As I reviewed the articles for this issue, the word “grit” stood out in several of them, and my brain sat up and paid attention.
Merriam Webster describes the noun “grit” as “firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger” and the adjective “gritty” as “courageously persistent: plucky” or “having strong qualities of tough uncompromising realism.”
Grit can seem rough, unsophisticated, and dirty. It can also be awe inspiring and beautiful. There is no substitute for grit when it comes to succeeding as a singer. And this issue of CS has plenty of grit. So let’s talk about it.
“courageously persistent: plucky”
Christi Amonson tells of a gritty singer she watched during a program abroad last summer (p. 12). In the face of serious rejection, this young soprano courageously made the most of every experience she was offered, rather than wallowing in self-pity over experiences she was denied.
Soprano Joyce El-Khourry, featured in this month’s cover story (p. 24), talks about finding her own grit after being rejected by every graduate school she applied to—except one. With no scholarship offers, she took a year to prepare to audition again. Read her story to find out how her hard work paid off and why she now says digging deep to find her grit energizes her.
“having strong qualities of tough uncompromising realism”
You may have noticed a new voice in CS of late: tenor Jonathan Blalock. He returns this month (p. 40) to share how gaining new skills helped him save money and further his career. From teaching himself computer programs to brushing up his sight singing and piano skills, Blalock’s realism and determination to try new things shows real grit.
“unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger”
Self-described “brainy” soprano Melinda Ehrlich could have given up on a singing career after aging out of YAPs and starting “late.” But with continued persistence in the face of hardship, Ehrlich found a way to keep singing. Read about her latest paid gig—singing the lead role in Roméo et Juliette with Center Stage Opera in Los Angeles (p. 52).
“a hard, sharp granule (as of sand)” or “the structure of a stone that adapts it to grinding”
Grit is developed. Grit, like granite, forms in the face of immense pressure. Developing grit requires facing adversity and, like granite, results in a resilient inner strength. We have to be ground down, like a stone, to our grit (the very basic definition of the word) in order to find our grit.
None of us can escape this grinding down process. Adversity comes to all, though in different ways. Some performers, for example, struggle under the weight of performance anxiety, which can be seriously debilitating. This fall we begin a series of articles from Nicholas Pallesen on this topic. In the first installment (p. 42), Pallesen addresses five long-held beliefs about anxiety that maybe aren’t so true after all.
Nerve, guts, tenacity, steadfastness, resolution, heart, mettle, and fortitude are all synonyms of grit. Whatever word you use to describe that inner, uncompromising drive that keeps you going in the face of obstacles and adversity, let that define your career and energize you on your journey.
