Some time ago, while contemplating the approach of Classical Singer’s twentieth birthday, we decided to prepare a commemorative issue. Part of our plan was to share the best-of-the-best articles from 20 years of publications. I was excited about this, not only because readers would find it intriguing, but also because my job would be fairly easy. Just select a few things to reprint, and I would be finished.
Boy was I wrong!
Day after day, for weeks, I physically leafed through each page of every issue of Classical Singer dating back to December 1987. Every issue contained a treasure trove of wisdom for singers. From motivational articles inspiring the singer not to give up in a dog-eat-dog profession, to practical career advice handed down from industry icons, to the nuts and bolts articles on effective résumés and terrific headshots—I found a bit of everything in the pages of The New York Opera Newsletter and Classical Singer. (For those not in the know, Classical Singer was originally published as The New York Opera Newsletter.)
The challenge arose shortly after commencing the task of sorting through those 20 years of issues to select the best, most interesting, and most relevant articles for thousands of readers today. I came down with a serious case of “too-many-fantastic-options-itis” and became quite overwhelmed with the prospect of narrowing the myriad of wonderful options to the select few we could reprint.
As I perused the pages, two things struck me. First, the devotion and love that CJ Williamson/Carla Wood gave to this publication. Her hand was present everywhere. In the early issues, you had to know what to look for to see her (she used a variety of pseudonyms or left the byline completely blank), but she was always there.
Second, the primary force that really made TNYON take off and flourish was the excitement and involvement of singers. Before TNYON, there was very little sense of community among singers. TNYON laid the groundwork for that community, and singers responded with passion and zeal. They wrote letters. They asked questions. They used their newfound voice.
These two insights ultimately helped us narrow the scores of excellent past articles to the final selection reprinted in this issue. First, we chose articles that elicited the greatest and most passionate response from singers. Second, we selected articles addressing some of the most difficult topics not previously voiced by singers. Who is comfortable talking about that awful moment in that lesson with that teacher? Who wants to admit that they struggle with substance abuse or have been a victim of discrimination? Most importantly, who could offer advice, solutions, or simply an empathetic ear? This is the essence of Classical Singer—giving a voice to those who have none, and in this issue you have it in abundance.
As we now look forward to the next 20 years of Classical Singer, it is you the readers that will provide the direction for our growth and progress. We need to hear from you—what you want to read about, what experiences you’re having, what articles you like and don’t like, and what things you need from us to help you be successful. Your voice will help our Classical Singer community continue to grow.
Enjoy the issue and please write to us soon. We look forward to hearing your voice in a future issue of Classical Singer magazine.
