One evening during the recent Classical Singer Convention a fellow singer recounted the details of her day. It began with her sore disappointment at not advancing to the next round in the AudComps, even though she felt great about her performance. Not advancing caused her to question her decision to sacrifice money and time to attend the Convention. By the end of the day, however, her disappointment began to fade. Successful performances in two masterclasses with two terrific presenters, a successful audition at the Rehfuss Competition, and an afternoon listening to her fellow singers in spotlight recitals in the hotel atrium, changed her feelings of frustration to hope. Just a few successes while surrounded by a community of singers, and this singer gave up thoughts of throwing in the towel!
Every singer has experienced similar ups and downs: disappointment over an audition gone bad, heartache over a bad performance, sorrow over a job not gotten—even when you felt you nailed the audition! Then, little successes remind us why we do what we do. An audition goes great, you get the job, you nail the high C in the practice room, you feel the thrill of performing as you take your bows and hear the applause—and you’re reminded of your passion, your reason, for being a singer.
When you’re trying to bridge the gap and make that jump from student to professional by vying for an apprentice position with one of the many terrific Young Artist Programs out there, disappointment can seem like a constant. Competition is fierce, and the singers auditioning for program slots outnumber the positions available. This is the hard, cold reality.
As this singer at the Convention reminded me, that’s why pursuing as many opportunities as possible is so important, so that when one opportunity falls through, another awaits.
In our efforts to inform singers of available opportunities, we’re excited to announce a new online resource for classical singers: the Young Artist Program Directory. Similar to the already existing University, Summer Program, Teacher, and Coach directories, the Young Artist Program Directory is an online searchable database of all the information you need to know about Young Artist Programs. Find out when and where programs audition, how many singers are in a program, where the program’s graduates are singing now, the stipend singers receive, whether lessons, coachings, and other classes are offered, and more. Visit www.classicalsinger.com/directories/young_artists/search.php to take advantage of this exciting new resource.
In this issue, we highlight several Young Artist Programs—some of which you’ve heard about, and others maybe you haven’t. Young Artist Programs usually offer terrific opportunities to help young singers bridge the gap between student and professional—but not all programs are created equal. Many combine outreach programs with main-stage productions, and this can mean long hours and a lot of work for apprentices. Read about one singer’s experiences doing nine months of outreach and decide if this is something you’re cut out for.
Are you a reader who’s past the “young artist” stage of your career, and wondering what this issue of CS has to offer you? Be sure to read Cristina Necula’s interview with Diane Zola of Houston Grand Opera. Ms. Zola offers a slew of practical advice for singers at any level.
This month we also begin a series of articles on the chakra system, or energy centers, of the body. Over the next several months, Suzanne Jackson will discuss each chakra in detail, and how balancing your chakras can improve your singing.
Whether you’re a singer auditioning for Young Artist Programs or a singer at a
different stage of your career, remember Diane Zola’s sage advice: “Singers need to look beyond and always move forward, instead of dwelling on why they didn’t get something.” Keep your mind open to the endless opportunities. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—and have faith that when one door closes, another will open.
