Joanie Brittingham

Joanie Brittingham is the Associate Editor for CS Music. She is also a soprano and writer living in New York City. She is the author of Practicing for Singers, available at Amazon. She can be reached at joanie@csmusic.net. Visit her on Instagram and TikTok at @joaniebrittingham.

Pianos for Singers

A good-quality, acoustic piano is an important tool for singers and voice teachers but can be daunting to purchase and care for. Find out from piano technicians what to look for in a piano and how to best maintain it.

Sep 20 Joanie Brittingham

Experiments in Opera

he pandemic brought about many innovations in opera, and Experiments in Opera (EiO) was especially poised to respond creatively. The company commissions new operas that are adventurous, funny, and collaborative

Jul 05 Joanie Brittingham

Meghan Picerno : Bold and Unapologetically Herself

Meghan Picerno credits much of her success not only to her “team” but also to her adaptability, courage, work ethic, and ability to be open to new opportunities. Despite the pandemic’s crushing blow to the classical singing world, these traits have allowed Picerno to adapt to new performing opportunities and learn new skills. Read about her big break, the benefits she has found as a crossover artist, her advice to singers, and her hope for the future of performing arts.

Apr 16 Joanie Brittingham

Rethinking the Goals to Distance and Hybrid Learning

Students and teachers now face a semester unlike one they have ever experienced with new regulations and combinations of in-person and virtual learning. Read on to find ways to manage and benefit from this unfamiliar situation.

Oct 12 Joanie Brittingham

Emmie & Harry’s : Streaming Cabaret Club

Emmie and Harry’s is a public Facebook group, set up as an online cabaret venue with a weekly schedule including individual artist shows, open mic, and themed shows of multiple

Sep 28 Joanie Brittingham

Car and Dupuis : Cooking Up Opera, Life, and Love

Nicole Car and Etienne Dupuis recently sang for the whole world from their home in Paris at the Metropolitan Opera’s At-Home Gala. They brought the same joyful energy to that

Sep 20 Joanie Brittingham

Choose Your Own Audition Adventure

These step-by-step scenarios provide a glimpse into a variety of audition situations and can help with preparation for pounding the pavement in the Big Apple.

Jul 27 Joanie Brittingham

AIMS : A Semicentennial of Shaping Singers

For those looking to work in Europe, AIMS can help make this dream a reality. Hear from faculty and an alumna about the many offerings of this program and what you can gain from a summer in Graz.

Feb 24 Joanie Brittingham

Two Articles on Summer Reading for Singers

It’s summer. Time to get into the hammock and sip a cool lemonade as you catch up on your reading. Here are two wildly different approaches to “filling the well”

Jul 02 Joanie Brittingham

Sonya Yoncheva: An Artist Who Dares

Sonya Yoncheva is not afraid of taking risks. At the beginning of her career, she prepared a role unknown to her in only three days and repeated this practice with many other opera houses. She is also vocal in challenging the social traditions that exist in the opera world to create change for the next generation of opera singers. Read her thoughts on bridging the generational gap in opera, the value of family as a performing artist, and on being true to herself.

Mar 28 Joanie Brittingham

Personal Finance for Singers

Joanie Brittingham takes a hard look at the financial realties for singers—including salary realities and the heavy burden of student loan debt. She then offers tips for making ends meet when money is scarce.

Mar 01 Joanie Brittingham

Donor Relations for Singers

What kind of roles do donors play for opera companies? And what is a singer’s obligation to said donors? Find out here, including how to make small talk and when and what kind of thank you notes to write.

Dec 01 Joanie Brittingham