Forget All of That Other Stuff

I'm not going to any of those schools I talked about before... I have been accepted to the Manhattan School of Music (and I am going!) where I will be studying with Patricia McCaffrey!

I'm so excited!

Audition Tour

Sorry it's been so long! In the last post I wrote the salt in my wounds was that I was rejected in the pre-screening round by 5 of the 9 grad schools I applied to. However, I'm feeling a bit better about it and here is some info about the actual auditions I have been on:

Chicago

I auditioned at Roosevelt University last week. The audition went well. I started off with Zueignung and they asked for my Noel Coward piece: "I'll follow my secret heart". This was surprising to me because I had arias on my list, but they didn't really want to hear them. Though Cle has told me that they don't stress arias that much there. So... I don't know how I feel about that.

Audition Rep Choices:

• Two Lied from Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm für hohe Singstimme und Klavier by Richard Struass:

I. “Zueignung”
VIII. “Allerseelen”

• “I’ll Follow My Secret Heart” by Noel Coward
• “Klange der Heimat” (Csardas) from Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss
• “Il est Doux, il est Bon” from Herodiade by Jules Massenet

The audition was really casual... the most casual audition I've ever had where I didn't know any of the people auditioning me.

I really really loved Chicago and I had an awesome tour guide (

songbirdelsha

's little sister). I finally got to go to Vosges Haut chocolat where I got the best hot chocolate I've ever had. I also found this dress at nordstrom marked way down on the sale rack (also the last one in the store which also HAPPENED to be in my size... It was meant to be!!!) This has become my new audition dress and I love it so much.


Philadelphia

I found out that this is in fact the first year that they have used pre-screening recordings at curtis and that they only invited something like... 30 some odd grad students to audition live (there were 90 voice students total asked to audition, the rest were for undergrad... this was out of 180 applications total...). Apparently in previous years if you applied you were automatically given an audition, and I didn't realize that.

Anyway, I didn't get into Curtis, though I felt I sang really well at my audition and what else can you ask for.

Audition Rep Choices:

• “Il est Doux, il est Bon” from Herodiade - Jules Massenet
• “Klange der Heimat” (Csardas) from Die Fledermaus - Johann Strauss
• “Come Scoglio” from Cosi Fan Tutte - W.A. Mozart
• “Gluck Das Mir Verblieb” (Marietta’s Lied) from Die Tote Stadt - Erich Korngold
• “Ain’t it a Pretty Night?” from Susannah - Carlisle Floyd

I started with "Il est doux" and they picked Marietta's Lied... which I really wish they hadn't. It's a beautiful aria and everything, but damn it's a bitch.


The best part about Philly was that I stayed with Andre who I hadn't seen in a while. Also, I got to go have some drinks with Bryan and other AVA people.

Boston

This was the best audition... ever. I really nailed my audition at Boston University. As some of you know, I lost my voice the week after Mardi Gras... and it really took me a while to get back into the swing of things. But by the time I got to Boston, I was back to my old self (maybe a little improved?).

Audition Rep Choices:

• Two Lied from Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm für hohe Singstimme und Klavier - Richard Struass:

I. “Zueignung”
VIII. “Allerseelen”

• “Klange der Heimat” (Csardas) from Die Fledermaus - Johann Strauss
• “Il est Doux, il est Bon” from Herodiade - Jules Massenet
• “Come Scoglio” from Cosi Fan Tutte - W.A. Mozart
• “Ain’t it a Pretty Night?” from Susannah - Carlisle Floyd

I started with the Csardas and they picked Il est Doux. This made me really happy because they are both pieces that I am very comfortable with. And for the first time since losing my voice I was able to just sing and not have to worry about "Will I get through this phrase?" "Am I going to crack on this high note?". I was really able to let loose and just try to communicate something, and it was amazing.

Yesterday it snowed non-stop from 7am-11pm... that accumulated about 10 inches of snow, which is a lot. Raluca (a friend I made while attending Boston Conservatory) stayed at my hotel with me and we ordered baked potato pizza from our then favorite pizza place, Crazy Dough's. It was awesome... I really do miss Boston.

