Phillip Boykin grew up one of 10 children in low-income housing in South Carolina. Described as “tone deaf” by those who knew his prepubescent voice, Boykin refused to be deterred from his early longings to sing. That tenacity has served him well and led this classically trained singer to a career in opera, on Broadway, and in film. In spite of odds stacked against him, Boykin’s dreams have always been as big as his impressive physical stature. With a work ethic to match, Boykin is now seeing his dreams realized in big ways.
The second book in the So You Want to Sing series aims to get your voice rockin’ and rollin’.
Assessing your physical, vocal, and mental readiness and then tailoring your warm-up to address weaknesses in those areas will help you be on your best game every time come audition time.
One night while sitting in my parents’ kitchen watching television, I stumbled across a reality TV show called Rock Star: INXS. I had never gotten into American Idol or other
By Carol Kirkpatrick, author of ARIA READY, The Business of Singing Often when you get hired by an opera company, or for any professional venue, you are asked to become
How do you define success? Is your career only going to be a success if you make it onto the stages of A-level opera houses or top tier theatres? Do
By Eric Stoddard In life people can be divided into 3 groups: Finders, Minders, and Grinders. Finders are those who naturally like to talk about starting something new, finding new
A pile of rejection letters doesn’t mean you’re not fit for this career. And just because you land one lead in a college production or spot in a coveted YAP also doesn’t guarantee a fast track to an international career. Consider the uncertainties of a singing career from a sports perspective to keep a better perspective.
Chicago-based lyric soprano Emily Birsan recently finished a three-year residency with Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. Now with her first CD release last month and her debut at Florida Grand Opera next month, this young singer is quickly establishing herself as a singer on the rise. In this exclusive interview, she shares her experiences growing up in Wisconsin, how she first got her feet wet with classical music, and how she stays grounded in a highly competitive and cutthroat industry.
Continuing her discussion of the myriad of issues surrounding YAP fees, Cindy Sadler takes a look at what singers want from opera companies and the arguments for and against those wants.
Your voice teacher has most likely told you, perhaps more than once, to keep your sternum high and rib cage expanded. But do you really know what this means and how to execute it? A better understanding of the muscles involved and physical skills required will lay the foundation.
Dr. Jahn lays out the benefits of acupuncture, including when it is useful, the advantages for singers specifically, and how it can aid with everything from pain to stress relief.
