Dorothy Byrne knows about defying the odds. She started her singing career later in life, well beyond the magical age of 30. How did she do it? She used her business acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, and tenacious, persistent personality. Meet Byrne at this year’s Classical Singer Convention, where she’ll give you all the marketing know-how you need to find success.
Maria Zouves, soprano turned opera administrator, talks about what she has done as a singer (good and not so good), what she sees other singers do, and how you can be at your very best for your next audition. Be sure to join her for more auditioning dos and don’ts at two masterclasses at this year’s convention.
After three intense rounds of competition among more than 200 applicants, the judges of the AudComps 2007 named 13 singers Certified Classical Singers for 2007-2008. This month, we feature soprano Meredith Hansen from the Emerging Professional Division. Be sure to join us for the exciting AudComps Finals Concert at this year’s Classical Singer Convention to hear those vying for the title of Certified Singer ‘08-‘09.
Auditions are nerve-wracking enough. Factor in a pianist with whom you have never worked and the situation can become even more dicey. You can make your pianist’s job easier, however, and ensure that you both enjoy the audition experience. Laurie Rogers, assistant conductor with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, tells you how. Meet and work with Rogers at this year’s Classical Singer Convention.
Soprano Rochelle Bard, first-place winner of the Professional Division of the Classical Singer AudComps ‘07, shares how she overcame her stage fright, how she made her most “cried-over” aria her new favorite, and how she has learned to be “in the moment” as a performer.
Often in the midst of the ups and downs and high pressure career of classical singing we can lose ourselves, blurring the lines between our identity and our profession. Read about five tools to help strengthen your core—that inner sense of who you are—leading to a healthier and happier you, both on and off the stage. Be sure to join Debbie Riggs Wood for more discussion on this topic at the Classical Singer Convention ’08 in New York City, May 24-26.
I’ll never forget my first trip to Brooklyn. I was in town for an audition and my boss had arranged for me to stay with her sister, who lived in
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Rather than sit back and enjoy retirement at his lovely Florida home, baritone Sherrill Milnes has chosen to continue his career, this time working behind the scenes, inspiring and helping the next generation of singers. In this exclusive interview, Milnes shares how growing up on a farm influenced his singing career, what he sees as the major pitfalls for emerging singers today, and what a typical masterclass with him entails. Join Milnes and his wife, soprano Maria Zouves, for masterclasses at this year’s Classical Singer Convention in New York City.
When CS went shopping for an article on the basic ingredients of the Bel Canto style of singing, we turned to a true expert on the topic, Metropolitan Opera assistant conductor and prompter and founder of the Bel Canto Institute, Jane Klaviter. As Klaviter says, it’s really best to see the techniques worked out live and in person, and you can do just that at this year’s Classical Singer Convention. Work with Klaviter in two Bel Canto masterclasses, May 24 – 26 at the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott Hotel in New York City. This article first appeared in the January 2004 issue of Classical Singer.
