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From:  sopran@a...
sopran@a...
Date:  Sat Nov 18, 2000  4:10 pm
Subject:  Re: [vocalist-temporary] Re: Older students/school advice (Rome Festival Opera)


In a message dated 11/18/00 6:49:55 AM, romefestival@y... writes:

<< Classicalsinger.com directory of summer programs is controlled by the
magazine Classical Singer. The Rome Festival has refused to share its mailing
list of singers with Classical Singer and does not place advertisements in
Classical Singer. Someone from Classical Singer removes from its posted
messages ALL positive comments submitted about the Rome Festival. Rome
Festival has tested and proven this. Conversely, it provides protection again
the most damaging postings against programs which advertise in Classical
Singer. >>

I don't know about the Rome Festival and I don't know Molly, so I can't
comment on the credibilty/quality of either.

Classical Singer is another issue.

IMHO, the Classical Singer postings about summer programs should be taken
with a VERY LARGE grain of salt. The magazine (to my knowledge) makes no
attempt to check the veracity of positive or negative claims. Here is their
disclaimer, which I personally find weak (I have highlighted certain
portions--and added a question mark):

<<Below, you will find the full text of singer and/or administrator comments.
This is not intended to be an objective survey, but a discussion (?) from
various points of view. Classical Singer received many responses from
participants at some programs, no response from others. Responses were
received via an anonymous poll site on the web, e-mail, letters, phone calls
(not included here) and packets received from program administrators directly
which included letters about their program.

Administrators: You are encouraged to include a letter about your program on
this site. Send comments to summer@c... Only letters
submitted via e-mail will be posted.

Singers: Your comments are still welcome, but will only be posted if sent via
e-mail as above. You may have your name withheld, but we must have your
e-mail address to verify one response per person.

Please Note: The comments are posted almost "as-is" with very little to no
editing. >>

For example, I am the newest member of the board of directors of the American
Singers' Opera Project (I have also participated twice in the program, and
found it to be outstanding). When the comments about summer programs were
first posted, one singer made the statement that only the members of the
founder's (Nancy Stokes-Milnes) vocal studio were given plum roles. Anyone
who knows ASOP or has been to an ASOP performance knows that this is untrue.
We did object strenuously to the magazine, and the comment was eventually
removed, but we are certain that the program's reputation had been unfairly
tainted.

I personally would tend to place very little credence on the positive or
negative comments of someone who chooses to remain entirely anonymous (as
many of the CS posters do). I also tend to dismiss "gushing" comments.

There are many, many summer programs competing hard for the singers'
participation--and let's not forget--dollars! Some, like ASOP, are
non-profits. Many programs (and Classical Singer, too) are businesses, whose
primary objective must be to make a profit. Singers may be surprised to know
that some overseas programs pay their faculty almost nothing, and provide
only the most Spartan living conditions. The high tuition (in some cases
thousands of dollars) that you may assume is going for faculty, etc. may in
fact be going directly to the program administrator's bank account. The
public performance the brochure promised may be in a crumbling school
auditorium. Singers must carefully evaluate information from a number of
sources before deciding which program is right for them.

Try to find singers (and faculty) who have actually participated in the
program and speak to them directly. If possible, attend one of their
performances. Check the credentials of the people in charge. Know in advance
exactly what your costs will be. Know exactly when and where (and under what
conditions--eg, with orchestra? fully staged? costumes provided? etc.) any
performances will take place. If a program promises to introduce you to
agents, conductors, etc, request SPECIFIC information. If they are making
such promises, they should be able to name names (and tell you whether that
only applies to every participant or only certain "qualified" singers).

Last but not least, any program is only as good as the singer him/herself is
willing to make it. There will always be some people who will feel
short-changed by even the finest programs, and some who will have a very
rewarding experience in what others may consider a less-than-wonderful
program.

Judy





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