your game plan!

Arias in a Scenes Program

We have a scenes program coming this week with our Studio Artists, and in the past, I have shied away from putting arias on a program like this, opting instead for duets, trios, and quartets.
I am really glad each singer is doing a solo scene on this program, and I have really enjoyed directing them.
It gets me back to a point I have made before about preparing arias for auditions.  Staging them out ahead of time makes the performance (or audition) much richer.

This program will have four interesting, contrasting arias:

Da tempeste from Giulio Cesare
Augusta's aria from the Ballad of Baby Doe
Lensky's aria from Eugene Onegin
The Count's aria from Le Nozze di Figaro

Each of these presents unique vocal and dramatic challenges- but each also represents an opportunity for a singer to grow as a singing actor.

Remember to take each of your audition arias and stage them - even if you don't use all of that staging in your audition, you will find that the "residue" of that staging exercise will leave you with a stronger audition aria!

New York

I just got back from almost a week in New York for the Opera America New Works Forum, and I also heard some auditions, and caught the Met's The Tempest.
As a board member of Opera America, this was my first opportunity to visit the new Narional Opera Center, which I can tell you is really stunning!
Hearing auditions in the new Audition Hall was great, and gave a great perspective on hearing singers in audition.  I hope that you get an opportunity to sing there (there are some wondeful studios for rent there as well).