It's been a while since I've updated. There's not much going on as it's summer... News from today is that I planned my recital! I'm super excited...it's going to be a really fun program. Except even though it's in February it seems to be crunch time!
Here it is:
First half: Rossini song set, Pasatieri Song Cycle (3 Coloratura Songs), Debussy song set
Second Half: Two Adele arias, Profitez de la vie, Flower Duet w/ Megan, Doll Song
Other news is that I have my "final" list of schools (I say "final" because I'm mostly set but have made a few changes in the past week so never really want to say final). Here it is in order of where I would like to go the most:
USC
Long Beach
Colorado
Oregon
SF Conservatory
Northridge
Luckily right now is the time I can say YAY! and not yet be overwhelmed :).
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Grad school
Grad school? Yes. Where? I don't know. I'm feeling... out of sorts. I was planning to stay at SF State for my grad work, but my advisor is strongly urging me not to, and the more I think about it the more I think she is right. I'm scared, about a lot of things, but the more I learn about these schools the more excited I get about having more opportunities to perform, meeting new people, making connections, maybe even studying with a coloratura...
Here's my list so far. I'm trying first to expand it, then shrink it down to a reasonable number of schools to apply and (hopefully) audition for.
UCLA
USC
Long Beach
Indiana
North Texas
Boston Conservatory
Cincinnati Conservatory
Semi-interested in Oregon, but their website is really crappy so I'll need some more info on that front.
Long Beach calls my name for a few reasons, it's semi-small, it's in California, my sister goes there, they have a good program.
USC does 2 fully staged operas, a chamber opera, and opera scenes... this is pretty special. I need to find out more about UCLA... so far it's appealing because it's in LA and I have family and friends there. Way less scary.
Indiana puts on 8 fully staged operas a year. It's also GIGANTIC. They have 300 practice rooms! I love this, but feel like I might get lost and performance opportunities could be limited due to the sheer number of students they have...
North Texas is also gigantic... It's also in Texas. But according to my advisor, there is an awesome coloratura who teaches there and that is a very interesting prospect...
I do have to admit that I'm a little terrified of both Texas and the Midwest. I also have some more frightening personal issues regarding leaving San Francisco that I'm trying to reconcile with.
My interest is ultimately to get a doctorate, and thus be able to teach at a university and perform a lot. Why? I don't want the life of a regular performer, I don't want to travel the entire year. I want to teach, I want to perform, and I want a normal life (probably including a fair amount of travel, but not an exessive amount).
Here's my list so far. I'm trying first to expand it, then shrink it down to a reasonable number of schools to apply and (hopefully) audition for.
UCLA
USC
Long Beach
Indiana
North Texas
Boston Conservatory
Cincinnati Conservatory
Semi-interested in Oregon, but their website is really crappy so I'll need some more info on that front.
Long Beach calls my name for a few reasons, it's semi-small, it's in California, my sister goes there, they have a good program.
USC does 2 fully staged operas, a chamber opera, and opera scenes... this is pretty special. I need to find out more about UCLA... so far it's appealing because it's in LA and I have family and friends there. Way less scary.
Indiana puts on 8 fully staged operas a year. It's also GIGANTIC. They have 300 practice rooms! I love this, but feel like I might get lost and performance opportunities could be limited due to the sheer number of students they have...
North Texas is also gigantic... It's also in Texas. But according to my advisor, there is an awesome coloratura who teaches there and that is a very interesting prospect...
I do have to admit that I'm a little terrified of both Texas and the Midwest. I also have some more frightening personal issues regarding leaving San Francisco that I'm trying to reconcile with.
My interest is ultimately to get a doctorate, and thus be able to teach at a university and perform a lot. Why? I don't want the life of a regular performer, I don't want to travel the entire year. I want to teach, I want to perform, and I want a normal life (probably including a fair amount of travel, but not an exessive amount).
Friday, January 30, 2009
After a rather disappointing end to the school year (got a really yucky sickness and couldn't do my jury) and a pretty miserable winter break (broke my arm), I'm feeling ready for this semester. I had a good, productive lesson on Wednesday with my awesome teacher. On Thursday I think I had a really good audition. I don't think I sang the best I ever have, but I walked in there without one little tiny bit of anxiety or nerves, and I didn't spend the entire day fretting about my audition. It gets easier every time.
Sent out a bunch of emails today, mostly to chorus masters about being in an opera chorus this summer. I'm also thinking of auditioning for Hello Dolly! in Walnut Creek, which, if anything would be more great experience and if I got a role would be really fun.
Good things are coming this year I hope!
Sent out a bunch of emails today, mostly to chorus masters about being in an opera chorus this summer. I'm also thinking of auditioning for Hello Dolly! in Walnut Creek, which, if anything would be more great experience and if I got a role would be really fun.
