Artist Spotlights

True Confessions of a Backstage Mom

You want the best for your kids, right? That’s all a parent or guardian ever really wants. And yet, sometimes as parents, we don’t always do the best job at

Sep 17 Mary Taylor

Teacher Spotlight: Dr. Dean Southern

Careers in music are often the result of long, winding journeys, not direct pathways. Dr. Southern’s journey is no exception. Dr. Southern’s first two degrees are in piano performance. He had

Mar 20 Brad Hougham

Brexit – How are singers and musicians affected?

The word Brexit conjures up all sorts of horror scenarios for anyone thinking of doing business in the United Kingdom after March 29, 2019. As of right now, Brexit is

Mar 07 Zenaida des Aubris

Pride and Prejudice: Preface to the Opera (Abridged)

I’ve been asked. “After all the films, plays and books, who needs an operatic version?” I can answer this question only with a more difficult question: “Why has no one

Feb 14 Kirke Mecham

Tempests In Teapots? No! Hurricanes In Thimbles! The Songs of C.P.E. Bach

I first encountered the songs of Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach when I was putting together a concert of 18th century music with some friends. While I’ve been singing the cantatas

Feb 07 Pamela Dellal

Katharina von Bora

Katharina von Bora is an historical, non-religious opera written by conductor and composer Mihai Valcu, with lyrics by Bill Zeiger. In his critique after the opera’s premiere, November 7, 2015,

Jul 13 The Collaborators

The Singer’s Library – Different Strokes for Different Folks

Previous books from the So You Want to Sing series that have been featured in this column have covered genres ranging from jazz to country to sacred music. The already

Jun 29 Brian Manternach

Opera in China? You Bet!

Our bus made a sharp U-turn at the intersection and made it’s way up a steep, narrow street to the tall, handsome marble gateway telling us we had arrived at

May 08 Robert Hansen

Ugliness in the House of Beauty: Sexual Harassment in the Classical Singing Industry

Stories of sexual harassment have been making the news daily as the #metoo movement continues to topple predators in nearly every industry. But what about classical singing? Does sexual harassment

Dec 16 Cindy Sadler

An Unexpected Angel’s Voice

When you think of the perfect holiday album, what comes to mind first? Barbra Streisand? Chanticleer? I’m guessing most people wouldn’t imagine that a bounty hunter/truck driver would make any

Nov 20 Jonathan Blalock

The Wonder of Technology, Nature, and Music

I’m sitting on a train traveling from Oslo to Bergen, Norway. And I’m able to communicate with anyone in the world. Amazing. More amazing, however, is the scenery out the

Aug 07 Alex Stoddard

Looking Back, Looking Forward : An Interview with 2016 Competition Winners

The 2016 CS Music Vocal Competition winners share their experiences and tips with the 2017 competitors—plus what life is like after the competition.

May 01 Margaret Felice