Opera Offstage

Audition packages are one of the great mysteries for classical singers. What are directors looking for? What kinds of pieces should I choose? What if I have arias that are in different fachs? Luckily for us, we have opera director Nathan Troup with us on today's podcast to help answer our questions about audition packages and auditions themselves as well as answer some of the questions you submitt...

In part two of our Issues in Opera episode on YAPs, we are joined by Cynthia López Pérez, co-founder of Latina Women in Opera, and Renee Namakau Ombaba, founder of Black Women in Opera to discuss the problematic ways many Young Artist Pograms treat young singers.  From treating musicans as a commodity to enforcing application and tuition fees to being behind on issues of diversity and engaging in...

Talent is a prized possession in the world of music, the thing that can seemingly make or break the career of a musician, but how much of a difference does talent really make?  Today we're talking all about the myth of talent. We break down what talent is, why it's so misunderstood, and exactly how far talent alone will really take you in the world of classical music.  Follow Us: Instagram Twitter...

Young Artist Programs can create amazing opportunities for young singers to grow, learn, and network, but they can also be pretty problematic. From applications, to auditions, to the programs and their pay, seemingly no one in the classical voice world has passed through the Young Artist phase unscathed. In the first episode of this two-part Issues in Opera, we talk all about how YAP programs went...

What do rats, outer space, and a Carmen who doesn't die have in common? They are all ways people have tried to update classic operas for the modern era! Today we talk about the trend of trying to modernize some of our most famous operas, for better or for worse. And it DOES get worse. We discuss everything from slight changes in location to completely changing the ending of shows and all the crazi...

Musicians who don't bring their music.   Ensemble members who upstage you.   The people who hook up in practice rooms. From the classroom to the stage, we all have our pet peeves that just  get under our skin and bother the HECK out of us, so today we're sharing a couple of ours and couple of yours that you wrote in! So join us as we laugh and cringe our way through some of these sneaky little ann...

Role study can be a lot of fun and a great resume builder for musicians, but if you don't know where to start, it can also be a daunting and overwhelming task. Which is why today is all about how and why you should be doing role study! Now that many of us are stuck at home, there's never been a better time to experiment with your role study process. We talk you through each part from the beginning...

Are there hidden messages in our music?   Was Mozart poisoned by another composer?   Is A 440 secretly being used to control us?   Every field has it's own conspiracy theories, and classical music is no exception. From mysterious deaths to hidden government initiatives, classical music has its own secrets that many people have tried to explain. Some of the explanations are compelling possibilities...

Today we have an incredible guest on the podcast: Tona Brown!   Tona Brown is a violinist and mezzo-soprano who made history in 2014 as the first African-American transgender woman to perform in Carnegie Hall. She is also the founder of Aida Studios where she teaches voice and violin. Aside from her incredible work as a performer and teacher, she is also an outspoken advocate for the transgender c...

Motivation lately seems to be at an all time low for EVERYONE. With all the cancellations and uncertainty, it can be tricky to feel motivated to keep moving forward on projects and goals.   So this week we give a bunch of tips and tricks for how to build motivation and keep it regardless of the situation! We talk about how to create effective habits, change up your social circle, inspire yourself,...

TW: Body Shaming, Diet Talk, Weight-Loss Surgery, etc. Fatphobia is the dirty, little secret of the opera world. Hidden under excuses about costumes, "health" concerns, and pleasing audiences is a serious bias that effects every performer, from students still in school all the way to singers in top opera houses. In this episode, we break down some of the reasons fatphobia is still so prevalent in...

We've talked about singer drama, but composer drama is a whole new level of petty. We'll talk you through some of the best fights, insults, and romances that have graced the classical music world. Bonus: We'll talk about which composers could definitely Get. It. Follow Us: Instagram Twitter Facebook Hosts: Jessie Michelle

Nobody makes it all on their own in classical music, which is why networking is one of the most critical, yet under-practiced skills for musicians.  For those with who haven't done it before, networking can be awkward and uncomfortable, but with help from our special guest, conductor and excellent networker Conor Whalen, we'll guide you through the world of cold emails, conversations, and follow-u...

