AboutPamela Thomas Expertise Questions on Opera performance, repertoire, vocal technique, acting for opera. I have some 20 years experience in opera in both leading roles and chorus. I have sung with New York City Opera since 1981. I have studied voice in NYC for over 20 years and have also taught technique and coached singers in acting.
Question QUESTION: Hi. My name is Danyelle and I am a junior in high school. I really love music and I've been singing for 13 years. I have taken vocal ensemble in junior high and advanced band classes in high school. I can read music and sight-read very well. I saw the movie, Phantom of the Opera in junior high. I bought the movie and learned every song word-for-word. My family seems to think that it's an obsession, but it's just a passion. I've recently decided that I wanted to pursue a professional or semi-pro career in opera singing. I have the voice for it but I'm not sure on how to start pursuing. Can you help me? I just need some guidance on where to start. What college do you think would be the best for this?
ANSWER: Hi Danyelle,
I think it's great you are interested in singing opera! Frankly you seem to be doing exactly the right things. You are singing, you are studying music.
I would begin language study if you haven't already (French, Italian or German). I would take an acting class if it's offered in your school - or go out for the plays or musicals..
You will want to prepare some songs to audition with at the schools you apply to. You don't say where you live - that, (and money!) may help determine where you might go.
Try www.classicalsinger.com - click on university vocal programs on the left. You can get information on almost any school there - they just did a new survey so the data should be pretty recent. That will give you an idea of how many wonderful schools there are out there. If you tell me where you live and where you think you might want to go (state or area of the country) I could recommend some schools. If you go to the school's website you will see what their audition requirements are - and that will give you an idea of what to work on.
Best,
Pamela
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for all of your help. I actually live in the center of Louisiana (Alexandria) and I know I would probably have to go out of state for a good college. I am currently going into my third year of Spanish. Do you think I'll need to take another language? Do you have any suggestions on an audition song to sing?
ANSWER: Hi Danyelle,
Take a look at the school in Lousiana on the classical singer website. You might be surprised. Spanish is great. You will have to study Italian, German and French at some point. Maybe you could take a beginning Italian class?
As to the audition pieces - what kind of voice do you have? Soprano or Mezzo? Have you ever taken voice lessons with a teacher? Let me know where you are comfortable singing (your comfortable range) and I'll make some suggestions.
Pamela
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I have a really wide range. When I perform, I usually sing soprano, but I'm more comfortable singing mezzo. I can reach lower. I have taken voice lessons before but I stopped going.
Answer Hi Danyelle,
If you can afford it, perhaps you can find a good teacher and work with him/her a bit as you prepare for a college audition. Each college website will tell you what they want to hear. For example, Manhattan School of Music requires that you submit a CD and then they will invite your to New York. For the Undergraduate Prescreening Requirements they require:
A work in Italian from the 17th or 18th century
An English work (not a translation)
A work in French OR in German
So you would need 3 pieces. For the Italian - you should get the Twenty-four Songs and Arias (it's a yellow book and published by Schirmer). Look at "Amarilli", "Le Violette", "Se tu, m'ami, se sospiri", "Nel cor piu non mi sento" or "Pieta, Signore!". Any one of them would be wonderful. The book comes in Medium High Voice and Low Voice. You should try the Medium High.
For English... look at the Aaron Copland Old American songs (published by Boosey & Hawkes): "Long Time Ago", "Simple Gifts" or any of the others. There are 2 volumes - you should get both.
For French: A little trickier - but look at the Ravel "Five Greek Folks Songs" - I love the 4th and 5th songs but all are wonderful.
Just some ideas to think about. But you should try to find a teacher or coach, if you can.
