Page 15 - Classical Singer magazine Spring Issue 2020
P. 15

instrument and our health is vital. We are obsessed with washing our hands and avoiding germs. We are educated about diet, hydration, exercise—all the things that will keep us functioning to the best of our abilities.
But what do you do when the best of your ability is rarely an option? When some days your body just wants to quit despite your best e orts, preparation, willpower, and hope?
Whether you have an autoimmune disease, migraines, depression, anxiety, diabetes, Lyme disease, or in ammatory bowel disease, chronic or long-term health challenges can a ect you in myriad and hidden ways.
I am still very much coming to grips with my condition, but here are a few things I have learned so far.
Adaptability Is Key
Early on, when my re ux was rampant and before I knew that my underlying issue was SIBO, I felt unreliable as a singer. There was a time when I did not know if I would wake up and be able to phonate. Some days my cords felt fried, my high notes felt itchy to produce and sounded thin, and my low range was a crackly mess. Other days everything was  ne, and I could perform at 100 percent. It was impossible to know what I’d be waking up to.
As a result, I withdrew from the performing world. I continued to work as a music educator and did
a few choice performances, but I did not put myself out there and audition or compete the way I had the year prior. I simply did not
feel I could trust my body to pull through. As my symptoms improved to manageable levels with my SIBO
diagnosis and subsequent treatment, the re ux dissipated, and I slowly began reentering the performing and auditioning circuit.
My voice is once again strong
and clear, but SIBO now impacts
my singing in di erent ways. As
with many who su er from chronic conditions, fatigue and pain are frequent companions. Some days are good, but I’ve had to learn to really listen to my body and accept that how I’m feeling can change on a dime.
Though it’s a rare thing, some days I must decide that I am too tired
or in too much pain to work. I still struggle with giving myself permission to make this choice—but on the
days when I do make that call, it’s
an important means of self-care that protects my body from further stress and symptoms. Learning to be  exible with the uncertainty is di cult work.
OPENINGS & SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE
For audition requirements
and detailed program information visit www.AIMSGRAZ.com/AUDITION Submit your video audition online
Sarah Halley, General Director
www.csmusic.net 15


































































































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