This post has been cannibalized from an email to my voice teacher (with names and locations changed to protect the innocent), as I thought you all might want to know how my auditions went:
_____________________________________________

To save time in my next lesson, whenever it may be, here's a quick summary of how the auditions went:

[Midwestern summer program]: They only heard one aria from everyone (four-minute slots!). I sang "Voi lo sapete", they said "very impressive", done. I'm trying to take it positively.

[Southern resident program]: [Artistic Director, who I sang for in October in a masterclass) recognized me right away. I started with "Voi lo sapete" [which he suggested, in lieu of the aria I sing for Upstate NY audition #1, which is too damn high], he smiled and said, "Now isn't that SO much easier to sing?", I said oh, yeah. Then he asked for ALL of "Mi tradi". I tried to really vary the emotions on the verses, which I think worked out well. I took an extra breath on the last page but I don't think it was detrimental. He asked me where else I had auditions, then I left. The pianist I hired was quite good--very intuitive and had a good feel for vocal music.

[Midwestern resident program]: They don't let you choose your first aria, but they asked for "Dich, theure Halle" [Wagner] so I was pleased. (Though at 10:30 in the morning...yuck) Then the sneaky guy asked for "Mi tradi" [coloratura Mozart aria--totally different to sing than the first aria]--and for me to start right on the aria. Mean! But it actually went pretty well--I just concentrated really hard on finding a smaller focus [singer-ese]. I was kind of proud of myself there.

[Upstate NY summer program #1]: Sang "Stridono lassu". It really does feel a little high and relentless. But I think it went okay. (By the way, this was on Friday. There was a big snowstorm and it took me 2 1/2 hours to drive to the train station over six inches of snow--nothing was plowed. It was a NIGHTMARE. I'm glad I was actually able to sing at all after that.)

[Upstate NY summer program #2]: The pianist I had arranged for this audition called me Friday morning deathly ill, so I had to take my chances with the pianist they provided. Luckily he was someone I already knew ([person involved with YAP I did last winter]), and the moment I saw him I figured everything would be fine. I started with "Voi lo sapete", and they seemed to like it. Then they asked me to start with the middle section of "Do not utter a word". Vocally it went quite well, though I think I could've been more specific dramatically. Unfortunately I forgot to drop my friend Brad's name, which might have helped me. I hear they're making calls already--we'll see.

I did make goals for the auditions, per [aforementioned Artistic Director], which were to notice what my shoulders were doing and to anticipate musical changes dramatically. I think I accomplished these, for the most part. --Also, I was able to coach with [great vocal coach] while I was up there, and I have some feedback from the coaching which I can tell you about in my lesson.
____________________________________________

There, now wasn't that scintillating? While others are home-birthing ten-pound babies in a bathtub with no anesthesia (!), I am taking two-hour train trips to sing for five minutes for a chance to sing in the chorus of a few operas this summer. (I also had a harrowing experience the evening of the snowstorm and the two auditions--getting stuck behind an accident on I-84 for almost three hours with the engine turned off (I almost ran out of gas!), freezing, finally finding a way off the interstate at one A.M., but this is all I will reveal. I really don't want to talk about it.)

And a final note: met Cathy's boyfriend Saturday. He has my seal of approval. :) Email me if you want more information.