Audition preparation
I have not ever auditioned for an opera company before...but here I go! I don't have any fear about it, it's just a mind shift after being out of the music scene for such a long time, to get a feel for what's going on. I know that many that are in it have sage advice for me, I just don't know if it will work. I am basically going to be shooting from the hip, which happens to be something that I do really well.
The company that I am auditioning for, the Fremont Opera Company, sounds really exciting to me. It's a brand new company as of last year and they do semi-staged performances as of right now. The great thing is that it is a husband and wife team. Barbara Sloss is a singer and is the managing director of the company. Her husband David Sloss has been conducting the Fremont Symphony for 25 years. It just seems like their mission statement really lines up with what I want to be involved. They want to do interesting and dramatically engaging works and performances through opera, chamber opera, recitals..etc. It just sounds like a good fit! I am really excited!
The thing that I have struggled with this week is "Where do I fit in?". There is so much talk about WHAT KIND of soprano or mezzo or singer you are. I have a difficult time putting myself in any specific category. I know that I have an interesting instrument and want to try some things on for size...and just see what happens. I know that I am a smart enough musician to know when something doesn't fit, but I also don't want to throw myself in the ring with millions of "sopranos". What is my brand?
Yes I need to try and brand myself. It's an interesting philosophical journey, that's for sure, especially being out of it for so long. Going into this audition, I am bringing sort of a random list of 4 arias. In most circles, they wouldn't make much sense, but to me I think that they do. The four arias make me feel confident in showing different parts of my talents and dramatic sensibilities. It's going to go well, and I am looking forward to it!
You go and knock their socks off lady!
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