Anyway, I can't wait to get home (which will be in a few hours... I'm in the airport right now) and see my puppies. Then just 12 short days until my audition in New York. I really hope I get in to MSM!!! I'm gonna go see Peter Grimes while I'm there... which will be fun. It will be my first opera at the

met

.

x-posted to Livejournal

Wasting time not talking about sensitive subjects

A real post is in the works... but because I am unable to deal with my own shortcomings (both because of lack of time at the moment and not wanting to pour salt in very fresh wounds) I leave you with this:
Two posts about the staggering statistical probability of not having a successful career in the performing arts.

Now I'm off to see Sweeney Todd! Meat Pie anyone?

Concert Tomorrow

Tomorrow I will be singing at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church (corner of St. Charles Ave. and State St.). We are doing out annual "Celebration of Carols" with Orchestra. The big piece for the day is Ralph Vaughn Williams' First Noel* (if you want to listen to samples it starts at track 17). I get to sing a really beautiful solo section... (... I sing "The Cherry Tree Carol: Part Two") The orchestration is really spectacular, and it is a piece that isn't performed very often. So, if you are a fan of Christmas music or Vaughn Williams (really, listening to his music is like eating chocolate) or both, then come down to St. Charles Ave. Presbyterian at 10:30 am tomorrow (December 15).


*The First Nowell is a nativity play for soloists, chorus and small orchestra, was arranged and adapted from medieval pageants by Simona Pakenham. It was incomplete when the composer died in 1958 but the finishing touches were made by Roy Douglas who had often worked with the composer over the years. I know the piece from the centenary year (1972) BBC broadcast in which Bernard Keefe conducted the Serenata of London and the soloists included Sally le Sage and John Carol Case. That broadcast lasted far longer than this adaptation because the BBC included dramatisations of the Christmas story. A number of traditional tunes are included such as On Christmas Night, The Cherry Tree Carol and God rest you merry gentlemen. Highlights include the baritone solo and chorus episode Joseph and Mary with a plangent introduction from the harp. The longest episode is the final one: The First Nowell for soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra. The effect is superbly carried off here. This is enormously strengthened by the purity of the chorus as well as the crystal clarity of the solo singing and the precise yet not stilted enunciation. The piece ends not in a triumphant dazzle of brass and bells but the quiescent serenity associated - at least in this season - with the Christ-child. (from Music Web International)

New Headshots

New Headshots

Saturday I got new headshots done. I think they turned out really well. I really needed new ones... the last set I had done was before the storm and I lost my cd of them in the hurricane.

Planning Ahead

I'm really glad that I got my application materials out early. By Saturday (the December 1st postmark deadline) my screening cd had not gotten to NEC. The USPS website was still showing my package as having been dropped off at the post office, but nothing else. So I went ahead and made another copy of the cd and sent it again... that way if the package is completely lost in the world I will have something that will show up with a postmark before Dec. 1. It's true! It really does pay to be organized an plan ahead!

Dealing With Disappointment and Moving On

The Disappointment

I did not get accepted to the Wolf Trap studio program. I would be lying if I said my heart didn't sink a little when I got the email. Though, I'm not nearly as upset as I would have been if I hadn't read this. I am looking forward to January 1st... which is when I can email them and get feedback about my audition. It will be just in time for my grad school auditions.

The Moving On
I am going to go ahead and apply for Opera North. They are doing Madame Butterfly and The Magic Flute. I think that I have a pretty good chance of getting to cover one of the three ladies. Auditions for that are in February.

I have sent off all of my screening cds and now comes the agonizing wait of who will offer me an audition. I was actually pretty happy with my screening cd, so I think I should get auditions to most places.

I sent an email to my old voice teacher, Bill Cotten. He taught me during my year at The Boston Conservatory and is also a teacher at New England Conservatory, which is one of the schools that I have applied to. I wrote him to let him know that I was applying to NEC and to ask if he would be willing to have me in his studio (if I am accepted and attend). I was happy to hear that he would, in fact, be happy to have me in his studio. I would feel very safe studying with him again as he teaches the same technique as my current teacher. I'm going to schedule a lesson with him in February when I go to Boston for auditions.

