Dear Editor: Please take a look at the thread “Inappropriate behavior in the studio” under the General Interest forum [www.classicalsinger.com] There is another terrible story.
Do you know if there is a way to report these incidents to a higher authority, such as AGMA [American Guild of Musical Artists], so that if a person has three complaints against them they are in jeopardy of losing their membership, or something like that?
It’s outrageous that men and women are being abused and the abusers are getting away with it. In the corporate world, you will lose your job, or have to go for [sensitivity] training. In the arts, you run for governor of California!
Would you know how to get a motion like this on the floor of AGMA: a kind of three-strike rule where if a person has three or more complaints (age/race/sexual discrimination, sexual abuse, etc.) they would have to answer to AGMA or lose their standing?
Thanks for listening!
—Name Withheld, received via e-mail
AGMA—the American Guild of Musical Artists—is the union for professional singers. Classical Singer passed this question on to AGMA Executive Director Alan Gordon. Here is his reply:
AGMA is entirely committed to ending illegal discrimination and harassment and to assuring true equality of employment opportunity in the workplace. The problem, as you also know, is that singers are unwilling to come forward and make actual allegations upon which action can be taken. At no cost to any member, our attorneys would aggressively pursue any valid allegation of illegality, but it is impossible to do so without the active participation of the person who has been the victim of such discrimination.
We cannot, should not, take any action against anyone based on unsubstantiated, anonymous “complaints.” Your writer must understand that people who violate the law must answer for that to the courts and to society. But neither AGMA, nor the law, can help anyone who is unwilling to come forward. Abusers can “get away with” their abuse only so long as their victims prefer anonymity. Abuse can be prevented only after an abuser is accused in a court of law or federal agency.
AGMA’s committment to end workplace discrimination extends to all singers and all opera companies. It recognizes that most professional opera singers will find employment with an AGMA signatory and will eventually become members of AGMA. While we are in a position to be of more significant assistance to AGMA’s current members working at AGMA companies, we will try to assist any singer, member or not, who is having trouble and needs help. All singers should feel free to contact me at AGMA NY @ aol.com.
Alan Gordon
Executive Director
AGMA
Dear Editor: I wish to thank Classical Singer Magazine for the truly important forum and service it provides to the operatic performer. Not only does your magazine offer important information that every true opera professional must have to embark upon a successful career, but an honest and pragmatic approach to a very difficult environment that many (experienced) singers don’t realize exists.
CSM offers an honest assessment of the financial potential for even the gifted and provides a vast resource for the aspiring, the early in career, or the established working professional singer.
Not many publications are willing to sacrifice potential advertising revenue to remain loyal to the readers they serve. Last year’s article on “Age Discrimination in Opera” by CSM took a stand many might have considered suicidal. It was a noble stand and one that validates the mandate and vision the magazine displays each month. It is rare when an entertainment/classical musical publication is looked to as the “benchmark” of the industry. CSM makes the journey for many singers a bit more enjoyable, far less mystical, and certainly remains mandatory reading for our friends and clients.
Peter N. Karp,Managing Partner,
EMBRA Opera Management, Ltd.
Dear Editor: I actively look forward to each issue of Classical Singer! I really appreciate Dr. [Anthony] Jahn’s articles and your recent series and articles addressing different avenues that the classical vocalist can explore. Thank you for helping us redefine what constitutes being “successful” in our field, when so many of us are not constantly getting to perform on the opera stage. Keep up the good work!
—Jennifer Diamond, Louisville, KY
Dear Editor: I would love it if you could include some articles on singing/traveling with eating/allergy problems. I am a singer with a gluten allergy and I just recently found out I was misdiagnosed and was having problems with acid reflux. Some helpful hints on how to pack what to bring would be useful. Celiac disease [a genetic intolerance for gluten] affects 1 in 200 Canadians, many undiagnosed. Perhaps an article on it may help some singers who have IBS [Irritable Bowel Syndrome] or reflux.
—Name withheld, Toronto, ON
Dear Editor: How about more coaching and workshops in oratorios? Are there any around?
—Name withheld, New York, NY
Editor’s note: Currently, there are no workshops that I know of. However, Classical Singer is very excited about our upcoming Classical Singer International Convention in May 2004. We will be including workshops on oratorio with experts in the field.
Dear Editor: I am happy with your magazine. My only concern is that I get the magazine late. I missed something important for me a few times.
—Name withheld, Brooklyn, NY
Editor’s note: We apologize for our September issue being late. You may have noticed that the magazine is 30 percent bigger now than it was a few months ago and that has been tough on production schedules! It also didn’t help that New York went through a blackout and all our mail arrived late in September.
We’re working hard to keep up with the new bigger size. We have a whole new printing process, which should assure that you get your issue before the month begins. If you are relying only on the magazine for your auditions, however, you are actually missing many, many auditions. As we say every month in the audition section: “Many auditions come and go so fast that they never make it to the magazine. Make sure you sign up for audition alerts at www.classicalsinger.com so you are notified of the latest auditions. Online listings can be more detailed and up-to-date.” You are paying for the website! Please use it.
Dear Editor: I consider your magazine a source of inspiration, another tool to help keep myself focused on my singing and career goals. Thank you for producing such a quality publication.
—Matha Lopez-Leschke, Sarasota, FL
Dear Editor: I would like to see more audition listings for the Boston area. You list many NY auditions, but what about Boston?
—Name Withheld, Quincy, MA
Editor’s note: Suzanne Martiny, our Auditions Coordinator, agrees with you and would be delighted to include more auditions. She currently contacts all the companies in Musical America, but many theaters and groups aren’t listed. She writes: “It is very difficult to know the names of the theaters to contact from so far away. (I’m in Florida). It would be a great help if you would make the effort to tear out the part of the Friday and Sunday newspaper that has the names of the companies on them. (When non-locals subscribe to the paper, they omit local listings!) Send it to me and I’ll contact them.
Many theaters bring in completed shows but some do hear auditions. Anyone who wants to see more auditions in their own city, send me a list of theaters in your town and I’ll contact them for you and get the auditions in the magazine. Send them by e-mail to auditions@classicalsinger.com or by mail to Suzanne Martiny c/o Classical Singer magazine, P.O. Box 95490, South Jordan, UT 84095.”
Dear Editor I recommend your publication to all graduating university students. I believe it is a valuable source of information and support that really helps with the transition from student to young professional.
—Terry Brancaccio, Glenview, IL
Dear Editor: Great magazine – very helpful to teachers. Would you be interested in articles on faulty dental work leading to TMJ [temporomandibular joint disease] and vocal damage, and what was necessary to heal the jaw and repair the damage? I’d be interested in a survey of rates charged for private and also school voice lessons in various locations of U.S. and internationally.
—Name withheld, Pawtucket, RI
Editor’s note: We are always interested in articles on topics that meet our mission statement: Information for a singer’s career, support for a singer’s life, inspiration for a singer’s art. This topic sounds right up our alley! Please contact me for a copy of our writer’s guidelines at cjw@classicalsinger.com.
Dear Editor: It’s wonderful to read the personal stories of singers, like me, who are following our path, using our gifts and making the journey uniquely our own. Thanks.
—Kay Raplenovich, Westsalem, OH
