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.

I didn't get the part. Duh.

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?

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.

First Post

I decided to start this on a whim... to see where it takes me--or doesn't. After 22 years, seemingly a long time, I've finally decided what I want to do with my life. I'm finishing up a BM in Classical Voice and I want to be a professor. I have a long road ahead of me, so I wanted something that would be solely dedicated to what I'm doing to achieve my goal and how I am feeling about it. My goal is insight.