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Date sent: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 18:43:51 EST
Subject: Re: Too Old?
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Ms. Cohen,
Here's my 2 cents worth...
No , you are not too old. Consider some of the popular forms of music today
and the artists performing them. Without being too cynical, don't you agree
how badly we all need some good singers? Who cares how old any of us are?
Consider the alternative to aging.....

Without getting too maudlin about lost time and opportunities let me relate a
story. When I was 19 years old I auditioned for the Boston Conservatory of
Music. My adjudicator was a wonderful teacher named Irdi Pilla. I guess I
really impressed her, as about 5 years later I was driving a cab (kinda like
"Your an actor? What restaurant?") I picked her up at the school and she
remembered me on sight. I was a little embarassed when she asked me if I was
still singing. I wasn't at the time and told her so. She said "That's
alright. You will sing when you have to".
I am now 45 years old and I have not really sung in 15 years. I am starting
it all over again. It's now or never. I have to.

Seriously, do what you feel you must do. Sing.

On another topic(briefly), if you go to a recital and the performance is not
what you think is up to snuff, be gracious. If you think you can sing it
better than what you heard the you should be grateful and thank God for your
talent. If the singer is better than you (an experience I recently had
attending a performance of the Messiah in Boston with the wonderful baritone
Kevin Deas and a wonderful countertenor by the name of David Walker ) then be
grateful you got to hear it.

There was a sign in the studio of David Blair McCloskey I remember very well
and fondly. It read " Stop competing and start improving yourself "
OK- lecture over...

Thanks for "listening"

Richard Meredith
"Prodigal Baritone"
Quincy, MA