Make your own audition
Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago at 10:36 pm. 0 comments
The first weekend in October I went to NYC. I was invited by Mrs. Gloria Gari of the Giulio Gari Foundation to attend the Winner’s Gala (the competition of which I was a finalist this past May). Of course, I couldn’t say no – it was basically a command performance. Also, she gave me the names of two different opera Artist Agents to contact and see if I could get an audition.
One agent got back to me and said they weren’t available on the days that I was in town. I was very disappointed by that. I was unable to get a hold of the other agent. The phone number I had rang without answer. The second number I found on the internet was disconnected. So, I went to NYC with only one coaching set up (Jonathan Kelly, coach/assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera: he had played the competition in May and I greatly enjoyed working with him). I got to NYC and spent Friday just walking 
around taking pictures for my oldest daughter (her birthday was one week later). I was feeling very down because I was by myself, in NYC and NOT singing! But…
Saturday morning my teacher calls me just as I’m coffee with my great friend from Children’s Choir in Indiana, Jennifer Munson (an AMAZING sound engineer!), my teacher called and asked me to sit in on a coaching that another student of hers had. This coaching with Joan Krueger was amazing – Joan is exacting in her knowledge and demands of Italian and style. I greatly enjoyed watching the coaching and learned a lot just sitting there. Before we left, we set up additional coachings for both of us on Monday. FINALLY, I was singing for more than one person while in NYC! Perhaps my time wasn’t going to be completely wasted.
My coaching on Saturday evening with Jonathan Kelly was FABULOUS. He really helped me to figure out the points to attack in “Non più mesta” (closing aria from Rossini’s Cenerentola – retelling of the Cinderella fairytale and a wickedly difficult aria) and how to approach them with fresh eyes. I have re-listened to my coaching several times as well as taken written notes. There is just SO much information!
With that positive experience under my belt, I got up Sunday and had lunch with a friend from college who I had not seen since I graduated fifteen years ago. It was WONDERFUL and it was like we’d never stopped living next to each other in the dorm. We had good food and better conversation – thanks to Facebook for creating the mechanism by which we could reconnect!
Sunday evening was the Giulio Gari Foundation Gala at the New York Athletic Club. The concert hall on the ninth floor is beautiful – all old wood paneling and detailing. The concert was very good – I just can’t turn that teacher/competitor brain in me off. But, the audience loved it. There were several opera “all-stars” there (Licia Albanese, Dolora Zajick, Maestro Joseph Colaneri and others) and many donors who work hard to raise the money that is given to the winners to help pay for the expenses of coachings and lessons.
During the buffet dinner, I went around the room and talked to some of those who had judged me in the competition, as well as anyone who even looked interested. I handed out my card and “worked” the room. Both of the agents with whom I had tried to set up auditions were there. I went to the one I had not been able to contact and gave him my resume and asked if he had any time on Monday to hear me (as I was leaving on a 6am flight Tuesday). He said he didn’t have time, but he’d be happy to listen to what I have posted on my website. I thanked him and went back to my table.
About 20 minutes later, a daring idea came to me. We were immediately next to the room in which the concert had been sung. I went to my teacher (who is a former student of Giulio Gari) and asked what she thought of my idea. She said, “Yes, do it.”
So, I went up to the agent and asked him, “Could I sing for you right now?” After about five minutes of thinking about it (by telling me a story of two different singers he had represented and their willingness to get to the audition or not) he agreed to hear me sing. My teacher agreed to play the piano for me (yes, I had my music binder with me). I ended up singing two arias for him and he seemed very impressed, both with my singing and with my daring/determination. He said he would definitely be in touch with me. I sincerely hope he is. But, even if he isn’t, I did what I came to NYC to do. I sang for an agent. Just because I didn’t have an audition when I got there, didn’t mean that I couldn’t sing for someone!
If I hadn’t taken the opportunity, then I don’t think I could have felt good about myself and my stated goals. I say I want to perform – I have to go out there are do what I can to make that happen. So, I was very satisfied with my both my singing and having done “my job.” Here’s the secret: as we left the building, I giggled for about the next 45 minutes. It’s okay to let yourself go when you’re done, just not mid-stream!
My coaching on Monday with Joan Krueger (2004’s Classical Singer “Coach of the Year” and on staff and SUNY Purchase) also went very well. 
She had me sing several pieces and gave me good advice about some things that had just been getting in my way. As I left, she said that she’d keep me in mind if she heard of something that might work well for me. Again, I sang for someone who might be able to help me further my career. If not, then I learned from her and my singing is better for having worked with her.
After the coaching, I went to meet Susan Eichhorn Young, with whom I’ve been conversing on Facebook and Twitter, as well as reading her blog regularly (and ALWAYS saying to myself “Amen!!”). I have re-posted from her blog (with permission) as well. We met on her lunch hour and had a great time. It was nice to meet someone face-to-face with whom I’d only had an “internet” relationship. We were even dressed in the same colors! It was great.
So, my trip to NYC was NOT a waste of time/money. I sang more than I thought I would – even on my first day there, and I got to connect/reconnect with several people. What more could I ask for? I would LOVE a contract, but at this point, I know that I’ve done everything I can do. On to the next item on the agenda: Bel Canto Competition (well, with a side-track to singing the Cosi fan tutte chorus and Alto solos in the Mozart Requiem – October is Mozart month for me!).
So, the moral of the story is: MAKE YOUR OWN opportunities and be prepared to take them when you have them. The worst that could have happened is I could have been told “No.” At that point, what would I have lost? Nothing. Instead, I asked and I gained opportunities (singing for an agent – plus all the people in the hallway to whom I’d passed out my card and getting an additional coaching session!). That’s the worst that can happen when you ask. See my blog from six months ago “Singing is not brain surgery.” http://rachelvelarde.com/2009/03/26/singing-is-not-brain-surgery/ As singers we feel we have so MUCH to lose when we take a risk. Instead, it’s when we DON’T take a risk that we lose.
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