Jennifer,
I agree with you 100% !!!
I wonder which of the famous opera stars got a late start on their vocal
training?
Does anybody know?
Rick
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jennifer [SMTP:jennibri@i...]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 12:17 PM
> To: vocalist-temporary@egroups.com
> Subject: RE: [vocalist-temporary] Age limits (wasOPERA: Met Regional
> Auditions, )
>
> And some of us are late starters. The age limit is presumably to prevent
> those with tons of experience (as in the paid performing kind) who
> probably
> don't need to win a competition from beating out the less experienced.
> However, this doesn't take into account that some of us don't start taking
> lessons until we're adults (and lets face it, opera requires *years* of
> training for all except for the extremely rare naturally gifted who
> already
> speak four languages and have perfect technique from the day they're
> born),
> that some of us aren't in a financial position to concentrate full-time on
> singing so it takes longer to get to a point where we're professionally
> ready, and yes, that some of us have bigger voices that don't mature
> enough
> until we're in our thirties.
>
> I'm 31 and my voice has finally developed enough that I've decided a
> career
> in singing is feasible. However, I'm not going to be ready to enter
> advanced
> competitions like the Met for at least another year or two... and I'm
> already too old for many competitions, since 30 is the typical cut-off
> (the
> Met competition is unusual). And not only competitions - I've discovered
> that many opera company apprentice programs are also limited to those 30
> and
> under! (I'm wondering where exactly I'm supposed to get the experience and
> training now that I'm "over the hill" *grrrr*) Meanwhile, I see 23 year
> olds
> who have had lessons for more years than me and who have a mommy and daddy
> who pay for everything take advantage of all the opportunities that are
> now
> denied me by mere virtue of the fact that it took me longer due to
> financial
> and physical (I have a bigger voice) reasons. Not that I blame them,
> because
> I'd do the same thing if I was in their position. I just resent the
> ageism,
> and the assumptions that go with it.
>
> What makes me laugh, however, is the jurors who heard my college entrance
> audition when I was *23* and told me that since my voice was so
> undeveloped
> at such a ripe old age, that no matter how hard I practiced I would never
> be
> able to get into a university music program (which I did a few years
> later).
>
> Well, that's my rant for the day. But I'm not bitter :o), just
> determined...
> I'm no less worthy of opportunities than I was before my birthday several
> weeks ago, and if the (fill in the blank) people who set these stupid age
> limits won't give me a chance, I'll just have to make my own
> opportunities.
>
> Jennifer, B.Mus., determined soprano
>
>
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