Hello, fellow Vocalisters!
I promised an update on my insane recital schedule for March, so here
it is, as briefly as possible.
On March 24, I participated in a program of music by women composers
sponsored by a local chapter of the American Association of University
Women. Performers included me (mezzo soprano), a soprano, a
clarinetist, and two pianists. I performed a duet with the soprano
and also sang two solo pieces. All three were pieces I'd had to
prepare for some other performance, so there was minimal preparation.
We did get paid a little, and I got to remember what my stomach goes
through on the day of a solo performance. (Not happy). It went well,
and it looks like we may be able to repeat the program at some local
libraries.
On March 29, I was privileged to perform a program of music interwoven
with dramatic readings about women of faith with a talented soprano
friend who researched and prepared all the spoken text within about a
week's time. This is the program which we had been approached about
in January; we put the whole thing together in about two months.
How? For one thing, we agreed to use music rather than memorize,
particularly since each of us was already performing at least one
other recital program within a month of this one! Also, we were
passionate about the subject matter...and the fact that it paid fairly
well didn't hurt. The head of the women's studies department at Lewis
University has already asked us to repeat the program in the fall to
try to draw a larger audience.
My stomach was in knots all day. The performance again went well, and
I did manage to eat dinner that night. I could hardly eat at all on
Thursday and had to force myself to eat Friday morning so I'd have the
stamina for my French program. I was walking around half numb both
days; I'd cancelled all my students, slept as much as I could,
reviewed the text, didn't oversing...and all that seemed to work,
because I performed well on Friday evening (March 31) and was not at all vocally
fatigued when I was done, even though I was on stage singing for about
an hour and forty five minutes (with a fifteen minute break). We had
about fifty people in the audience, which was a pleasant surprise
(wow, people actually showed up!) and everyone had positive comments.
I'll be able to hear what I actually did after the recording is mixed.
I'm about recovered today! This has been an incredible, intense
experience. I learned a lot about myself and what I can do. And it
looks like I may have opened the doors for many more performances of
just these three programs (a local Borders store may want me to repeat
the French program, depending upon how well the coordinator likes the
recording).
My mind is already turning over the possibilities for the next
program...
Thanks to all who sent their good wishes.
Vicki Bryant
Mezzo-soprano and recital tri-athlete
Naperville, IL
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