Hello From College!

Hi all,

A lot has happened since my last post, and I have been a busy girl. I started my first year of my undergrad at USM as a vocal performance major, and have already been through of my first master class, first college opera, first semester of classes and I have survived.

Life has a funny way of working things out. If you had asked me last year around this time what my life plans were, I would have told you that I would be in Houston, Texas, studying at Rice or UH, and enjoying the music major life. Then life said, (and I quote) “NO” to everything but the music major life. No Rice, no UH, no Houston, and I think it has been for the better. As Mick Jagger and Keith Richards once said, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime you find you get what you need.”

Now, I have an amazing voice teacher, at a nurturing school, and life is good.

Carmen 2013

I get to be a lead in Carmen this January! I have been cast as Mercedes in the B cast. I am really excited for this experience. We started rehearsals three weeks ago and I have fallen in love with this opera. More updates to follow!

The Soprano

Did you know that there are 5 different types of sopranos in the operatic world?

Sopranos are classified by their range, vocal weight, timbre,  and singing roles.

Coloratura sopranos have a range from “low B” (B₃) to “high F” (F₆) with some coloratura sopranos being able to sing somewhat higher or lower. They also have a very agile voice with a high upper extension, capable of fast vocal coloratura.

A soubrette voice is light with a bright, sweet timbre, and no extensive coloratura. The soubrette voice is not a weak voice. Many young singers start out as soubrettes but as they grow older and the voice matures more physically they may be reclassified as another voice type, usually either a light lyric soprano, a lyric coloratura soprano, or a coloratura mezzo-soprano. Rarely does a singer remain a soubrette throughout their entire career.A soubrette’s range extends from middle C (C₄) to “high D” (D₆).

Lyric Soprano has a warm voice with a bright, full timbre, which can be heard over a big orchestra. It generally plays ingenues and other sympathetic characters in opera. Lyric sopranos have a range from middle C (C₄) to “high D” (D₆).

Spinto sopranos have the brightness and height of a lyric soprano, but can be “pushed” to dramatic climaxes without strain, and may have a somewhat darker timbre. Spinto sopranos have a range from middle C (C₄) to “high D” (D₆).

A dramatic soprano has a powerful, rich, emotive voice that can sing over a full orchestra. Usually (but not always) this voice has a darker timbre than other sopranos. Dramatic sopranos have a range from middle C (C₄) to “high D” (D₆).

Recital 2011

At last year’s recital, I sang two pieces. Sure on this Shining Night (Recital 2011) and Se Florinda e Fedele (Recital 2011)

National Anthem Part 2

A week ago I sang the Star Spangled Banner at Columbia High School’s Military Ball. I sang it with an accompaniment and with SMM and LCT, the school’s JROTC  instructors. It was a lovely experience and I hope to continue to sing the national anthem for the country that I love.

St. George and the Dragon

I am in an operetta called St. George and the Dragon. The cast is small, but the talent is amazing! I have the role of Gloriana the Fairy Queen. She helps George and Una slay the dragon, but there is a big problem. George can’t see the fairy queen; and because he can’t see her, he can’t hold the Sword of Righteousness (which is the only way to slay the dragon). The score was written by Tinsley & Pogue.

The National Anthem Part 1

Today I was honored with the opportunity to sing the national anthem at the Martin Luther King Unity Prayer Breakfast. It was a wonderful experience and everyone was so nice. I met the Mayor of Huntsville, the Mayor of Madison City, and the Governor of Alabama. The program was absolutely amazing and the breakfast was quite tasty. I sang the national anthem “A Capella” (without accompaniment) and  I stood away from the microphone. I was very nervous because there were at least 1200 people at the breakfast.

 

Nutcracker 2011 Part 2

Yesterday was our orchestra rehearsal at the VBC. It went very well and the conductor was very nice. Tomorrow is our first performance. I am super excited to watch the ballerinas dance, sing with the orchestra, and perform at the VBC. It has been my dream, since I was little, to sing in the Nutcracker, and now I finally get to fulfill it.

Nutcracker 2011 Part 1

Today was my first rehearsal for Huntsville Ballet Company’ s Nutcracker 20011. I am in a group of treble singers who will sing at the end of the first act during the snowflakes dance. Our small group is directed by Mrs. Carmelita Gandy. The group consists of altos and sopranos. and the music if fairly easy. I am excited to perform at the Nutcracker this year.

Performance Class 11/8/11

Today during performance class, we discussed the topics of posture, breath support, and gestures.

You need to keep your posture in a regal position. Stand tall and keep your head and neck relaxed. Always lift your sternum up and lift your torso up and out of your hips.

Your posture is an important part of your breath support. You should have good posture so that you can get a good breath before each phrase. Good breath support means longer phrases and better quality of sound.

When one sings an art song, your gestures should be few and far between. Art songs were originally meant to be sung in a small, intimate space like a living room, so they are not nearly as big as arias or classical solos. Your gestures should be small and used only to give emphasis to a word or phrase.