Vocalist.org archive


From:  RRicciardi@S...
Date:  Tue Apr 11, 2000  6:16 pm
Subject:  RE: [vocalist-temporary] Age limits (wasOPERA: Met Regional Audi tions, )


Wow Bob, that's awesome.

I'm a 33 year old tenor (I've got about a year before I am "ready" for the
bigtime auditions like SFO, or the MET) and it is so reassuring to find out
that
opportunies exist for the rest of us and not just teenagers.
That is so inspirational.

I sincerely thank you for your words.

Rick



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Kravitz [SMTP:bobkravitz@e...]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 4:05 PM
> To: vocalist-temporary@egroups.com
> Subject: Re: [vocalist-temporary] Age limits (wasOPERA: Met Regional
> Auditions, )
>
> I auditioned at the age of 42......At the Met. I was accepted, But to to
> illness
> in family, My career in singing was halted.....But I activley sing as an
> Avocation..............I was going to be a Comprimario at the Met. I am
> now 51
> and ready to retire my photography job in two to Three years and audition
> for
> Comp. jobs in My Age Area and also try my hand at Broadway....I am an
> active
> Cabaret singer in Philly and do Four oneman shows. I also do Acting and
> Comprimario positions for some of the companies in
> Philly..............There are
> all sorts of situations you can do...just keep your dream
> alive........and do
> not give up........
>
>
>
> Bobby,Phily
>
> Jennifer wrote:
>
> > 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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> > Only at sears.com
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