Alice’s Adventures in an Arts Career

Today was my last day of classes.  Technically I am supposed to be done my undergrad save for one jury and one exam. Though in reality I’m nowhere near done as long as I still have this Philosophy of Music Education research paper to finish. However, today represented a whole series of lasts.

Today was my…

• Last instrumental conducting class.
• Last choir concert with Jen Moir
• Last masterclass with Rachel Mallon
• My last performance in von Kuster Hall

All these lasts have me feeling a little sad, excited for what is to come next but also a little nervous of what is to come next.

I am not done nor do I feel done as long as I have my summer courses to complete and my delayed fall graduation.  However, this past week and the up coming week represent many more “lasts”.

What worries me the most, is once the final “last” is completed, I will have my degree in Music.  I will have a piece of paper that says I know something about my field; I’ll be an expert .  I in no way feel I know nearly enough to warrant this.  There is still so much I need to learn before I can call myself a expert and yet if I were to teach, as many of my colleagues are about to do, I would be expected to play that role.  I would be an authority. I fear I would feel like a fraud.

Just one more reason why I don’t feel ready to teach just yet.  I’m not done being a student.

After the amazing summer I had last year, which included playing Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and taking the greatest literature courses ever, I’ve since realized that my summers can be the most fulfilling time.  So, to follow up last year, I have some really exciting gigs lined up for the summer.

First, I’m taking the Vocal Arts Intensive intercession course through the Don Wright Faculty of music.  This is basically going to be 6 weeks of getting a complete and thorough vocal workout.  I’ll be spending my days in vocal lessons and master classes and gaining more experience and training on topics like aria preparation, oratorios, audition prep.. etc.  It will be a daunting 6 weeks and I’ll be surrounded by singers I know are far better than I am, but I also know it will be so worth it and I can hardly wait for the progress I know I’m going to make and fun I know I’m going to have.

Second, I received permission from the Dean of English a few months ago to enroll in the Voice and Text and the Shakespeare in Performance courses which are offered through the university but are taught at the Stratford Festival Theatre.  Essentially, I’m going to have 3 weeks of acting workshops and coaching from festival coaches.  I’m going to see a Stratford play every day, study Shakespeare plays and work with young actors from all over Ontario.  Again, it will be daunting and hard work, and I’ll be surrounded by actors who have far more experience and training than I, but I can hardly wait.

Third, I am doing auditions for the UWO Summer Shakespeare in mid April. Jo has decided to stage The Taming of the Shrew.  This play is in my top 5 favourite Shakespeare plays.  I would be over the moon if I could land the role of Kate, but even if I didn’t, just working again with Jo  and repeating my experiences from last year’s play would be wonderful.  So wish me luck on my audition.

Now, if I could only find me a gig that would bring me in a little money, I would be set.

This evening was Vox Humana Chamber Choir’s spring concert.  We have officially been together for 8 months, and the progress we have made in the time is astonishing.  Listening to them sing tonight, I was blow away by their sound.  Even since December, Vox has grown by leaps and bound in every aspect of their singing; tuning, blend, interpretation. I am so proud to be a part of this group and I am so proud of each and every member.

This term we did far more difficult repertoire than last term (and last term’s stuff was hard).  We also had less rehearsal time and some issues with scheduling conflicts.  Even with all that, we put together a stimulating, varied, challenging and engaging concert.

The choir is now done for the summer.  In the fall it will live again, one way or another.  The leadership may change a little depending on how much work Tim feels like piling on for himself.  We may switch roles, or we might keep things as they are.  We shall have to see how things pan out. Sadly some of our members will not be returning since they are graduating and moving away.  However, I am hoping some will stay for another great year and we will do another round of auditions for fresh singers in September.

I’m looking forward to the summer and spending time planning for next year.  I want to get a start on choosing new and interesting repertoire.  I was also suggesting to Tim that we join Choirs Ontario, since it will give us access to new music sources, opens up access to workshops and local choir news as well as boost our professional credibility.  I have grand ideas and plans for next year and maybe even the years to follow.  And if the coming years are anything like this past one, I couldn’t imagine having a better and more fulfilled life.

I had my very last vocal lesson with my amazing teacher Rachel Mallon yesterday.  I have worked with her for three years and in that time have made huge leaps and bounds in my singing. But now it’s over.  The most frustrating and sad part is that I feel as if I am just on the cusp of a whole new level of singing.  The past few lessons  I have been making sounds like I never knew I could, but then it would all disapear.  I’m just about to have another huge break through and I don’t want to stop.  I feel like I’ve spent 3 years getting rid of a whole host of bad habits and issues and it is only now that I’m ready to really SING… but I’m graduating.  It’s a very mixed feeling.

I suppose it’s not completely over yet.  I’m taking the summer Vocal Arts course, which will be 6 weeks of me getting my ass kicked vocally.  But it won’t be with Rachel and I always worry when I change teachers.

Also, I realize that simply because I’m graduating doesn’t mean the singing stops.  However, lessons  will become much more difficult to afford and schedule.  Maybe I just shouldn’t graduate and live in university forever.  Oh, if only life could be that simple.