In the recent January issue of CS, Cindy Sadler wrote the following about summer programs: “Many of the people you meet and work with, both faculty and students, are going to end up higher up the food chain in the industry—as singers, coaches, conductors, teachers, managers, and artistic administrators.” Cindy knows from personal experience. She sang at Brevard with baritone Mark Oswald and apprenticed at Central City with bass Kelly Anderson, the new director of artistic administration at Florida Grand, not to mention Metropolitan Opera stars Mary Dunleavy, Emily Pulley, and Matthew Polenzani.
In this issue we feature two former singers who are now administrators. Allan Naplan is the newly appointed general director of Minnesota Opera (p. 26) and Beth Morrison has taken on the role of “opera producer” for many organizations large and small (p. 20). Both speak passionately about their work and how their roles as former singers influence what they do now.
How many singers who once sang with Naplan and Morrison are now hoping their former singing colleagues will hire them? Certainly those relationships forged anywhere from a few to many years ago will influence Naplan’s and Morrison’s perceptions of those singers now. And yet, in that moment, who could have looked ahead to foresee how important those relationships could become? Or the doors those connections might have opened?
Newsflash: No one can see into the future. (I’m sorry to be the one to break this to you.) There is no way to know how connections and impressions made now will impact you later. Thus, being a person of integrity and professionalism both on and off the stage at all times is really the only option. Hard work, dedication, and a good attitude are hard to forget—as are laziness, lack of preparation, and diva (or divo) tantrums.
“It pays to be, and stay, on good terms with people!” Sadler continued in her article. “This is a business of connections and networking.”
Once you’ve made that good impression, staying in touch is the next step. The era we live in makes that easier than ever. Superstar soprano Danielle de Niese, featured in this month’s cover story, uses Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter regularly. Connecting with her audience has always been one of her favorite aspects of performing, and she views these tech tools as another vehicle for making that connection.
Two other articles in this issue highlight how daily choices in the now can come back to bless or bite us in the future. Clara Hurtado Lee wraps up her four-article recounting of her journey to better health (p. 32). After shedding some pounds and really beginning to love her new Jazzercize exercise program, pregnancy threw an unexpected wrench into her fitness plan. She hasn’t given up, though, and is seeing the rewards that come by daily doing what she can for her health.
Finally, Olivia Giovetti brings readers the story of a singer who lost his opera chorus gig when the company folded (p. 8). Looking back, he can see the many things he could have done while gainfully employed to prepare for the leaner times he didn’t know were ahead. Don’t be caught unawares. Read advice from financial experts on how to survive if you’re currently unemployed or how to plan now for an unexpected turn of events.
Having a crystal ball would be nice, but that’s relegated to villains in Disney movies. In our own less-than-magical lives, we must simply act with integrity, being the best singers, colleagues, and people we know how. Then, somewhere in the future, we can marvel when those connections made and hard work done bring big benefits.
