Big Apple

I love surprises, especially big ones.  That has to make my wife crazy, because I am pretty good at keeping a secret.  Last week I received an invitation to audition for Chautauqua Opera in December in New York City.  I also discovered that my alma mater is ranked #3 in the pre-season basketball rankings and they are likely to play #1 Duke in a tournament in Kansas City the week before the auditions.  So, I had to buy tickets to the game and when I found out about the audition, I decided that this would be a great surprise for my wife.  She has never been to New York and has always talked about wanting to go.  So, I casually mentioned the basketball tickets waiting for dinner at In-gre-di-ent and she was so excited because she loves basketball.  Then I mentioned that I got the audition and that I'm taking her to New York!  She was pretty pumped, and it was really exciting to give that surprise to her.  That was a great day.  After dinner, we saw "The Social Network" at the movie theater (and it was great, albeit a little embarrassing because I am similarly eccentric - but my wife assures me that is ok).

Hopefully, she will be able to have the New York experience she's always wanted, and hopefully I will get another audition or two for that week as well.  I still have several auditions that I am waiting to hear back from.

On the other hand, I received word that I did not get an audition with Santa Fe Opera this year.  For that application, singers do not send in a recording, they just take the information that is submitted and perhaps their notes from previous auditions and make their decision.  Well, I guess they did not enjoy my audition last year in Chicago.  But, that is ok.  That is how the business works.  I also was not invited to the Wolf Trap auditions.  Nevertheless, it is quite an exciting experience to be able to travel around the country to the ones I do get invited to.  I have traveled just under 60,000 miles in the last year and half!

Wow, I have never thought about that before, but that's a lot of miles.

Anyway, I will keep you all updated on any new information.

This last week we had a very successful choir concert for the Conservatory Singers.  My wife was a life saver!  I brought the wrong tux coat and she fortunately was able to get me the one with tails, just in time for the concert.  Thanks babe!

This week, I will be participating in the Missouri NATS contest.  I have won the NATS West Regional before and this is an entirely new region for me at UMKC.  So, I am excited to see how it goes.  I will be singing Lenski's Aria by Tchaikovsky from Eugene Onegin, Nebbie by Respighi, The Lamb by Hoiby, and Thou Shalt Break Them from Messiah by Handel.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to be a part of the Kansas State University Choir Advisory Council, which I was invited to be a part of this year since I am now an alumnus.  I will continue to be part of their activities but I was notified too late to clear my schedule for their fall meeting.  I am very honored for the invitation.

Looking ahead to the Monteverdi concert in December, I promised you another weird and ancient instrument.  This week:  the Hurdy Gurdy

Click Here to watch a video of a Hurdy Gurdy performance (let me know if he blinks)

Current Audition Info

Santa Fe Opera - applied 9/16 - not invited 10/22

Chautauqua Opera (New York) - applied 10/5 - invited 10/22

Wolf Trap Opera (Washington D.C.) - applied 10/8 - not invited 10/18

National Opera Association Competition (San Antonio) - applied 10/12

Crested Butte Opera (Colorado) - applied 10/12

Sugar Creek Symphony and Song (near Chicago) - applied 10/12

Shreveport Opera Competition - applied 10/12

Symphony in the Valley (Colorado) - applied 10/13

Ash Lawn Opera (near Washington D.C.) - applied 10/13

Upcoming concerts:

October 29, 2010 - Missouri State NATS competition - Central Missouri University - TBA

November 10, 2010 - Singing "Der Lindenbaum" on John Mueter Presentation - Grant Hall 122 - 3pm

November 18-21, 2010 - The Dialogues of the Carmelites by Poulenc - Chevalier de la Force (cover) - White Recital Hall

November 30, 2010 - Choir Concert - Atonement Lutheran Church

December 2, 2010 - Chautauqua Opera Auditions - New York City, NY

December 7, 2010 - Featured Soloist - Monteverdi Vespers (400th Anniversary Concert) - Visitation Catholic Church -  Kansas City, MO - 7:30pm

December 12, 2010 - Tenor Soloist - Messiah by Handel - Centennial United Methodist Church - Kansas City, MO - 4:00pm

March 17-20, 2011 - Don Giovanni by Mozart - Don Ottavio - White Recital Hall

April 23, 2011 - Gloria by Poulenc - White Recital Hall