About a year and a half ago, I decided, in the interests of stability, family, and, well, money, to give up pursuing opera as a serious career and go in to teaching full-time. So back to school I go, to get my k-12 vocal music certification. Things are going along fine, although busily (I have two adjunct faculty positions, and maintain a fairly active performance schedule), but life is generally good.
This summer I planned on taking at least two, possibly three classes so that I would be in position to student-teach next spring and hopefully have a job by fall of 2008.
Enter my voice teacher, with an offer (by proxy) to sing the father in Hansel and Gretel in Aberdeen (Scotland) in August. No great shakes, they’ll only cover expenses; but, goddamn it, it’s an international opera job!
So now I have to decide: classes or sing (with a trip to Scotland thrown in)? I can still get one class done this summer, leaving me three in the fall, which is doable, but those three classes come with a hefty observation schedule that will probably drive me batty.
I don’t have the voice for it either, honestly. I made a brief detour into Heldentenorland a couple of years ago (actually sang the Winterstürme in public), but it wasn’t to be.
You know my doctor almost didn’t go to college, but he followed a whim…
I say go for it! Its an adventure!!! They can’t take it away from you when you get old!
As a fellow st louis area member I say…GO TO SCOTLAND AND SING!!! You can take classes anytime. GO, SING, GO!!! And if you’re going to sing in this area, post dates and times.
I was thinking that should have awakened Hunding, but Sieglende gave him a Mickey Finn.
Do not despair, there is always Mime, or the villain in Meistersinger.
Nobody wants to take the practical approach and encourage me to stay and make sure to finish school? All right then.
Even my wife, the practical one in the family, thinks I should go. I should note that this isn’t a sure thing yet, but it sounded like the guy who’s directing it respects my voice teacher’s opinion enough to take it fairly seriously. I assume he’ll still want to actually hear me. It does sound like this is almost a formality though.
Here’s a totally practical consideration … when you’re applying for teaching jobs, singing an opera in Scotland will look great on your resume. And the experience will give you stories to tell your future students.
My next concert is April 15. This is a St. Louis Chamber Chorus concert. Normally I wouldn’t say “come to a choir concert to hear me sing” 'cause it’s choir and you can’t hear me, but for this concert I have a big fat operatic solo.
On April 29 I’m singing the baritone solos for Carmina Burana at my alma mater.
As a fellow singer (but not opera) and musician I’m begging you to go. School will always be there. Your years as an opera singer are much more finite.
If you want more “practical” advice rather than “follow your dreams” advice, the piece I’d give you is to treat this opportunity as a once in a lifetime chance to live a dream and sing Opera in Scotland, and perhaps as a break from reality, not as a Sign from God that You were Meant to be an Opera Singer and almost gave up just a little too soon.
School will be there when you come back. I do think (as much as a total stranger on a message board whose not sure she’s ever noticed you before this thread can) that in the long run, being practical and being a teacher is probably the right choice. But in the short run, why turn down this opportunity? Especially since your wife supports it.
