It’s been a tough day, this September 30. My Facebook feed is overflowing with grief and disbelief about the demise of New York City Opera, and my neighbors and friends here in the D.C. are are awash with anger and chagrin about the possible (probable?) government shutdown. It’s been a maxim of my professional life
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Audition Tour Deadline #2: California & Texas!
If you’d like to apply for an audition at our Los Angeles (10/25), San Francisco (10/28) or Houston (10/30-31, 11/1) locations, the deadline is Monday. As always, start here. Need any help getting your head in the audition game? Try this. Enjoy the weekend!
Read MoreVulnerability
I’m a podcast junkie.* This week, I’ve been catching up on the TED Radio Hour, and today’s post is courtesy of this gem. (Don’t worry if you don’t “do” podcasts. Just click through to the web page and listen!) TED Talks videos are amazing things, but I don’t always have the time to devote to
Read MoreThe “Look” of Singing
Last month, the Harvard Gazette took a look at the role of visual information in assessing performance. In “The Look of Music,” the a study by Chia-Jung Tsay indicated that “nearly all participants—including highly trained musicians—were better able to identify the winners of competitions by watching silent video clips than by listening to audio recordings.”
Read MoreFeed the Flame
I used to think that having a career in the arts provided some level of immunity to burn out. When I would hit bottom (as I did regularly…), I dismissed it as a sign of weakness. After all, if I am fortunate enough to do what I love, and the work is itself a thing
Read MoreFinal Notice for Audition Applications for NYC, Philly & Chicago
One more reminder (because we hate the sad and frustrating discussions that ensue when folks miss the deadline…) Applications for early/mid October audition dates in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago are due on Monday (September 2.) Start here.
Read More2014 Auditions Deadline: New York, Philadelphia & Chicago
If you’re interested in singing for us this fall in NY, Philly or Chicago, you’ve got a week to apply. The deadline is Monday, September 2. LOCATIONS & DATES National Opera Center in NYC on October 5, 6, 7, 8 & 10 Curtis Institute in Philadelphia on October 13 Classical Symphony Hall in Chicago on
Read MoreAbundance
I am besotted with this opera written by a man in his 80th year. Verdi knew in his bones how difficult both life and art could be, yet he chose at the end to immerse himself in laughter. He had a palpable affection for this flawed knight whose appetites are laughably huge and whose self-confidence
Read MoreBut Wait… There’s More…
I thought I had caught up on July. But I missed reporting on the musical geeky goodness that was Lucky Thirteen! Jeremy Frank, pianist and opera coach extraordinaire, pulled together a free evening of music inspired by this lucky anniversary year of 2013. He and four singers honored composers born on the 13’s (Verdi, Wagner,
Read MoreStages of Healing
A Wolf Trap Opera summer seems to fly by at the speed of light, and in just 10-12 weeks, there’s little time to burn. But in the middle of the swirl of early July, three of our singers (Kiri, Andrea and Speedo) and I spent two afternoons at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in
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