In addition to resolutions by a professional singer and a student singer, CS decided to add someone on the audition circuit. We found a tenor in his early 20s. At our suggestion, he will remain anonymous, since we want him to be able to talk openly about his experiences at auditions. We will call him John Fisk.
Dec 2001 Activities
John Fisk
(Auditions Circuit)
Being a tenor in my 20s (early 20s at that), professional singing work is difficult to find. Even YA programs usually look for singers older than me. What does that leave? I guess that’s the big question.
So you all get a little background on me, I have a Bachelor’s Degree from a music department at a large university with a top-notch music department. I performed many roles there, though most of them were character or comprimario. I have done some regional work, all comprimario. I have also been to three YAPs, one pay-to-sing, one crossover Summer stock, and one where I got paid a small honorarium. I just recently graduated and moved to NY. I did not want to start my Master’s right away, and thought that since I would have to get an office job anyway, I might as well do it in NY and save myself the airfare for my auditions. In addition, I have a lot of friends here, the beginning of a professional network, and the chance for a cheap sublet for the year.
Right now, other than a small community production and an oratorio concert, I have no singing jobs coming up. I have done around 15 auditions that I’m currently waiting to hear from (T’was the season to be YAPing), though I can’t count on any of them coming through. (Who can, really?)
My goals? Starting the first week of January, I plan to temp, make enough money to live, eat, and take lessons (which in NY amounts to an obscene amount of money). I will continue to audition, to strive for my professional career. I know that my opportunities increase exponentially with every year that goes by, so I must maintain a level head.
I have been without a teacher since September, when I moved to NY. I want to find a teacher in NY that will add to my existing technique and not try to rebuild me from scratch, but who won’t just sit by and ”let my voice grow.” (I can do that myself.) And I want to make the kinds of professional contacts that will start getting me the small gigs that I am ready for.
Most of all, I want to maintain my love for this art, and not fall into a spiral of discontent that will discolor my passion for years to come. I want to keep my sanity while I don’t have as much singing to do as I did in college. I truly love singing and I don’t want that to change.
Kristine Hurst
(Student)
My resolutions for this past month were as follows:
To study for 20th Century theory placement test.
To take a one-year Italian placement test.
To maintain my 4.0 GPA.
To apply and choose rep for the NATSAA recital comp.
To meet with the last member on my committee to plan next year.
Here’s how I did:
I met with the head of the theory department. He assigned pieces to analyze and we’re meeting this week to see if I’m on the right track for the test in January. I also have the theory textbooks to study over break.
I will be taking the Italian test sometime early next semester.
I maintained my 4.0 GPA.
I applied for NATSAA and started work on repertoire.
In light of my plans to actually have some vacation time, January plans are more mixed. My resolutions from now until January 15 are:
To visit family in Oregon with my husband.
To take the 20th Century theory placement exam in early January.
To learn two more pieces for NATSAA.
To memorize/revisit the rest of NATSAA repertoire.
To learn a Handel cantata for a competition in February.
To email my early-music professor with information she needs to write me a recommendation for a Bach festival.
To sign up for another yoga class.
Janeanne Houston
(Pro Singer)
The basic resolution of doing one hard thing each day has really multiplied during the Christmas season. I’m exhausted, and eagerly awaiting the ”extra
credit” period, when I get to rest and enjoy the holidays!
Last month’s resolutions:
1. To sell as many of my CDs as possible before Christmas, since it is a seasonal recording.
2. Make connections and develop interest for future recording projects while
marketing the present recording.
3. To use the CD as a marketing tool for future performance opportunities.
4. To obtain live radio interviews or performances.
5. To save all the income from the recording for future projects.
How I did:
1. Sales have been good. All three Tower Records locations put the CD at their listening stations. I have a box of CDs in the car at all times. The college where I teach has been selling them in their bookstore, where it has done quite well. Family members have helped, and I’ve done concerts at churches and one at a residence for retired university faculty. My husband designed a website, www.sogreatajoy.com, to assist in sales.
2. A British composer has agreed to do a commission for a future project. Several local composers have expressed interest in writing something. The instrumentalists are interested in the next project and waiting for instructions. Dead ends whenever I mention the word ”grant.”
3. The CD has been mailed to many of the conductors I know; the rest later.
4. Michael and I did a live radio concert. That was REALLY hard, especially since there was no warm-up time in the space. Today I did a radio interview on NPR. It went very well, and I’m sure it will generate interest.
