Dear Editor: You’ve bad delivery. I didn’t receive my subscription for two months. Please improve your service. The magazine is very good! Thank you!
-Name Withheld, Towaco, NJ
Several years ago, costs were rising, and rather than pass on the costs by raising subscription fees, we elected to change from First Class postage to Second Class postage. This meant that issues would no longer receive priority mailing by the Post Office-which they weren’t getting anyway. (We had complaints then, too!) With the First Class postage service, despite the fact that subscribers were paying top postage dollar, they were getting poor service, because the Post Office was treating the magazine like it treats all magazines–poorly! So we went to Second Class postage and put the money we saved into the website. You can now get your issue immediately and on time on the first of the month via the Internet. Auditions are updated constantly throughout the month with more information than we can possible get in the magazine. Some auditions now come and go without ever having time to make it to the print publication. Our thinking was that singers would be able to get information more quickly than ever before-in fact, instantly. No longer would they have to wait for audition information. In fact, we now alert singers instantly by e-mail whenever auditions came out that meet their criteria. Please use the Internet for time sensitive information. You are paying for it! We have, however, changed printers and mailing houses as of this month and we are expecting that subscribers will notice some significant changes in service. For example: for some time we’ve received complaints from some subscribers that the covers of their issues were falling off. Our new printer thinks he has solved this. We hope you’ll let us know how he’s doing. -Editor
Dear Editor: I actively look forward to each issue of Classical Singer! I really appreciate Dr. Jahn’s articles and your recent series of 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 consistently 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, something I just recently found out. I was misdiagnosed and was having problems with acid reflux. I would enjoy reading some helpful hints on how to pack and what to bring. Celiac disease affects one in 200 Canadians, and many go undiagnosed. Perhaps an article on these topics would help singers who have IBS or reflux.
-Name Withheld, Toronto ON
Dear Editor: Thank you for your wonderful editorial! As young developing singers, we must must must get the right advice from the right people. Also, we must have a support network outside of our teacherÕs studio. (Not necessarily formed by our singer colleagues, but by people who are capable of giving accurate and loving feedback, whether it is a coach, a manager, a conductor, etc.). Above and beyond getting the right advice from the top people, we must also have the courage to hear the truth. I have been told by people from the top level (coaches from the Met, music directors from other East Coast A companies) that they believe I possess the potential to be an important artist. But they also were honest about my faulty technique. They have taken great interest in helping me and giving me personal referrals to study with top teachers in New York who have been consistent producers for a good number of years. I live on the west coast, but I commute consistently to New York to study with my teacher and my coaches. Everyone has heard dramatic progress in my singing since I have begun this new program of study and coaching. It is expensive, but I hope it will result in a worthwhile career.
-Name Withheld, via e-mail
Dear Editor: How about more coaching and workshops on oratorios? Are there any around?
-Name Withheld, New York NY
I’m not aware of any which focus on oratorio. Readers? -Editor
Dear Editor: Several months ago you ran an article on the SSMA program (Siena, Italy-Joseph del Principe, director). I was a participant about 20 years ago and had received a scholarship. Being in Siena was wonderful! The program was loosely put together then, and there were near mutinies because of the promises that weren’t delivered. I didn’t receive any injustices myself, but I can see it went downhill even more over the years. Glad to see you are on top of things and young singers are being informed.
-Name Withheld, Norwalk CT
Dear Editor: CS is a great resource, and I have subscribed for many years. Glad that you are still going strong. One comment… is there any way to publish the articles in a more clear and easy-to-read manner? I find myself starting to read and article and then flipping around and getting frustrated. Don’t know if this is an issue of layout or the short attention spans of readers! Thanks!
-Name Withheld, New York NY
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.
-Theresa Hansen, Glenview IL
Dear Editor: As the parent of two young opera singers, I enjoy your articles addressing keys to success in the opera field. I also religiously review the audition pages, which unfortunately are frequently out-of-date and contain short deadlines. I would be interested in an article which interviews the directors of the top young artist studios (Met, Washington, Houston, etc.) to determine what they look for in a young singer coming into the program, what they try to develop and how, and who they see as emerging talents in their programs.
-Name Withheld, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Dear Editor: As a female soprano, I truly appreciated all of your articles regarding menstruation, birth control, and the female voice. There were questions I have had for years that are finally answered.
-Name withheld, Manchester CT
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.
-Marth Lopez-Leschke, Sarasota FL
Dear Editor: Technique needs to be addressed.
-Name withheld, New York NY
You should be enjoying the last few issues then. We started focusing more on technique with the March 2003 issue. -Editor
Dear Editor: I love this magazine. The only thing I wish you included more of is how students of music (I’m 23 years old) should go about entering the professional world of singing (i.e. headshots, auditions, how to handle them, etc.) Thanks! -Angela Kaczynski, Poughkeepsie, NY
Please see the June issue, and watch for the archive search engine to be installed on the website this fall. It’s all been done! -Editor
Dear Editor: I appreciate the sincerity of your approach-the honest, down-to-earth quality-the realness. It’s refreshing and reassuring to see our issues discussed openly; I feel supported and less alone.
-Anne Shapiro, Berkeley, CA
Dear Editor: It is wonderful to read the personal stories of singers, like me, who are following our own paths, using our gifts and making the journey uniquely our own. Thanks.
-Kay Raplenovich, Westsalem, OH
Dear Editor: Could you please ensure that I receive my issues in a timely manner? I’ve received three issues way into the following month, which has serious repercussions with audition deadlines. Thank you!
-Giancarlo Bacigaluop, Arlington, VA
Dear Editor: I am happy with your magazine. My only concern is that I get each time the magazine late-not in the beginning of the month but somewhere in the middle, and I missed something important for me a few times.
-Name Withheld, Brooklyn, NY
Dear Editor: Since I have subscribed to your magazine, I always receive it two weeks later than I am supposed to. Could you please correct the situation? Even if your magazine is useful and very helpful for me, its lateness makes me doubt whether I will renew or not. Thank you.
-Name Withheld, Verdun QC
