Excuse me sir, how do you get to Carnegie Hall?

I'll never forget waking up on the morning of my audition for Boston University's Opera Institute and realizing that I had forgotten my pants to the suit I was to wear! Looking back, I cant believe that I did what I did! I looked in the phone book for a Rochester Big & Tall store (thats where my suit was from) and found one on Wall street of all places. I remember that I was staying with my sister at her apt in Brooklyn. So, I took the subway to Wall street and waited for the Rochester store to open. I was the first guest in the store and they treated me like a million bucks. I found a nice pair of slacks to match the suit jacket that I had and I was on my way...then I thought, wait a minute! How in the world do I get to Carnegie Hall from here? You see, my audition was at the Kaplan studios which are located in the same building that Carnegie Hall is. So, me being the ignorant Texan asks, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" They reply in unison as though it were planned, "PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!" ...and start laughing!!! I look at them completely confused and say, "no, seriously, what subways do I take to get there?" I think that they were pretty freaked out / impressed that I was really headed that way...but, they pointed me in the right direction.

Its funny what a few years make. This morning I have my final dress rehearsal in Carnegie Hall for the Wednesday evening performance of Cilea's L'ARLESIANA with Opera Orchestra New York. This will be my fourth time performing in this amazing concert hall. Its such an honor to sing where so many have shared their music. Its quite humbling to think of standing on the same stage that ALL the great singers and conductors have stood before you. Its a special place to say the least that I am honored to be able to perform in.

Speaking of various concert halls, yesterday I auditioned for the San Francisco Opera at the 92nd street Y in the beautiful Kaufman Concert Hall. I truly wish that every company would spend the $$ to hear singers in a nice recital hall like this. The audition went quite well, and I really hope that it leads to something with the company. Tomorrow I have another audition in a not-so-good space, known as "Di-CRAP-o" DiCapo Opera Theater is located on the upper east side and is a very VERY small opera theater. Its nice that they have a stage, so you do feel that you are "on stage", but come on! I'd much rather sing almost anywhere than there. Its maybe the worst hall to sing in in all of NYC! People have always said that AGMA should actually do something for us singers and rent out a space that would be ideal for audition and have all AGMA affiliated companies hold auditions in this space. What an idea! Grab a pillow and bury your face in it and then start singing and you'll have some clue as to what it feels like to sing in Di CRAP-o!

I'm very excited for my OONY debut. I have friends coming this morning to hear the dress rehearsal and have family and a few friends that are shelling out the big bucks to come see the performance on Wednesday. This role, while I'm supposed to be an old shepard, feels great! I love the range and style of the piece. I definitely feel my voice headed towards the heavier bel canto / verismo / and then eventually Verdi repertoire. ...and me likey! I remember listening to all the great Verdi baritones when I was an undergraduate just hoping to one day sing these arias. I certainly have a long way to go, but I'm happy to say that I'm well on my way.

If any of you are reading this that are in the NY area, come see L'arlesiana on Wednesday night at Carnegie Hall!! Curtain is at 7:30pm. See you there!