5. Done.
Resolutions until January 15:
1. Rest, but continue with one hard thing each day.
2. Learn music for spring engagements.
3. Assemble and work on music for next summer’s CD.
4. Continue to work on sales of “So Great a Joy.”
5. Approach recording companies.
January 2002 Activities
John Fisk
(Auditions Circuit)
Well, things have started to look up. After two months of incessant auditioning, my persistence has paid off.
Just this month I received a Young Artist (covers, D company) offer for the summer, two small productions in NYC this spring, and I’ve gotten some very positive feedback from some of the directors that I have sung for. I am thrilled that my dedication has paid off, but things are just getting rolling.
As I’m sure you’re all aware, these jobs will in no way come close to covering my expenses this spring and summer. This means that I still have to temp while I’m in NY. But in the grand scheme of things, none of us can realistically expect to make a living right out of school. All I can hope to do is continue working as much as possible and hope that financially, things move in the right direction eventually.
As for the immediate future, I would like to continue to meet more people in the business in New York. I’ve been trying my best to “network” as much as possible, and I feel like the more people I meet, the easier it is to get work. I’m also in need of finding a teacher in New York. I’ve been living here since October, but because of how busy I’ve been with auditions, and how short money has been, I haven’t been able to go searching for a new teacher. That’s it for now…..and you’ll get to hear about my January and February performance in the next installment. Stay tuned….
Kristine Hurst
(Student)
In lieu of studying for the Post-Tonal Theory exam, I elected instead to take the graduate-level course. Oddly, I passed out of all my theory requirements at the master’s level, which means I’m required to take two grad-level theory courses here at CU before I can take my doctoral seminar. So, I contacted my theory professor in December and taking this course will kill two proverbial birds with one stone. In December, I met with my last committee member to plan for my upcoming doctoral projects.
My lecture recital this spring will focus on the development of the lute song. As planned, I’ve chosen my repertoire and applied for the NATSAA competition, and the prelims are February 3rd. The next few weeks will be spent preparing for that. In addition, I’m covering Zerlina for the upcoming production of Don Giovanni here at CU, and staging rehearsals resume this week. That calls for some Mozart review as well.
Taking the Italian proficiency test may need to be pushed off a few months due to scheduling, but I’m less concerned about that. This semester I need to focus on completing both graduate-level theory courses. Sometime in February, I’ll need to compile an audition tape for an early music festival and collect letters of recommendation from the folks who have agreed to write them for me. Luckily, I already have everything I need for the tape, except for one aria that I’ll need to record. This spring, there is also an Entrepreneurship award competition at CU and I have a proposal that might earn me some extra money. I plan to get that organized soon.
Applications for next year’s graduate awards are due by the end of February, so I plan to get those in early too. Last but not least, I did keep my 4.0 GPA! Hanging onto it this semester with two theory courses might be a different matter . . . Until next time!
Janeanne Houston
(Pro Singer)
Resolutions I am following through January 15:
1. Rest, but continue with one hard thing each day.
2. Learn music for spring engagements.
3. Assemble and work on music for next summer’s CD.
4. Continue to work on sales of “So Great a Joy” and developing the website www.sogreatajoy.com.
5. Approach recording companies.
How I did: While I took a break, there were a number of complications that delayed any real sense of feeling revitalized. I got a bad cold, one of my favorite aunts was diagnosed with inoperable cancer, and on Christmas Eve one of my beloved cats “got his wings.” The relaxation part didn’t really begin until about a week ago. Today my house is getting a new roof…suffice it say, many career things took the back burner this month and the hard things were more personal.
I’ve started on the spring music; have it mapped out and know about how long it will take. The program for the 2nd CD is basically assembled. I love the process of choosing new music and am looking forward to rehearsing with the other musicians. The year-end sales are finished, but due to the seasonal nature of the recording, I will merely work at keeping it on the shelves and visible. I have sold copies to libraries, and have made sure friends and family members across the country have copies they can sell for me. Many people have written to say how much they have enjoyed the recording….very gratifying. I received one rejection (it was a long shot) and await answers from other recording companies. Not one of those months one really wants to tell everyone about, but the best laid plans are frequently rewritten without notice! Like most of us, I found myself uttering many prayers for a new year of peace and for one that is less dramatic.
Resolutions until February 15:
1. Get resume and copies of the CD out to the remainder of the list of
conductors assembled in November and December.
2. Lay ground work and begin scheduling for next summer’s recording.
3. Follow up on contacts made, commissions, and responses received. Keep
ears open for opportunities to audition for visiting conductors.
4. Approach more recording companies.
5. Set up auditions out of town.
