The YAP (Young Artist Podcast)
By Emily Hughes
The YAP (Young Artist Podcast)Mar 12, 2021
2020 Wrap on The YAP - Featuring Voicemails from our Listeners!
We put out a call for voicemails from our listeners, speaking to their experiences in 2020, and you answered! We heard from singers around the world about their trials and triumphs during a truly unprecedented year. One of those singers, mezzo Jackie Kerns, joined us to talk further about her experiences and the year at large, and Abi Levis of SCYA (Soloist Coalition Young Artists) joined us to share what SCYA has been up to this year in advocating for YAs! We also discuss some of the big opera headlines of the year and some of the most innovative productions that came out of this time.
Find us on Instagram
Find SCYA on Instagram
Mentions:
The Quick/Dallas Opera Network
Michigan Opera - Twilight: Gods
White Snake Projects - Alice in the Pandemic
Helios Opera - La voix humaine
Kamala Sankaram - All Decisions Will Be Made By Consensus
Chicago Lyric Opera - Factotum
On Site Opera - An die ferne Geliebte
Boston Lyric Opera - Fall of the House of Usher
Due Donne Productions - Animal Crossing Hansel and Gretel
Vanderbilt Opera Theater - L'enfant et les sortilèges
Kansas Lyric Opera - Amahl and the Night Visitors
Pittsburgh Festival Opera - Opera Without Walls
Opera NEO - Episodic Magic Flute
Irish National Opera - 20 Shots of Opera
Thanks to those who called in: Candace Lynn Matthews, Sarah Broeter, Alex Adams-Leytes, Hannah Nachman, Kaitlyn Zardetto, Samantha Wu, Erik Bagger, Jay Chacon, Angela Dinkelman, and Rachel Abrams
Theme music by Nick Gish
BONUS: Shaken to the Chord w/ Mimi Hilaire - "Music in Pandemic Times" with guest Emily Hughes
Also! Announcing a special opportunity to be on the podcast! I want to show the incredible resiliency of opera singers everywhere this year, and all the many ways you’ve been surviving and thriving and making our world better for the future. So I’m putting together a special end-of-year "audio-collage" episode featuring all of you and your reflections on this strange year. To participate, please visit our podcast website here and click “message” to leave a message. Here are the things you should include, as applicable:
What other non-singing jobs you’ve worked this year to make ends meet (whether a job you’ve always had or something you acquired for this time)
Whether you’ve moved locations and why
Any new experiences or skills acquired in this time
What you’re grateful for and/or what absolutely sucks about this time
The changes you hope to see in our industry post-pandemic
Whether you want to state your name in the message or keep it anonymous is entirely up to you! The message-leaving function will cut you off at one minute, but feel free to leave up to two messages if you’d like to speak for longer! The deadline to submit is December 18th. I can't wait to share everyone's submissions!
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The theme music was composed by Nick Gish. Follow his Soundcloud here!
Stephanie Ann Ball on Recital Curation and High-Performance
In our 10th episode, we chat with soprano Stephanie Ann Ball about her recital work and her correlating career as a high-performance coach. Stephanie has made a singing career outside of opera, curating themed recitals and performing them around the country. In her coaching work, she helps singers and other professionals make the most of their time and get rid of the blocks keeping them from achieving their goals. We discuss her work in both areas, and she offers great advice from both perspectives. Her book, Own Your Light, can be found here. Find her on Facebook and Instagram as well.
Announcing a special opportunity to be on the podcast! I want to show the incredible resiliency of young artists everywhere this year, and all the many ways you’ve been surviving and thriving and making our world better for the future. So I’m putting together a special end-of-year episode featuring all of you and your reflections on this strange year. To participate, please visit our podcast website here and click “message” to leave a message. Here are the things you should include:
- What other non-singing jobs you’ve worked this year to make ends meet (whether a job you’ve always had or something you acquired for this time)
- Whether you’ve moved locations and why
- Any new experiences or skills acquired in this time
- What you’re grateful for and/or what absolutely sucks about this time
- The changes you hope to see in our industry post-pandemic
Whether you want to state your name in the message or keep it anonymous is entirely up to you! The message-leaving function will cut you off at one minute, but feel free to leave up to two messages if you’d like to speak for longer! The deadline to submit is December 18th. I can't wait to share everyone's submissions!
