Discrimination is a tough issue to tackle. It’s so easy to open wounds further but—to continue the metaphor—sometimes that’s the only way to get rid of the infection. It’s easy to dance around these problems because they seem to have no solution. We’d like to pretend they don’t exist; that singers of all races, ages, weights, genders and heights have equal opportunity. Well, that’s what the law states, but the law doesn’t reflect reality. In an artistic field like this, a prejudiced General Director can simply say that a singer of color, or extra weight, or height didn’t sing well. No one can argue when there are so many ways to hide the truth. Once in a great while, a singer will bring a lawsuit charging discrimination—but doing that can sound the death knell for a career.
So, what do you do? When you discover that companies are increasingly hiring singers based more on their looks than their voices, that singers of color are often passed over, or that older singers are being shoved aside, how do you act? Do you just give up and quit singing?
In this issue, you’ll see how several singers have found ways to keep going, while acknowledging the problem. They’ve had the courage to forge ahead even when it looked impossible. Some of you have found ways to perform over which you exert control, meaning you don’t have to deal with discrimination. It’d be a good thing for the Classical Singer Community if we could hear from more of you who aren’t letting discrimination stand in the way of your art. I hope you’ll take the time to share your thoughts on this by writing a letter to the editor.
We have two writers this month, Melvin Foster and Rodika Tollefson, who do a wonderful job of getting to the heart of the problem. I hope you will all take time to read through these issues. Since singers often become General Directors and administrators of opera companies, sitting on boards and teaching other singers, many of you will have an opportunity to bring about change. However, you’ll have to know what the issues are! These articles will help you to see the world through the eyes of singers who are facing or have faced discrimination. Then it’s up to you to decide if you’re part of the problem… or part of the solution.
Coincidentally, in Letters to the Editor, you’ll read about an Asian singer who feels discrimination, and another singer who feels that CS is fostering discrimination by talking openly about the way things are. Interesting perspectives. I invite more of you to participate in this discussion.
We have a another new writer this month. Several months ago, a singer at the Met called and asked if we’d consider an article on whether or not he should incorporate as a singer. He was going to write the article and interview his fellow singers at the Met. He got too busy and so we found another writer, Elizabeth Sagehorn, to write on this difficult topic. She did a superb job, as you will see.
Next month, you’ll see the work of another new writer, Maria Vitale Gallagher who wrote an article on “How to get Publicity.” I’ve been thinking about this article for quite a while. Singers spend tens of thousands of dollars on a publicist when they can do so much of that work themselves. There are wonderful books out there telling you how to write a press release and how to get attention for your event. One of my favorites is the book Getting Publicity, available at Amazon.com. By just taking a few hours a week, singers could easily do so much to promote their careers. I’m thinking of visiting this topic often to give you ideas on getting your name out there. The world is changing and singers can no longer afford to sit around and wait for the world to take notice; it’s time to take action.
Next month, you’ll also meet William Derbyshire. He’s written a review of some wonderful Russian songbooks, which will save a singer a lot of money in diction
coachings.
If you have ideas for articles you’d like us to consider or if you want to contribute to the discussion, you are always welcome to write a Letter to the Editor. You can reach me at cjw@classicalsinger.com or by writing to Classical Singer magazine, Box 95490, South Jordan, UT 84095. Have a great month! —CJ Williamson, Editor
