Mariella, Christine, and others -
As a sophomore in college - and old enough to be mother to most of my classmates - I truly appreciate Christine's concerns and Mariella's wonderully encouraging remarks.
As for the age factor, I was once told that at an audition, in place of a number where it asks for my age, to write in "adult female" or "over 21." I am very fortunate - in spite of being old enough to be the mother of some of my classmates, just about one year ago I was mistaken as being the wife of my now 28 year old son, and mother to his (at that time) 18 month old daughter.
Terry
----- Original Message ----- From: "mariella" <zdivina@g...> From: "mariella" <zdivina@g...> To: <vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com> To: <vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 9:36 AM Subject: Re: [vocalist] Singing in a choir
> 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 > > > > > > > > >
| | |