Follow us!
The theme music was composed by Nick Gish. Follow his Soundcloud here!
Derek Rue on Singing in Germany and Fitness for Singers
In our 9th episode, we speak to tenor Derek Rue about his life as an American singer in Germany and his work as a personal trainer for singers. Derek started out as professional snowboarder, and discovered his talent and love for singing on the later side. We talk about his journey from athlete to opera singer and from America to Germany, where he now sings under fest contract at Theater Trier. Derek shares tips for auditioning and living in Germany, as well as tips about weightlifting for singers. He now also works as a personal trainer for singers with his company Onstage Fitness.
Email Derek: Derekrue [at] gmail [dot] com
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The theme music was composed by Nick Gish. Follow his Soundcloud here!
Dana Lynne Varga on Entrepreneurship and Empowering Singers
In our 8th episode Dana Lynne Varga speaks to us about her multi-faceted career as a singer, voice teacher, career coach, artistic director of Mass Opera, and the founder of The Empowered Musician. She believes strongly that we need to change the way we educate singers, in order to truly prepare them for the realities of the business. We speak about ways educational institutions can better serve singers, how companies can better plan seasons to promote gender parity and diversity overall, and things singers can do for themselves to ensure longevity in this career.
Articles mentioned:
Middleclass Artist article on YA wages
Healthy Student-Teacher Relationships
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The theme music was composed by Nick Gish. Follow his Soundcloud here!
Justin Werner and Zoey Preston of Stratagem Artists on Managing a Career in Opera
In our 7th episode, we talk to Justin Werner and Zoey Preston of Stratagem Artists. As the youngest managers in the field, and former singers themselves, they bring a unique perspective to what they do. We discuss when a singer should look for management, what qualities they look for in a singer, and the things all singers, managed or otherwise, can do to positively affect their careers.
Find them on social media:
Stratagem's Website, Facebook, and Instagram
Zoey's Instagram
Justin's Instagram
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The theme music was composed by Nick Gish. Follow his Soundcloud here!
Jordan Weatherston Pitts on the Young Artist Community
In our 6th episode, we talk with young tenor and founder of YAC Tracker (Young Artist Community Tracker), Jordan Weatherston Pitts. Jordan is a fierce advocate for young artists, and his professional career has blossomed since his debut in New York City Opera's world premiere of Stonewall. We discuss his 3,000-member Facebook group, scarcity mindset, the hard facts of young artist finances, and his many side jobs. Jordan also gives some great advice for singers making the transition from being a young artist to working at the professional level.
Jordan's Website and Instagram
YAC Tracker's Instagram
Aural Compass Project Interview
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The theme music was composed by Nick Gish. Follow his Soundcloud here!
Frances Rabalais on Staging Intimacy
In our fifth episode we talk to Houston-based stage director and intimacy/fight choreographer Frances Rabalais about her work with singers and about the importance of intimacy choreography that is mindful of boundaries. She gives helpful advice for young singers navigating these often tricky conversations and for stage directors wanting to find better practices for staging intimacy. We also discuss the acting side of intimacy and staging taboo subjects like sexual violence. You can find Frances on Instagram @eviloperagenius and at http://www.francesrabalais.com/
TW: Sexual violence is mentioned in this episode, in a general way, without explicit descriptions.
Resources Mentioned:
Staging Sex by Chelsea Pace
Follow us!
The theme music was composed by Nick Gish. Follow his Soundcloud here!
Alina Tamborini on Singing New Music, Bel Canto, and Everything in Between
In our fourth episode we feature young coloratura soprano Alina Tamborini. Alina has sung bel canto with Teatro Nuovo and has recorded brand new music with her trio, Sputterbox, and she also loves to teach. We talk about her diverse career, interpreting composers old and new, and we hear and discuss some of the music from her trio's new album.
