I don’t speak Russian. I’m not a language expert. Yet, I sing hours of music in languages that I don’t speak fluently for my profession. All opera singers do! As a native English speaker, I sing operas in Italian, French, and German—as well as Russian. Now, I’m not here to tell you how to sing … More What’s So Hard about Singing Russian? (And Why I Love It)
It’s common knowledge that the human voice changes over a lifetime. You barely notice the changes as they happen. It’s like looking in the mirror everyday until one day, many years later, you look back and definitively say, “whoa! Things are different than they used to be!” I often get asked by younger baritones about … More The Stages of My Vocal Development (Until Now)
Arias are like gloves: there are lots of different sizes and styles out there but finding the right ones is no easy task. On the bright side, you can switch them out as often as you like as you grow and change as a singer. Some of these arias were real winners for me during … More Top 20 Baritone Audition Arias
Because the rehearsal place is sacred ground, here are my 10 Commandments of Rehearsal. 1. Thou Shalt Not Be Late The fastest and easiest way to start a rehearsal on the right foot is to arrive on time. You immediately show respect and professionalism for the rehearsal process and everyone in the room. Plan ahead … More The Ten Commandments of Rehearsal
Four months ago, I was blessed with my first child. Cash Erickson Meachem came into our lives May 30th and our world was forever changed. Like any first-time parent, I had no clue what I was getting into. Many of my parent friends warned me about the magnitude of commitment—not to mention the sleep deprivation—it … More How Fatherhood Has Changed Me
This week was a whirlwind and I don’t say that lightly. Opera singers are often faced with tough decisions and I was hit with one of my biggest. Even now, I’m still dealing with the repercussions. As many of you know, my wife Irina and I are expecting our first child. The due date is … More The Biggest Sacrifice of My Life
High notes are notoriously the hardest thing to sing in opera. But there’s another vocal challenge that’s almost or just as hard. That’s accessing and singing in your passaggio. What is your passaggio you might ask? Simply put (and this is the best definition there is, without getting threatened by the vocal ped police!) it’s the … More My Weird (But Effective!) Trick for Singing in Your Passaggio
With the highs and lows of an artistic career, we mostly hear about those defining moments where someone’s dream came true and a perfect opportunity presented itself, and a star was born. This blog post is not that. This was one of the ultimate lows of my career. In fact, it’s the one blaring regret … More The Worst Audition of My Life
Reviews have a special place in the opera world. They inform readers about the quality of most current operatic performances. Unknowingly, reviews can teach readers about opera by showing them what to listen for, informing them about history, style, and so forth. They can educate an entire community. Yet, behind every review is a reviewer. … More Are Reviews Relevant?
It’s easy to look back on the past and wonder what would have happened if you did something differently. If I had the chance to impart some advice onto my younger opera singer self and change the past, this would be it. Find Your Edges, Round Them Out As a music student, it’s prime time … More What I Would Have Done Differently
