Singers will notice some major changes to the Classical Singer Community website and Classical Singer magazine starting with this very issue. Color, formatting, and layout changes mark a new look for Classical Singer.
Classical Singer Magazine
For the first time ever, Classical Singer now features a full-color cover. Since May 1992, the magazine has carried two colors on the cover (black and one other). Advertisers have long inquired about full color ads. We made the change to not only accommodate them but also to enable us to do more with the cover layouts. Full-color advertising will now be available for a small premium on the inside front cover, back cover and inside back cover.
This month also marks a big change in the Classical Singer insert. Traditionally, the magazine insert included audition, competition and training program listings. Now, the layout has been revised substantially to include the Classical Singer Classified Ad section, which has been expanded to include training programs. There is no longer a separate Training section in the magazine.
Singers will also notice that we have changed the audition listings. We no longer list opera auditions by Levels I, II and III. Auditions are now listed by size of company and then by type of audition. Opera auditions are listed first, followed by concert, young artist programs, church/temple, etc.
Note: It will continue to be important for singers to observe the qualifying criteria for each audition to 1) maximize the opportunity for each singer to audition for those companies where skill and experience level match the company’s requirements and 2) to relieve the auditioning institutions from having to review materials from artists that do not match their needs.
Classical Singer Community Website
New Auditions Database
The static audition lists we have used since opening the website have all been replaced with a new searchable auditions database. Singers now have the opportunity to search for broad or narrow criteria in the audition listings. For example, it is now possible to search by company name, role type (principal, comprimario, etc), audition type (opera, concert, young artist, etc), Managed singers only, Artist level (student, emerging professional, etc), and company budget category. The database uses the four Opera America budget categories for opera companies as reported in Musical America.
New Coach Directory
Classical Singer is currently gathering information from coaches that will appear in the new online Coach and Accompanists Directory which will soon open on the CS website. The directory will be a very valuable resource to singers looking for a coach to assist in preparation of a particular work or language. The directory will allow singers to search for coaches by location, by language skill, by fee or by expertise with a particular opera.
We are contacting all the coaches from our own database as well as spreading the word about this new directory through the website, through e-mail and word of mouth. We will also be contacting managers, etc, to publicize this new tool. We encourage singers to review the directory when it opens and mention its existence to their coaches.
Singers will find a number of new tools available to them in 2001 on the Classical Singer website. Additional directories will be opening giving access to information and resources heretofore unavailable to singers previously.