Good things are coming this year I hope!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Right now I'm hanging out with Bear instead of at school practicing because I am sick. Bummer.
Only updates are that I decided not to audition for Aspen this year. I talked to my mom about it and I just can't afford to spend the entire summer not working. I'm actually feeling really good about the decision though because it means I will be able to focus entirely on my OperaWorks audition, which is the most important to me.
Only updates are that I decided not to audition for Aspen this year. I talked to my mom about it and I just can't afford to spend the entire summer not working. I'm actually feeling really good about the decision though because it means I will be able to focus entirely on my OperaWorks audition, which is the most important to me.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Audition
Last night I had my first "Big Girl" audition, as I have been calling it. It was for one of the small soprano parts in The Ballad of Baby Doe at the Berkeley Opera this summer. Let's talk about the good things first:
1. I sang really well
2. I looked cute
3. I got to audition backstage at SF Opera which made me feel really special
4. Every time I audition it gets easier, this was the easiest yet
5. Everyone was really nice
6. I got myself out there and went for it
And now the bad things:
1. I was the youngest person there by at least 10 years
2. The room was totally not soundproof and I could hear everyone else singing
3. They all had gigantic massive earth mother soprano amazing voices
4. I'm pretty sure I sounded like I was six compared to the other women
I definitely won't get cast, but they might offer me a chorus part... which is still paid and would be a good experience. All in all, the good things outweigh the bad and I really had no idea what I was getting myself in to. I'm glad I did it, although it was slightly discouraging. Will I ever be good enough?
1. I sang really well
2. I looked cute
3. I got to audition backstage at SF Opera which made me feel really special
4. Every time I audition it gets easier, this was the easiest yet
5. Everyone was really nice
6. I got myself out there and went for it
And now the bad things:
1. I was the youngest person there by at least 10 years
2. The room was totally not soundproof and I could hear everyone else singing
3. They all had gigantic massive earth mother soprano amazing voices
4. I'm pretty sure I sounded like I was six compared to the other women
I definitely won't get cast, but they might offer me a chorus part... which is still paid and would be a good experience. All in all, the good things outweigh the bad and I really had no idea what I was getting myself in to. I'm glad I did it, although it was slightly discouraging. Will I ever be good enough?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Lesson Today
Today I had a voice lesson. It went well. I started using a new technique last week that's making a huge difference. It's giving me a lot more fullness in my voice and a lot more volume as well. Of course, with everything new comes new challenges too so I'm also trying to learn how to balance this new fullness with the natural flexibility of my voice. It's not easy, but I'm really excited about the possibilities this might hold. I worked on Adele's Audition Aria which I'm performing for opera workshop next month, it went well and it's a good piece to practice my new technique on.
Friday I had an audition for the aria/concerto competition. I don't expect to win but either way I will be happy because it was something of a personal victory for me. It was my first audition since using this new technique, and it didn't go perfectly (obviously) but it went really well. I think it was a good practice run for all my upcoming auditions because I don't care that much about the outcome, so a good audition is a win just as much as being selected is.
I just found out that BASOTI is taking a leave of absence for 2009, which means that if I get accepted to any summer programs that I have NO chance of being in the Bay Area. Which means no chance of being with Ryan. Right now, I'm really hoping for Opera Works (not just because it's in California). I really really like what I've heard about it and I'm really interested in the type of program they are trying to offer. It seems almost like...a healthly lifestyle. I really hope it works out. I'm currently working on my resume, which is a little hard. My audition is in February.... 5 pieces, so I need to start choosing now. I'm thinking right now about: "Fair Robin," "Doll Song," "Profitez de la vie," "Mein Herr Marquis," and maybe an Oscar aria.
Friday I had an audition for the aria/concerto competition. I don't expect to win but either way I will be happy because it was something of a personal victory for me. It was my first audition since using this new technique, and it didn't go perfectly (obviously) but it went really well. I think it was a good practice run for all my upcoming auditions because I don't care that much about the outcome, so a good audition is a win just as much as being selected is.
I just found out that BASOTI is taking a leave of absence for 2009, which means that if I get accepted to any summer programs that I have NO chance of being in the Bay Area. Which means no chance of being with Ryan. Right now, I'm really hoping for Opera Works (not just because it's in California). I really really like what I've heard about it and I'm really interested in the type of program they are trying to offer. It seems almost like...a healthly lifestyle. I really hope it works out. I'm currently working on my resume, which is a little hard. My audition is in February.... 5 pieces, so I need to start choosing now. I'm thinking right now about: "Fair Robin," "Doll Song," "Profitez de la vie," "Mein Herr Marquis," and maybe an Oscar aria.
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