Today I had my junior recital jury. This was a presentation to the vocal faculty of my proposed recital program, which is a half an hour. It was a little rocky in some spots (and I'm probably just being hyper-critical), but I passed!
I am so excited for my recital. It chronicals three years worth of experience, and three different teachers!
WARNING: Lack of funny imminent in the following paragraphs. Proceed with caution. If you wish to skip to funnier material, scroll down to the next image.
I started off with Dr. Kyle Ferrill, a man who really took my voice and made it go from, quite frankly, crap, to winning first place at my first Regional NATS competition. I think it was he who first got me turned on to the art of the artsong (hah, repetition). Without his experience, I'm not sure where I would be right now...
My sophomore year I had Dr. Matthew Markham, a really amazing, adorable man whose passion just exudes from his presence. He took my love of music and helped me to explore what I really wanted to study. It was this year that I really found that I love singing artsong, as well as exploring different languages and styles. My program for my sophomore proficiency consisted of seven songs in six different languages, English, French, German, Italian, Hawaiian, and Czech. I was going to have another one in Russian, but because of times sake, we had to cut it.
Speaking of the proficiency, I have thought long and hard about the results of that. At first, I was as angry I'd imagine Pikachu after being cooped up in that tiny little Pokeball for lord knows how long. However, after I got to thinking about it, I realized that the BMA degree was really a much better choice than the performance degree. Sure, it was definitely a blow to my ego, but looking back at it, I really have no desire to do ANY kind of operatic roles in the future, and there really isn't any money in being a recitalist... And here's where I may have, in my fury, jumped to a couple of conclusions. The reason for my not passing was not because of any politics involved, however much I may have thought. Looking back, and hearing my voice then compared to now, I simply wasn't ready. Also, it is just a much wiser move for me to make, because the BMA allows me to mirror as much of the perofrmance degree as I want, and I also have room to not take certain classes (like opera literature... barf), and it will also allow me to minor in Japanese, a language that I have long had an interest in.
Going into this year was a very exciting process. I was able to get Caroline Smith as my teacher, who is a goddess among men. She has really taken my voice and allowed it to blossom. I do not know where I would be without her. It has been so much fun, and though I may be hypercritical of myself at times, she will never yell at me or get mad at me.
It's getting late, and I'm getting sleepy, so I really can't figure out a way to transition my thoughts at all. I think I'll leave by saying that my recital is on Monday, March 14th at 7:30 at Thompson Recital Hall.
It will be fun. And it's on Pi day. So there will by pie.
In other news, I have been following this website called foodporndaily.com, and it really makes me want to become a food photographer. Go check out that site and I defy you to tell me that you did not sprout a half-chub.
Ok, that's enough of me making a fool out of myself.
Bye!
