Dear Christine,
Do not give up solo singing too easily! In terms of a vocal training you are
a young singer! Think of it from a different perspective. You have a fresh,
unspoilt voice, with only 5 years of wear. Many singers at your age already
have a shred of a voice left after using it non-stop for 20-30 years! Yours
in comparison is in great shape, I'm sure. And, you still have many, many
years of singing ahead of you.
It may be too late to have a big, international career or to get on the
roster of a major opera house, or to get an agent or a management. It may be
too late to earn a full living from singing. But, let's face it - most of us
do not get there either, no matter what our ages are.
It is not too late to have a singing career on the local scale, though. And,
it's not too late to be a solo singer! It may mean that you will have to go
out and audition for a places like - pay-to-sing companies, operatic/music
societies, community opera/music theatres, and any semi or non-professional
opera/theatre companies. Yes, you will not get paid. Yes, sometimes you will
have to pay for the privilege. Occasionally, you may end up getting a
stipend. But it's worth it! The satisfaction outweighs the costs.
The other possibility is to have your own recitals. Rent a church, prepare
program, hire a pianist, and off you go. You can make this a permanent
feature. Do it at least twice a year, in the same church and call it a
series, make some fancy posters and leaflets (easily done in this computer
age), and you have your own wonderful musical outlet where you can sing
whatever pleases and challenges you. The best, and more interesting for the
audience, if you can share the program (and the cost) with other
musician(s) - singer(s) or instrumentalist(s). Invite "guest" musicians to
your series, too. You may end up having quite a success that way. I know
someone who did exactly that, and who is now a very sought-after recital
singer, and she is in her late 60-ties!
My advice to you would be - do not get locked in a choir mentality! I'm sure
there are good choirs out there, but for many singers, the choir singing is
not an option - for whatever reason. There is also a question of an
individual personality. Some of us are not cut-out to be one of many. There
is nothing wrong with that. But, if you do LOVE singing with a group but
find yourself limited by the present situation - vocally or otherwise - try
to get into an opera/musical theatre chorus. They take people of all ages.
At least you will get to sing in your own full vibrato voice, no cursed
blending at all, and no standing still on the risers. Also, memorizing the
music and the staging and acting can be much more challenging than anything
you've ever done in a choir (especially the church choir).
It's not too late for you at all. Have a courage to believe in yourself and
your abilities. Do not dismiss yourself before you've even tried. Go and
audition. Audition, audition and audition. You'll be pleasantly surprised
how many places will accept you. And, lastly, you do not have to advertise
loud and wide how old you are! Just sing, and let the powers to be make
their own decisions.
mariella,
Canada
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