Page 10 - Classical Singer Magazine November/December 2019

By Michelle Latour
MELISSA RIVERA’S SUCCESS WITH CROSSOVER VOCAL TRAINING
Crossover singing should extend beyond musical theatre styles. Pop, rock, and country music can also lead to additional opportunities and paychecks.
Where
I Last Got Paid
to $ing
Melissa Rivera has performed with a variety of opera and musical theatre companies throughout the U.S. She holds an MM in opera and musical theatre from Southern Illinois University and a BM in voice from San Diego State University. Her diverse training has paid off, and this month Rivera shares her experience in singing with Legends in Concert.
Where did you last sing and get paid?
I am currently under a one-year contract with Legends in Concert. The company is based out of Las Vegas but I am at their Branson, Missouri, location. I was offered the contract in September 2018, and I started in January 2019.
How much were you paid?
I’m not at liberty to go into details because I am under contract, but I am happy to say that it is enough to earn a livable wage—plus health, dental, and vision benefits and a 401(k) option.
How long did it last?
It is a one-year contract, so my last day will be January 1, 2020.
How did you get the job?
Fun story! I originally saw a casting notice on a Facebook audition board back in December 2017 for a dance position. I went to the audition, but quickly realized I was out of my element. Needless to say, I did not book the job.
Almost a year later, the dance captain emailed me out of the blue,
telling me that she was looking through old audition videos and remembered seeing that I was a singer on my résumé. They were in need of a singer for their 2019 season and wanted to know if
I was interested in auditioning. I was asked to prepare two contrasting songs—a ballad and up-tempo, preferably with some belt—and was told that I would be taught a short dance combination.
Unfortunately, our schedules were almost complete opposites, so arranging an audition date was difficult. She was finally able to schedule a private audition with the artistic manager, general manager, vocal captain, sound engineer, and herself. Everyone was very welcoming and kind.
10 Classical Singer | November/December 2019