Joanie Brittingham

Joanie Brittingham is a writer and soprano living in New York City. Brittingham is the associate editor for Classical Singer Magazine and the author of Practicing for Singers and has contributed to many classical music textbooks. Her writing has been described as “breathless comedy” and having “real wit” (New York Classical Review). Brittingham is the librettist for the opera Serial Killers and the City, which premiered with Experiments in Opera, and performed with New Wave Opera’s “Night of the Living Opera.” On Instagram and TikTok: @joaniebrittingham.

Home Studio Spaces: CS Editor’s Colorful Hobbit-Inspired Home

In this new online series, CS features the practice spaces and teaching spaces of our favorite artists, teachers, and readers. We begin with our editor—we couldn’t invite ourselves into your homes without first inviting you into ours!

Nov 04 Joanie Brittingham

What to Look for in a Voice Teacher

Singers of all levels have had the experience of searching for a new voice teacher. No matter what your level, seeking out a teacher is a complicated process.

Nov 01 Joanie Brittingham

What to Pack for the CS Music Convention

It’s almost time for the CS Music Convention! Here are the essentials you’ll need so you can focus on what you love the most: singing!

May 20 Joanie Brittingham

Top Ten Ways to Have A Healthy Holiday

With the holidays in full swing, we as singers have to make difficult decisions to protect our health as best we can. Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your health and the health of others this holiday season.

Dec 20 Joanie Brittingham

Pulling Off a Sick Performance

You’ve spent hours practicing and fine-tuning for an important performance and are feeling prepared and excited. Take some thought to also prepare for any potential setbacks that could start with a sniffle.

Sep 07 Joanie Brittingham

Oratorio Panhispánico, An Immigrant Oratorio

There are few oratorios composed now, and the newest presentation by Music at Co-Cath (MACC) is a unique and exciting one. Entirely in Spanish, this work tells the story of the Passion of Christ through the lens of Hispanic immigrants.

Mar 16 Joanie Brittingham

The Domenic J. Pellicciotti Composition Prize Winners

The 2022 winners of the Pellicciotti Composition Prize are Timothy Takach and Caitlin Vincent. Their opera, Computing Venus, provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of astronomer Maria Mitchell.

Dec 09 Joanie Brittingham

From The Editor : Fall 202

Fall is a season of transition. The leaves change, and we go back to school or to our next gig with a surety that we may not have had earlier in the year. Everywhere, I’m seeing singers and voice teachers choosing paths and taking ownership of their art like never before. Creating opportunities for yourself is challenging and, yes, scary. Take this fall to generate positive self-talk about your artistic future that turns wishes into goals, and goals into daily plans. Strike a power pose and say, “I’m a star!”

Sep 30 Joanie Brittingham

Anti-Goals for Singers

Nothing is set in stone for you, and you can change your mind, and correct your course as you go along. Knowing your “can’ts” and “won’ts” early on helps you to make a better decision, both for declaring a major, engaging in your studies, and embarking on a professional singing career.

Sep 19 Joanie Brittingham

Top Three Vocal Health Tips for Singers : From Speech Pathologist Sarah K. Brown

Speech pathologist and voice teacher Sara K. Brown, MS, CCC-SLP, shares her top three tips for vocal health. Her mission is to make vocal health and science information widely accessible, and to train vocal athletes using evidence-based practices and cross training across genres.

Aug 03 Joanie Brittingham

From the Editor

This issue marks one year since I became the editor for Classical Singer. It has been a tumultuous one for our industry. When I was a college voice teacher, I started every semester telling my students, “You are responsible for creating a supportive, encouraging environment for your colleagues and yourselves.” I told them that by the end of the semester, they’d be sick of those words, but that I hoped the sentiment would be a habit in their daily lives.

Jul 27 Joanie Brittingham

From The Editor

I recently took a weekend trip to New England—my first solo trip since before the pandemic—where I enjoyed a sculpture walk near Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. One of the sculptures had floating text that read “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” I can think of no way to better describe the moment in which we find ourselves.

May 11 Joanie Brittingham