When we think of performing opportunities on campus, our thoughts usually turn to the school’s opera productions. Our hopes for the semester ride on the audition and often we are crushed if we do not obtain the role we desire.
Singing in that opera may be the most high-profile performance on campus, but it does not need to be the only show in town, and being cast in the opera should not make or break your education. As singers, we should seek out all the chances available to us to sing and perform, and school productions are only the tip of the iceberg. With motivation and hard work, students can create performance opportunities for themselves and gain the experience that they desire and need.
Be Your Own Director
What happens if you are not cast in the school’s opera or the opera is cancelled (as happened during my senior year of college)? Become your own director. Students at many universities are taking the initiative, directing and producing themselves in an opera or operetta, and using the university’s facilities to do so. All that most schools require is a faculty sponsor, usually one of the voice teachers. Friends can then work together to learn the parts and a student pianist can help with rehearsals.
Numerous operas are designed around a small cast, and you can cut or modify scores to subtract chorus parts and simplify a production. Consider hiring a small orchestra of musicians, or take the easier route and perform with piano. Often, with these “budget productions,” the singers charge a small entrance fee to recuperate some of the production costs or to pay for the accompanist. Sometimes universities have added productions in which the singers are also the directors, according to student demand.
To lower costs, the singers use a volunteer or semiprofessional orchestra. If the school charges a fee to use the main performance stage, find other venues where you pay little to nothing, such as local churches or clubs. Sometimes this will even bring a new audience that might not otherwise have come to your performance.
In conjunction, some universities have founded opera clubs, involving influential or wealthy members of the community who raise money for productions and bring their friends to performances. These clubs, or even private donors, often sponsor operas, especially if they can directly benefit with a special performance.
On a smaller scale, singers in many cities have organized opera scenes or musical theatre programs at nice restaurants close to campus. These events are scheduled and advertised well in advance, and involve blocking and simple costumes. Sometimes the restaurant ends up providing the singers with regular employment singing arias during weekend dinner hours.
Become a Recitalist
With the consent of a teacher, there is no reason you can’t perform additional recitals while you’re in school. This is a chance to perform the repertoire you really love instead of following required recital guidelines, and you can involve your friends for duets or a joint recital. In addition, many instrumentalists welcome the chance to perform with a singer, especially for a seminal work involving their instrument, such as Schubert’s “Shepherd on the Rock,” Britten’s “Serenade for Tenor and Horn,” Barber’s “Dover Beach,” or Ravel’s “Chansons Madécasses,” to name a few.
Discover New Music
Singers can ask for a commission of a new work just for their voice. Composition professors or students are often eager for such a project, and if given enough time, this can be a profitable experience for both singer and composer. If you do not have the time to prepare an entire recital of new music, many schools host a new music festival or have a concert for composition students. Ask to be part of these concerts and find a newer, contemporary work to perform, or again, ask for a commission.
Join an Ensemble
As a member of a choir, you have numerous opportunities for solo performances. However, even if you are not a member of the group, ensemble directors, both choral and instrumental, frequently welcome a chance to program a piece with a vocal soloist. If speaking with the director proves unfruitful, a voice teacher can open the way for such opportunities. If your initial efforts are unsuccessful, don’t be afraid to continue the dialogue. Speak with the director again about his or her goals for the ensemble and find a piece that fits both the director’s vision and your voice.
Most university and conservatory orchestras host a yearly concerto competition for instrumentalists. With the aid of an accompanist, prepare an orchestral song or song cycle for the school’s concerto competition and propose that they allow singers to participate as well. If you are prepared and can sing the piece for them, it will be difficult to deny you an audition.
Explore the Possibilities
Look outside the music building to find opportunities to sing. For example, university sports teams are always looking for performers to sing the national anthem. The benefit is usually free tickets to the game—and there is no experience quite like singing for a crowd of 20,000 people or more. Student activity associations sometimes schedule an open mic night for singers and songwriters, as do coffee shops and student union buildings. A friend with a keyboard or guitar and some listening ears is all you need to create an impromptu performance.
As a vocal major, performing will always be part of our life’s work and the more experience we gain, the more comfortable and skilled we become. We should seek out whatever possibilities we can find, and we don’t need to limit our on-campus prospects for performance to school-sponsored productions. With a little motivation and hard work, you can finish school with a full résumé, thanks to the opportunities you create for yourself.
