Dear Editor: Love the magazine. Keep up the great work. I would love to read about countertenors, church/oratorio, choral articles, more on vocal health. Loved the Spanish repertoire article. [July 2003 “Cantando en Español”] Also like your appeal to all age groups, especially older singers! It’s all great!
—Katherine Griswold, Norfolk, CT
You’re in luck. I’m currently editing one article on a countertenor, and another on oratorio singing written by Lyndon Woodside (the dean of oratorio singing, in my opinion). Woodside will be doing master classes at the Classical Singer convention—a great time to network with someone who hires a lot of oratorio singers and knows what other conductors are looking for.
—Editor
I was just wondering if an article had ever been done on oratorio singing or how to get oratorio engagements. I don’t see much of these listed in Classical Singer.
—Terree Rowbottom, via e-mail
Auditions for oratorio aren’t held in quite the same way as for opera and they are very difficult to find out about. Thea Dispeker is the manager known for handling concert gigs in New York City, but many singers not under this management are singing concert work. You can send your materials to orchestras and choruses, but keep in mind that they are deluged with similar materials.
Can you network your way in? Do you know someone who knows someone who knows conductors? That’s your best bet.
Remember that oratorio singers, just like opera singers, need to start out with small, local gigs—churches, choruses, symphonies—until they’ve built a solid resume of concert work. (You don’t start by sending your materials to “A” orchestras!)
—Editor
Dear Editor: I am not re-subscribing to Classical Singer because I am still angry and disturbed by the article “Giving Back – Performing in Prisons” you ran in your March 2002 edition. There are far more noble ways to contribute to our society than by volunteering our talents to the men who raped and killed our families, friends, and neighbors! These are criminals! Get a grip on reality!
—Name withheld, Redondo Beach, CA
Singing to prisoners is an act of compassion, something we’ll continue to recommend. Performances are for the less violent prison population and are used by authorities as a reward for prisoner good behavior, and therefore a further force for good. If we as singers can be used to help rehabilitate someone, that is not only noble, but also essential in our society. It’s a part of “the healing power of music.” [See article Oct 2003] —Editor
Dear Editor: Let’s see articles about singing in Europe. America is a limited market for concerts, recitals, and opera, especially for those who are not established.
—Name Withheld, Los Alamitos, CA
We’ve had many articles on this topic. I hope you’ll make use of the new searchable archives. Do a search on the word “Germany” and another for “Europe” and you’ll find the articles with the information you seek. [http://www.classicalsinger.com] —Editor
Dear Editor: I always read Classical Singer cover to cover. Thank you for such a wonderfully informative, interesting magazine! Last month’s article on spirituals (“Whose Songs Are They?” by Dr. Plant), for example, was very insightful. The only point I took issue with was [Dr. Plant’s assertion] that no one is singing spirituals. I have performed at least one spiritual on almost every solo recital, including last spring (a beautiful spiritual called “In the Mornin’”). Not only am I not African-American, but this was the selection that the most people said really affected them. Any person with empathy, musically and otherwise, would find it rather easy to respond to the spirituals’ intrinsic sorrow. Now I’ll be sure to perform more spirituals!
—Ellen Macdonald, Albany, NY
Dear Editor: Classical Singer continues to be the only magazine I read cover to cover. Afterwards I pass it on to my undergraduate-level students. Keep up the good work!
—LaDonna Manternach, Dubuque, IA
Dear Editor: Since I live in the Southwest (New Mexico) I would love to see some articles that focus on the musical opportunities, education, history, etc. in this area. As a former Bostonian and New Yorker, I realize the East Coast has multitudes of opportunities, but we in the Southwest cannot always avail ourselves of them—nor do we necessarily want to. Thanks, I enjoy your publication.
—Cindy Sadow, Taos, NM
We would welcome articles from readers who live in this area! —Editor
Dear Editor: Thank you for your articles on vocal technique. I find them to be wonderful refreshers for my own singing and excellent tools to use with my students.
— Melissa Ramb, Orlando FL
I would like to know if any articles regarding the value of traditional vocalise book/methods for contemporary singers have appeared in Classical Singer magazine. I would like to hear the opinions of your interviewees on the subject, if you have not completed the interviews as yet.
— Anne Elise Richie, Mezzo-soprano
We’ll start to ask for you. Thanks for the idea.
—Editor
