Dear Editor: I have recently noticed a real improvement in the Auditions and Opportunities listings. That was the founding purpose of The New York Opera Newsletter and remains one of the core competencies and values of CS. Whoever or whatever you have changed in the Auditions section, it is now, for the first time in many years, an excellent resource for emerging singers without management to find new work ideas. Please forward this note to your auditions person along with a great big hug from me for the recent up-tick in listings quality.
—Paul C. Mueller, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
[Credit goes to our auditions coordinator, Kimberlee Talbot, who joined the CS staff in June 2006. Kudos for a job well done! – ed.]
Dear Editor: I’ve been a reader of Classical Singer for a few months now, and I wanted to let the author of such a fantastic article know how much it meant to me. “The Top Twenty” [by Cindy Sadler, Dec. 2007] was so enjoyable to read, and it made so much sense. I’m lucky because my teacher, Dr. Kathleen Allen, has been slowly guiding me into these 20 things since I started singing with her, and it was so nice to hear that I’m on the right track and that these are the best ways to get where I want to be in an ideal fashion.
I especially loved No. 13 and how audition tables know what they want from you within the first 30 seconds. It made me laugh out loud! And also No. 18: “Analyze, don’t criticize” which helped put a lot of things into perspective with other singers around me.
I think as singers we are so proud that sometimes we disregard that we need to learn from everyone around us, even if they are the competition.
I look forward to other articles in the coming months!
—Marco Cammarota, Potsdam, N.Y.
Dear Editor: First I want to say, your magazine and events have been such an inspiration to me in my career as a singer. From the yoga articles to the financial articles, it has helped me tremendously and given me new perspective about many aspects of my singing and myself. I just read your 20th anniversary edition, and it was fabulous, but two articles in particular struck me: the one about abusive teachers and the one about addiction.
I’ve not seen many articles addressing eating disorders which are, like any other addiction, a way to cope and feel that you are in control when you are not. It’s like living with an abuser everyday, but the abuser is in your head.
I hope that maybe CS would address addictions not only to drugs and alcohol, but to eating disorders as well. I think eating disorders are a lot more present in the performing world than people acknowledge and I think, even when recovered, it can lead to difficult situations for singers who aren’t quite sure of themselves yet.
—Name on File
[See Dr. Jahn’s article in this issue, where he addresses the effects of bulimia on singing. In addition, we will certainly look for other opportunities to address this important topic in future issues. –ed.]
Errata
TAOS Opera Institute was inadvertently left out of the Summer Program Directory in the January issue. The program runs from June 1 to June 29 in beautiful Taos Ski Valley, NM. Read more about this new summer program, operated by Mary Jane Johnson (see June, 2004 cover story) at www.taosoi.com.
