Don’t spend a lot of time obsessing about how to relate to the audition panel. Auditions aren’t cocktail parties, and other than avoiding the appearance of being extraordinarily grumpy and crank, there’s not a lot to worry about. Greetings First of all, there’s no reason to walk to the opposite end of the room to
Read MorePosts Categorized: Uncategorized
Audition Room Acoustics
The annual search for decent audition spaces in various cities across the country is a huge challenge. Some of the spaces we use are typical opera house rehearsal halls, and we’re all familiar with how they feel, look, and sound. But occasionally we end up in a space at one of the two extremes of
Read MoreOutside the Room
I’m easing back into work this week, feeling fairly disoriented for reasons good and bad. But today’s topic is pretty straight-forward, so I’m in luck. We get a lot of questions about protocol inside the audition room, and we’ll take a look at this topic later this week. For now, though, spare a moment to
Read MoreHiatus
It’s a good thing I’m not getting graded on the audition season mini-course, for I’ve fallen off the wagon in a big way this week. It was delusional to believe that we could process and review 1,000 audition applications and keep up with the blog at the same time. In spite of (and somewhat because
Read MoreCounting Down
Just a reminder that if you’re interested in applying for an audition in New York, Philadelphia, or Vienna, you have until 12midnight tonight (10/9/09) to do so. Enjoy your weekend!
Read MoreExpert Friday: Chicago
It’s a good thing it’s Expert Friday, because I have been rendered completely inarticulate by the last 50 hours of application processing. Can’t even hold a simple phone conversation. Have no English. David Holloway is the Director of the Apprentice Singers Program for Santa Fe Opera and Head of the Voice Department at the Chicago
Read MoreAudition Props?
Now that that’s settled… FINAL DEADLINE for audition applications for summer 2010 is this Friday, October 9 at midnight.Start here.
Read MoreDon’t Pace & Don’t Land the Plane
What does your audition aria look like from behind the table? Singers worry endlessly about the extent to which they can move in an audition situation. Should You “Block” Your Aria? Well strictly speaking, no. You shouldn’t perform your audition in the same way you would approach a staged performance. But the exercise of staging
Read MoreThree Soapboxes
When I crafted the outline for this set of audition posts, I threw in a day called “Musical Preparation.” Well, duh. That’s sort of what you do most days every day. I know that, but I just want to call attention to a few specific vocal/musical issues, to make sure they are never overlooked or
Read MoreCould We Hear the [Insert Name of Aria Here], Please?
Coming up this week in our Fall 2009 Audition Mini-Course: Monday – The Second Aria Tuesday – Musical Preparation Wednesday – Physicalization Thursday – Props Expert Friday – Chicago-based colleagues weigh in Do You Have Any Mozart? Much of the time, you’ll get to choose your first audition aria. Sometimes it’ll be your only aria,
Read More