Dear Editor: LOVE IT!! I am now a “stay-at-home mom,” with a 3-year-old and 1-year-old. [Your publication] helps me feel connected to the classical music community. Thank you!
—Bethany Neese, Santa Rosa, CA.
Dear Editor: Intermezzo was rumored to be a disaster last summer. There wasn’t anything in the January issue. Was there any feedback from that?
—Steve Podoll, Hartsdale, N.Y.
When Classical Singer receives more than two written and signed complaints about a program, we contact the company and ask that the problem be rectified. If change doesn’t happen, CS will not list their advertisements until the problems are fixed. Last year, I received only one anonymous letter telling me there would be a flood of letters coming in. No more letters came—and the charges in that one letter were vague and insubstantial. We still consider Intermezzo to be a good program, and will continue to do so until we hear otherwise from a large contingent of singers. —Editor
Dear Editor: [Classical Singer is] the single most valuable resource in print for classical singers today! It also makes my job as a voice teacher so much easier in providing important information for my students in one place. Thank you!
—Carol Eikum, Plymouth, MN.
Dear Editor: Is there any way to subscribe to the magazine online only? As you know, New York apartments are small, and I hate to waste the paper by sending the magazines to the recycling bin!
I think the audition listings have improved greatly and are very helpful, [but I] still think you need less emotionally oriented material and more business-focused information, although the proportions are much better than they used to be. Thanks for providing a great service!
—Name Withheld, New York, N.Y.
Several people have told us they wish we would do online-only subscriptions. Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do about it. Our market niche is small and we can’t keep prices down on the magazine unless we print enough to qualify for lower costs. I suggest you donate your copy to your library or a young singer, rather than the trash bin, and use the magazine online as you need it. —Editor
Dear Editor: I am a “mature” singer, and have especially enjoyed your encouraging articles about the many options available to us, especially entrepreneurial. Family and staying in one place are important to me at this point in life, and you always have ideas, and make us feel enabled to conquer the barriers that are truly there, or that are there in our minds!
—Name Withheld, Houston, TX
I have a little song I sing to singers who are discouraged because their lives are keeping them from doing what they love. You probably know it: “To everything, there is a season—turn, turn, turn—and a time to every purpose under heaven.” I want to encourage singers to find their dreams—but it isn’t always the right time to charge head on at a traditional career for all you’re worth. If you have young children, or even teenagers, you have to be so careful to keep balance, so that the whole thing doesn’t blow up in your face. It sounds like that is what you do. Lots of kudos to you as you work out a balance that is right for you.
Dear Editor: I love the stories about jobs that artists have created for themselves. The articles about “Tess” the opera clown, and Zoe Vandermeer have inspired me to think outside the box and come up with my own ideas. Maybe someday, you’ll be writing a story about something I’ve thought up.
—Amy Mulder, via email
We’d like that. Keep us informed. —Editor
Dear Editor: Thank you so much for Ellen Denham’s article in the February 2005 issue! I am a singer currently pursuing my first year of my master’s degree, and I worry everyday about how I am going to support myself after I graduate, as my family doesn’t support me financially. The article was very inspiring and showed me that as long as you have motivation and a true love for what you are doing, making a living is very possible, even if you don’t make it to the Met! Thank you for being such a valuable resource!
—Rebecca Hinkle, Champaign, IL
Dear Editor: I wanted to let you know that I found Preethi Burkholder’s article on grants in the January 2005 issue very useful. I recently emailed her and she thoroughly responded to my questions. I would definitely enjoy reading more of her articles in Classical Singer,.
—Julie Duerichen, Mission, British Columbia
Dear Editor: I LOVE YOUR MAGAZINE! I am training to be an opera singer, but I live in Hawaii so there is not a lot of opportunity here for lessons or master classes. Classical Singer gives me the insight to competitions, new singers, programs and so much more. Thank you! See you on Stage!
—Heidi Thomas, Kamuela, HI
Dear Editor: I would love to read an article on James Levine and his experiences with singers. How he relates to them, his favorite operas and whom he likes working with.
—Ephraim Herrera, Framingham, MA
Dear Editor: Great reading. Classical Singer is filled with wonderful information. I refer to my old copies to review the do’s and don’ts of being a singer of stature.
—Name Witheld, New York, NY
Dear Editor: I love the articles on health and the voice, finding the right music program for my graduates, and the right summer programs for my up-and-coming hobbies! Thanks so much!
—Jacinta Koreski, Seattle, WA
