Hello everyone, My name is Kate and I am glad to be a new member of this list. I am 16-years-old and have been studying classical voice for close to ten years now. For the past year or so I have been delving seriously into opera and lieder. I am lucky to have a private teacher who has a tremendous understanding and knowledge of repertoire. She stresses that one should only sing what is absolutely comfortable (she strongly discourages against the "no pain, no gain" theory).
I've been studying, among other things, the arias of Rosina, Cherubino, Zerlina, Isabella (L'Italiana in Algeri), Carmen (only occasionally when I'm feeling ambitious!), Dalila, and Gluck's Orfeo. I have also studied tons of Shubert (my favourite composer for listening to and singing), Brahms, as well as Purcell and Handel. I have a moderately good sized range (about 2.75 octaves) and borderline mezzo/soubrette soprano tessitura. I can also handle the lower and middle registers evenly.
My problem? I am deathly afraid of high notes! My teacher has told me that she believes (because of my high break---Eb) that I will be a dramatic soprano eventually, I just have to wait for my high notes to develop. Currently, however, I can't sing above a high A without tensing terribly, which is why I am sticking fairly close to traditional mezzo repertoire. I really do not have a lyric timbre, it's been rather dark since I can remember (which leads me to think I might be a mezzo).
How developed were your ranges at 16? Do higher notes really just magically materialize as you mature if you exercise the middle and lower registers? Any tips to help me relax my upper register?
On another note: I would love to start doing vocal competition. I have been chronically ill for two years now, so have been unable to do anything strenuous. However, I am starting to become stronger and think my next step should be to gain confidence in a competive atmosphere, since I am planning to study music after high school. I live in the Northeast. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance to anyone who responds :)
----Kate
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