This is a really difficult time to be sure about... I didn't want to show up RIGHT at 8:30 and discover that I'd missed it. But then again, I didn't want to show up at the beginning of rehearsal (7:00) and look like a douche, sitting around, waiting, the entire time.
Actually, I wouldn't have minded sitting in on the rehe, even if it meant looking like a douche... but I was loathe to leave the house early since Dave would be alone. I haven't felt quite ready to leave him since his seizure last week.
Anyway, I got there at 8:10, which seemed like a nice compromise... not TOO eager... ;)
My contact, Penny, had gone home early, so I had to introduce myself to the director, who took me into an adjacent room to sing.
First up: "Jukebox Fury", by Rickie Lee Jones. This was my "what I'm like" song... and Lynne, who was accompanying as well as auditioning me, got really into it. I felt like we were in the groove together. It was cool.
After that, she asked me questions about what I'd written on my form... That felt good, too... I felt taken seriously... more seriously than I would ever dream of taking myself. For example, she asked me what KIND of tambourine I play... I got embarrassed and said I didn't know, so maybe I should take it off my form, that I played like "shk-a-tk-a-shk-a-tk-a" and she said, "OH, you're interested in vocal percussion." Can I say, I was stoked? It was good.
Then I sang The Silver Swan.
After I'd sung, she gave me some notes and tested my range. Holy heck, I hadn't been able to access the high end of my range at home at all, but there it was easy. I was way! up there! "You can sing the back up flute parts!", laughed Lynne. (I totally forget that I'm a soprano~ don't really self-identify as I've always been thrown into the weakest section as a singer who can hear, and I get kind of bored just singing melody anyway). She was like, "Well, let's get started!" I was stunned... didn't expect to have it happen that quickly. And I was nervous about leaving Dave for longer than I'd said... but I got over it pretty quick, once I had that sheet music in my hands. ;)
I'm glad it all worked out the way it did, even though it is at the exclusion of another potential project (the BATS guest program, which didn't respond to my e-mail anyway, a fact that didn't really bother me too much until I realized that the coordinator is also a friend on Facebook. Somehow that made the neglect of my submission feel more personal).
Even if I hadn't gotten in, just the process of filling the audition form out was really enjoyable and enlightening... it made me feel like I have A Plan. It made me feel like a musician. Here it is:
Repertoire I feel most comfortable with: ANY
Styles I’d like to be consider for to sing solos: Improvisational
My sight-singing is: Good (at present) to Very Good (when in practice)
Where I am as a singing musician:
Interests-
- Harmonizing with others, exploring harmony
- Rehearsing efficiently
- Singing in French
Goals-
Short term
- To sing every day
- To be more comfortable in auditions
- To learn to arrange with Finale
Long term
- To lead sectional rehearsals
- To develop/lead a workshop: acting & musical improvisers collaborating
- To lead a group reminiscent of Tonal Chaos
- To write and publish arrangements
What I’d like to work on
- Recovering the top end of my range if possible
- Listening, listening, listening!
- Developing confidence/leadership skills
Ways I’m willing to work on them
- In rehearsal
- On my own at home
- Warming up/practicing daily
- Being open to direction and trying new things
My favorite composer:
Morten Lauridsen
Choral works I’d like to sing in PME:
Lauridsen’s arrangement of “O Magnum Mysterium”
Manhattan Transfer’s arrangement of “A Nightingale Sang Berkeley Square”
King Singer’s arrangement of “Simple Gifts”
My voice teacher is:
None at present. Formerly: Susan Cox, Elaine Reynolds-Smith, Helen Intintoli, Eve-Ann Wilkes, Carolyn Bisiel, Richard Kalman
I last studied voice:
Summer of 2008 (Last choral performance: March 2009)
Other instruments I play:
Piano, Guitar, Tambourine
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