How exciting it is to consider the many and varied possibilities when creating and/or choosing your career path. Sometimes it may even choose you! One thing is for certain, there is no one clear path by any means, to a successful singing career. Certainly, there is the more traditional path involving going to college, participating in one or more young artist program, followed by finding an agent/manager and working at opera houses, hopefully, world-wide. We invite you to invoke your creative brain and broaden this prospective to include other avenues to peruse and pursue as a professional classical singer.
First, don’t limit yourself to singing only opera. What other music do you enjoy singing? Consider creating and singing recitals. How about the amazing and vast oratorio repertoire? Then there is the sometimes-controversial genre of musical theatre and operetta. We say absolutely! Explore, sing, enjoy and perform them all! Master as many genres as you can and you will find where your heart and voice are most happy; repertoire you are most comfortable with, where you feel most ‘at home’. Certainly, in this age, we believe the more diverse you are the more opportunities you will have from which to choose. We are living examples of capitalizing on as many possible performing tracks as we could. Robert took the more academic route, obtaining his Doctorate degree while singing in many and varied classical venues as possible and Jane, took the more creative theatrical route, spending almost as much time performing professionally in straight theater, musical theater, concert, and opera.
Keep your options open and perhaps even think of yourself as a pioneer. Yes, sing in opera houses, with orchestras and in concert halls. Maybe though, consider this: Could you sing for the movies, commercial advertising, churches and places of worship/devotion, cruise ships? How about Broadway, Off-Broadway, choruses, clubs, The Armed Services, Cirque du Soleil, Theme Parks, VIP/celebrity parties, or political events? The list goes on. The possibilities are only as limited as your power to create! All the venues mentioned here will generate income and some pay very well in fact. Many singers don’t even know these kinds of opportunities exist. Even the legendary star tenor, George Shirley, first sang in the US Army Chorus for years, earning an income from it. You certainly can too should that be a good fit for you. The Metropolitan Opera Chorus for example, pays very well and may serve as an option for you should your experiences and creativity lead you there.
Finally, we love and recommend college degrees and young artist programs, yet perhaps the best path for a successful classical singing career for some may mean spending no time or a short time in college, being presented with professional performing opportunities at an earlier age. Perhaps it involves bypassing any young artist programs and pursuing a solo professional career immediately after your bachelor’s degree. Maybe your professional singing career transpires later than the more traditional age period. The fact remains, you must find your own way whether you pursue a more traditional or completely different pathway.
For us, it is important to remember that your core belief should be, in part, that no company is above you, and you must follow your dreams! Follow your heart, and don’t give up. We believe you will be led up, down, and around the perfect path for you. Work hard and you can achieve anything. We see it happening for you! Yes, it is time for you to SHINE!
