I love all of the seasons, but there’s something particularly special about fall. When the sultry heat of summer slowly subsides and a crisp coolness infuses the air, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and excitement. As browns, oranges, and yellows begin to decorate the landscape, like George Eliot, I wish I could travel the globe and seek Earth’s successive autumns.
The crisp fall air sets the stage for harvest time, replete with farmer’s markets, pumpkin patches, and hayrides. As naturalist and author Edwin Way Teale observed, “For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad.” Man’s and nature’s examples of sowing and reaping have inspired nursery rhymes, children’s tales, songs, sermons, and videos alike.
In this issue you will discover many positive examples of artists reaping the benefits of hard work and thoughtfully planted seeds, whether reaped by the sower or by another who harvests.
Ruth Ann Swenson, featured in this month’s cover story, has been sowing the seeds of hard work, diligence, and dedication for more than 25 years. She shares the rewards she feels she is reaping from continuing to study privately, and offers three must-dos for young singers wanting to plant the seeds of a long and successful career.
Composer Joseph Turrin recently contacted a host of universities to propose performances of his new opera. He is now reaping the rewards: 13 universities have produced or will produce his work over the course of a two-year period. Read Turrin’s story and discover ways you can apply this same tenacity, creativity, and hard work to reap rewards in your own career.
Sometimes the events of life are not direct results of the seeds we sow, but simply the cards we are dealt. Non-smoker Beverly Sills was stricken with lung cancer that recently ended her remarkable life. In this issue, we remember Sills for her unforgettable contributions to the world of opera both on and off the stage. In one way or another, we have all benefitted from Sills’ labors.
In the university section of this special edition, CS’ resident physician, Anthony Jahn, shares advice on proper eating, rest, and exercise to reap the blessings of good health. Author Shirlee Emmons outlines the preparations necessary to harvest a knock-‘em-dead recital. Also, discover terrific resources that will help you plant the musical knowledge you need to pass your musical entrance exams and ace your theory classes.
Don’t miss the readers’ advice scattered throughout this issue on postcards written especially for the college-bound singer. Reap the rewards of learning from those who have gone before.
For so many years, the change in weather from summer to fall marked a change in my life. Not only did it mean swapping my shorts and bare feet for long pants and shoes, it also meant new school clothes, new classes, new books, and new opportunities. Standing on the brink of a fresh school year, I always felt eager anticipation for the endless possibilities of the coming months.
Whether fall for you means going back to school or just enjoying the change of the season, let the autumn weather inspire you to sow more thoughtfully and reap more gratefully in the months to come.