"You should try out for American Idol!" "What's your real job?" "Isn't Opera dying?" We love our non-musician friends and family, but sometimes the things they say drive us CRAZY. So we took your stories and a couple of our own, and now it's time to come together and have a couple of laughs at some of the funny, genuine, and unbelievably annoying things we've been told more than a few times.  Foll...

Pursuing music as a career is high stress and time-consuming work, which means that it's not so much a question of if you'll get burnout as it is when you'll get burnout. Burnout can turn making music from a joyful experience into something you dread, which is why it's so important for us to understand it. Luckily there are some great resources to help us learn what burnout looks like, why it's so...

Welcome to the first episode in our series: Issues in Opera We all have a voice in what the future of opera will be. As members of the opera community it is imperative that we start addressing the major issues in modern opera, and no issue is as pressing in this moment as racism.  In this episode we break down the Met's formal statement they released earlier this week, talk about who should and sh...

Happy Pride! The LGBTQ+ community, and especially the BIPOC LGBTQ+ community, have always been an integral part of the classical music community. Join us as we celebrate some major milestones both historic and modern, introduce you to some musicians, and talk about groups you can support this Pride. Follow Us: Instagram Twitter Facebook Hosts: Jessie Michelle

We love our teachers and masterclass guests, but hours locked in a room together working is enough to drive anyone crazy.  We've collected some of YOUR best masterclass and teacher stories to share, and boy are some of them absolutely out of this world. From thick tongues to snatched wigs, laugh along as we see just how crazy some teachers can be. Follow Us: Instagram Twitter Facebook Hosts: Jessi...

What happens when a page falls out of the binder mid-song? Is snapping to give tempo rude? How can I be a better collaborator? Today we discuss best practices with our collaborative pianist friends Mike McAndrew, Andy Gladbach, and David Fraley and figure out what they're really thinking about when they work with singers. From advice on how to build a better working relationship to giving tempo an...

Practice makes perfect... except when it doesn't. Perfectionism has always been the enemy of progress, and musicians are particularly vulnerable to its effects.  This week we're calling ourselves out on our perfectionist tendencies and finding ways to overcome this sneaky, bad habit. Follow Us: Instagram Twitter Facebook Hosts: Jessie Michelle

When you're an opera singer, drama comes with the territory, but some singers take it a LOT further than others. Closed productions, stolen bows, and actual fist fights abound as we cover some of the biggest divas and divos from all eras of opera history. Follow Us: Instagram Twitter Facebook Hosts: Jessie Michelle

Some days you really nail and audition... but sometimes you REALLY don't. We had you guys send us your craziest audition stories, and boy did you deliver. Join us as we laugh our way through binder swaps, awkward jokes, and some impressive improvised art. Follow Us: Instagram Twitter Facebook Hosts: Jessie Michelle

It's easy to think that music school has it all covered. After all, looking through the average music school curriculum it would be hard to imagine among all the theory courses and private lessons that much would fall through the cracks, but sometimes four years is a lot shorter than you think. This week we're looking back on our collective twelve years of schooling and talking about all the thing...

"Practice makes perfect" At least, that's what everyone says, but what does good practice actually look like? Today we have three wonderful guests : Madison Leonard, Ryan Johnson, and Professor Ida Nicolosi, all at different stages in their careers, who help us explore what a good practice routine looks like and how it changes with us over time. Follow Us: Instagram Twitter Facebook Hosts: Jessie...

Every performer loves a good audience, but not everyone understands the importance of retaining your audience when you're not on stage. Social media connects you to your audience year-round, but few performers understand how to fully utilize their platform. Opera Offstage is here to help. We break down the major social media platforms and answer the pressing questions on how to create a social med...