I have finalized my audition rep for grad school auditions as follows:
Opera Arias:

1. "Ain't It a Pretty Night" from Susannah, Carlisle Floyd
2. "Il Est Doux, Il Est Bon" from Herodiade, Jules Massenet
3. "Come Scoglio" from Cosi Fan Tutte, W.A. Mozart
4. "Klange der Heimat" from Die Fledermaus, Johann Strauss
5. "Gluck Das Mir Verblieb" from Die Tote Stadt, Erich Korngold

Oratorio Aria:

1. "O Had I Jubal's Lyre" from Joshua, G.F. Handel

Art Songs

1. "Fruhlingsglaube" Franz Schubert
2. "Im Zimmer" from Sieben Fruhe Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier, Alban Berg
3. "Fleurs"from Fiancailles pour Rire, Francis Poulenc
4. "Villanelle" from Les Nuits d'Ete, Hector Berlioz
5. "Heart, We Will Forget Him"from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson, Aaron Copland
6. "Sweeter than Roses" from Pausanius, Henry Purcell

Good varied list, I think...

Anyway... I am off to bed. I'm taking the puppy to get fixed tomorrow morning.

Trittico, Thanksgiving, and Applications

The Trittico

The Trittico went very well and the Times Picayune ran a glowing review! I will have nun photos up just as soon as I find the cables to connect my camera to my computer. The performances were really wonderful, Friday was particularly on. Since I had done Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi before I was already very familiar with these shows, but I had never seen Il Tabarro before. I really feel like it is some of the most beautiful music Puccini has ever written. It has also convinced me that the three operas should not be separated out.

After the Sunday performance I got a really nice compliment from Mardi Byers (Angelica and Giorgetta), she went out of her way to tell me that I have a wonderful voice and that I do a really great job on stage. Then she told me that her voice teacher had said the same things and did I want to meet him. So, I met her teacher Dale Fundling (teaches at the Mozarteum in Salzburg) and he said that if I am ever in Europe he would be happy to give me some lessons. Maybe it isn't a huge deal, but it made me feel really good to have my work noticed, especially since it was a very small role. Ok... enough of bragging on myself.


Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was uneventful. My family is in London without me... they went to visit my sister who is doing a semester abroad, but I had to stay for Trittico performances. I went over to my Aunts' houses and a I made a large quantity of pomegranate pies, which turned out rather well... I have spent most of my Thanksgiving break writing application essays and putting together paperwork.

Grad School Applications

My grad school applications are almost complete. My remaining tasks are as follows:

• Finish Opera Scholarship Competition Application for CCM, photo copy birth certificate, and print 8x10 glossy b&w head shot.
• Send another copy of head shot to BU
• Rend resume to Roosevelt and make sure that Dreux writes recommendation and then collect all three recommendations to send with resume.
• Photocopy at least 2 concert programs to send to Curtis, then mail all of my application materials.

Curtis appears to have changed their application procedures recently. When I applied for them for undergrad (and I think when some of my friends even applied last year) you didn't send a screening cd, pretty much everyone was granted an audition. Now, they require a screening cd... I guess they were having too many applicants. In addition to their $150 application fee they will charge another $150 audition fee if you are granted an audition. That makes curtis the single most expensive school to apply to. $300! That seems a little ridiculous, no?

Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good about my applications. I'm trying to get everything done so it can be sent out by Monday, but I am well on my way.

As far as my audition repertoire goes, I still have some choosing to do. I have my five arias and I think I have decided on my German lied.... but I still need an oratorio aria and two French melodie, two English art songs, and an Italian art song. Dreux says I need "smart" repertoire... I'm just so bad at choosing music for myself. It seems like whenever I pick something, I end up being told that it is totally wrong for me...

Anyway, I have a lot of work to get done, and not a lot of time to do it. I will say, having a pug sleeping on my feet really encourages me to just watch the scrubs marathon and forget about getting any work done... maybe I'll watch just one episode...

And now for your viewing and listening pleasure Bryan Hymel singing "Folle di gelosia" from Il Tabarro: