Mobile Opera: From Traditional to Innovative

I recently had the pleasure of performing with Mobile Opera in their production of Ghosts of Gatsby. Scott Wright, Mobile Opera’s General & Artistic Director, took some time to share with me some of the amazing things this company is doing for our industry, as well as tips for singers with the precariousness of work. 

How Important is Water for a Healthy, Working Voice?

Dear Doctor Jahn,

Would you say that water is the closest thing we have to a “cure-all” when it comes to singing? I mean, I do a lot of singing in bars and clubs and I drink a LOT of water and I really haven’t had issues that other questioners have (hoarseness, sore-throats etc.)

-Gus

An Interview with Jocelyn Hagen – Composer and Co-Founder of Graphite Publishing

When I spoke with Jocelyn Hagen earlier this month, she was putting the final touches on an exciting new project.

Tell us about your newest project. 

It’s a Christmas oratorio called Rose Ever Blooming, which I’m writing with my husband, Tim Takach, for Voces8. Years ago, Tim found this amazing book of poetry by Patricia Monaghan that’s all about Mary. It really humanizes her in a very beautiful way, and we had this idea for a large work based on this poetry. We had been commissioned by Voces8 in the past and had a good working relationship with them, so we approached them, pitched the idea, and they said, “Yes! And if we do it, let’s record it right away!” So, it just sort of snowballed into this huge project. 

Diva Diaries | Entry 6: Lights on the Runway

We have all been there. Mindlessly scrolling Instagram, when BAM, snuck between a restaurant review and a friend of a friend’s photo dump, there it is. An announcement. The kind that makes you squint at the screen and think, wait… them? The moment when a colleague lands a role, wins a competition, or hits a milestone you’ve been chasing— and before you can fully process it, that insidious little voice slithers in whispering “that should have been me.”

And if you are anything like me, that thought curdles almost instantly into guilt. Because you are a good person. You love your friends! You want to watch your colleagues succeed. But somewhere, deep down in the shadowy depths of your most insecure self, the stinging pit isn’t about them, it’s about you. A spotlight has just been cast on what you feel you’re lacking and most importantly, what you’re terrified might never come your way.

Magic to Do

Who doesn't love the magic of theatre? The world of the imagination, the suspension of disbelief, the communication of triumph and tragedy through words, music, lights, costumes, and sets. Anyone who has had a transformative experience through theatre will likely have a difficult time expressing the power of that experience through words. There are some words, however, that may be particularly inadequate or—in the opinion of at least one music professional—inaccurate. 

Crossover Corner: Sunset Boulevard—the ALMOST opera

“I am big. It’s the pictures that got small” “And now, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up” and “I hate that word. It’s a return” are some of Norma’s most iconic declarations. And by Norma, I’m talking Desmond not Druid.

Norma Desmond, the beautifully delusional heroine of Sunset Boulevard, isn’t terribly unlike her druid priestess counterpart and namesake in so far as her infrequent, yet highly anticipated returns to the stage. Full-scale stagings of Bellini’s masterpiece Norma occur less frequently than Bohèmes and Magic Flutes, and they usually herald a new or returning torch bearer of the demanding role—for better or worse as history and critics sometimes snark.

Vocal Fold Disorders

As a singer, it is imperative that you keep your vocal health a priority. To maintain a healthy, robust voice, it is a good idea to learn about different voice

Home Series: “My Energy Color is Red!”

Soprano and voice teacher Andrea DelGuidice has extensive performing experience in opera, opera directing, plus a robust voice studio, and leadership roles in programs of study and opera companies. It’s no wonder that she lends her creative flair and attention to detail to her home as well. 

Tool Time 5: The Face Steamer and the Nebulizer 

Today we aren’t looking at a specific item but the general uses of face steamers and nebulizers. If you have favorite singers or influencers, I’m sure you’ve seen a GRWM (get ready with me) that shows some use of a steamer or nebulizer. What is the difference and why would you use one over the other? That’s the question I’m looking to answer today. Neither of these tools are exclusive and can be used with the other tools mentioned in earlier articles: Breather Voice—Tool Time 4, Vocal Trainer by Better Voice—Tool Time 3,  Belt Box—Tool Time 2, and Sing Ring by OOVO—Tool Time. Much like everything that I have gone over, these tools deal with optional maintenance for good health and better vocalization. These devices also have outside uses from voice care. 

The Singer’s Library: The Third Edition of The Vocal Athlete

The first edition of The Vocal Athlete, published in 2014, was one of the first vocal pedagogy textbooks to focus primarily on singing in contemporary vocal styles. Authors Wendy D. LeBorgne and Marci Rosenberg also published a companion workbook of vocal exercises titled The Vocal Athlete: Application and Technique for the Hybrid Singer.