Find them on Instagram @alinatamborini and @sputterbox
Sputterbox's performance of Sept Crimes de l'Amour by Georges Aperghis
Videos of the songs featured in the episode:
"Through Distance" by Daijana Wallace
"I Tried to Make Love on Zoom, but Something Got Lost in Translation" by Kyle Lewis
Follow The Young Artist Podcast on Instagram and Twitter for more, including the video of Emily and Alina singing together (as mentioned in the episode)
Our theme music is by Nick Gish
Cailin Marcel Manson and Jermaine Woodard Jr. on Race and Community in Opera, Part 2/2
In this two-part episode we hear from both a young singer at the beginning of his career (Jermaine Woodard Jr.) and a singer who has had an international career and now teaches and conducts, in addition to performing (Cailin Marcel Manson). In this, the second part, Cailin expands on his plans for his new opera company, modeled on the fest houses of Germany, and how it will help to address some of the iniquities in the business.
Cailin's Website and Instagram. To get in touch, you can also email him at cailin@cailinmarcelmanson.com
Part one of the round table discussion on Dallas Opera's Facebook page, featuring both Jermaine and Cailin, can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3068984973182487&extid=MFxT4JFzl8pFCwp4
Follow Young Artist Podcast on Instagram @youngartistpodcast and on Twitter @youngartistpod
Theme music composed and produced by Nick Gish. Visit his Soundcloud for more.
Cailin Marcel Manson and Jermaine Woodard Jr. on Race and Community in Opera, Part 1/2
In this two-part episode we hear from both a young singer at the beginning of his career (Jermaine Woodard Jr.) and a singer who has had an international career and now teaches and conducts, in addition to performing (Cailin Marcel Manson). In part 1, we reflect on this time we're living in and discuss the ways in which the existing structures in the opera world keep people of color out and fail to serve local communities as well as they could. Cailin is currently developing a new opera company modeled on the fest houses of Germany that would strive to address these issues. We talk a bit about his goals with that company, but we will delve deeper into his plans in part two of this episode, coming out next week!
Cailin's Website and Instagram
Follow Young Artist Podcast on Instagram @youngartistpodcast and on Twitter @youngartistpod
Theme music composed and produced by Nick Gish. Visit his Soundcloud for more.
Rachelle Jonck on Bel Canto and the Singer Mindset
In our first episode we talk to coach, conductor, and founder of Bel Canto Boot Camp, Rachelle Jonck. We touch on a wide variety of topics including practice mindset, how to be a more empowered singer, and the importance of community right now. We'll also learn more about her new Bel Canto Boot Camp program which she aptly calls "barre class for singers." Rachelle is a coach/conductor at Teatro Nuovo, is on the faculty at Westminster Choir College, coaches at the Palm Beach Opera young artist program, and is music director of Baltimore Concert Opera. Her full bio can be found here
Learn more about Bel Canto Boot Camp and sign up here!
Be sure to follow us on Instagram @youngartistpodcast to get in on the conversation!
Special Thanks to Rachel Abrams for our logo design and to Nick Gish for composing our theme music! He did an amazing job bringing my crazy idea to full musical life! Please check out Nick's other work on his SoundCloud
Introducing: The YAP!
Follow us on Instagram: @youngartistpodcast
www.instagram.com/youngartistpodcast
Trailer transcript:
Hello! And welcome to the Yap, The Young Artist Podcast. I’m Emily Hughes, a New York-based mezzo soprano, and I created this podcast to be a resource to you, an artist in the field of opera. Each episode will bring you an interview with a member of the community, be it a singer, stage director, coach, conductor, or administrator. And every other episode will feature one of our peers, an artist at the beginnings of their career. We’re here to serve this community by talking about the important issues our business faces especially now, and by providing information about topics that will serve you as you make your way in this career, whatever path you take. We are committed to giving voice to the full spectrum of artists in this business, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or economic and educational background. No opera career is the same, and we believe all paths in pursuing this art are valid and important. Our first episode drops September 3rd and will feature Rachelle Jonck, a coach and conductor at Teatro Nuovo and the founder of Bel Canto Bootcamp, for a discussion about practice techniques, singer empowerment, building community during quarantine, and finding your way as a young artist. I had a great time talking to her and I know you’ll find what she had to say to be both encouraging and informative. So be sure to hit subscribe and you’ll be notified when the episode drops. In the meantime, please visit our Instagram at Young Artist Podcast to get in on the conversation! We always look forward to your input and suggestions for the podcast.