Page 125 - Classical Singer magazine 2019 Fall University Issue

“When someone is sick and cannot sing a rehearsal,
you can make yourself memorable and dependable by volunteering to sing that day.”
Any singing opportunity with orchestra deserves a line on your résumé.
Networking with conductors, directors, and teachers will become imperative to keeping opportunities, big and small, in your schedule. After your university years, you will be drawing upon all that you have learned to piece together paid opportunities. The lesser-publicized church gigs and black box operas can be hugely rewarding musically, and you never know who you will perform with that will be influential later.
The classical singing world is small, so you can assume that everyone knows someone who knows someone. Behaving professionally in the smallest concert engagement prepares you to
act impressively in more prestigious circles. Most professional singers must piece together concert gigs on top of auditioning for opera roles to make a living.
If you take anything from this column, I hope it is the advice to prepare now. Plan early, research music for which you are hirable, and prepare as much repertoire as you are ready to sing. These tasks will hold you more accountable to your student years and prepare you to book gigs and cash paychecks as soon as possible.
Soprano Christi Amonson is an assistant professor of voice and director of opera initiative
at Augusta University and a teaching artist in residence for the summer Festival de Ópera
San Luis in Mexico. She earned her DMA at the University of Arizona, her MM in voice at the Manhattan School of Music, and her BM in music education at the University of Idaho. Amonson is an active singer, writer, and member of NATS and NOA. She lives in Augusta, Georgia, with her husband and three daughters.
MUSIC at UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND BRING YOUR TALENT. YOUR PASSION. YOUR RAINCOAT.
UP Student, Madeleine Tran in masterclass with Susan Graham. Photo – John Green
Located in the arts-rich city of Portland, our nationally-accredited music program o ers personal attention from our seven artist-teachers with degrees from The Royal Academy of Music, Yale University, Academy of Vocal Arts, Manhattan School of Music and Shenandoah Conservatory.
UP students engage in performance opportunities within Portland and beyond including Portland Opera, Broadway Rose Theater (Portland), Mock’s Crest Opera (Portland), Music in the Marche (Mondavio, Italy), Miami Summer Music Festival, Atlantic Music Festival and Halifax Opera.
2020 LIVE AUDITION DATES
FOR ENTRANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Sunday, February 9, UP campus • Saturday, February 15, UP campus
Sunday, February 23, Seattle area *Video auditions also accepted
LEARN MORE ABOUT US AT:
college.up.edu/pfa/music-program/vocal-study
up.edu/music | UPMUSIC@up.edu
www.csmusic.net 125