Blog

And just like that, we’re in Texas. Off the plane, bags thrown in the hotel, and suddenly we’re at the Wortham Center, bathing in the beautiful sound of the HGO Orchestra playing Beethoven. It has been 20 years since I saw Fidelio, and this evening was even more compelling because of the WTOC alumni onstage

A random collection of things we’ve accumulated along the audition trail… No, the Winter Mustn’t Come So Soon Ladies, there are alternatives to the Mezzo National Anthem. Recently heard to good advantage: “I Am an Actress” (Nina’s Aria) from Pasatieri’s The Seagull, “Waiting” from Harbison’s Great Gatsby, “Don’t Say a Word” from Heggie’s Dead Man

After a week off from opera duty (and yes, my daughter’s wedding was a.ma.zing…), we’re back on the road again today, in beautifully sunny Cincinnati. Our Ohio stop always brings us music from an array of wonderful midwestern music schools – CCM (our audition site host), Indiana University, University of Illinois, and University of Missouri 

Rahree and I have an annual audition tour magazine addiction. Neither of us tends to read magazines for fun (you can’t count Opera News, really…) the rest of the year. But in October/November, our carry-on luggage bulges with things like Vogue, Scientific American, Real Simple, Psychology Today, Rolling Stone, Wired, and Oprah. It’s Ms. Winfrey who

It was a whirlwind Seattle visit. The morning pre-audition ritual was particularly extensive, as we were still on east coast time and up before the sun.  A 7am hike up Queen Anne hill netted us one of the most memorable sunrises I’ve seen. (Captured at right with my phone, as of course, I didn’t think

We’ve finished 12 of the 20 days on our audition tour (with still many miles and 4 cities to go…), and it’s time for the first iteration of the Short List. Much can and will change between now and November 15, but here’s what we’re brainstorming so far for next season. Exact outcome dependent on

A look back at Philly, only 48 hours ago… Our new digs at Rock Hall on the campus of Temple University. The venue recommendation was made by a singer friend, and truly, it’s an acoustic that a singer can love. [Translated: our ears were ringing, but we made our peace with it :)] Lunch at

It’s been said before, here and elsewhere, and it’s worth saying again: Who you are in the room outside the audition is important, too. Not that there’s an epidemic or anything – thankfully the folks who run afoul of this guideline are in the minority. But there always seem to be a few… Most people