Music Update!

It has been way too long since I have written a blog. Yes I am still alive and singing lol. This is going to be a short quick update on what has been going on. I have been assigned the role of the Commissioner and understudy for Sharpless (the lead baritone role) in Madama Butterfly with Verismo Opera Club. It is disappointing to only be the understudy, however, I am happy that I got it because it is still a resume builder. Verismo opened up last year, and they seem to be fun, caring people to work with. I hope something happens with these gas prices before I have to start making all those trips to Oak Park.

I have also been blessed to receive the baritone solo of the Brahms Requiem with the Chicago Community Chorus with Orchestra. I am excited about this opportunity. I was presented with the opportunity to either conduct one of the movements (because I am the Assistant Conductor) or sing the solo, and I said I am a singer first lol. It would have been my first time conducting an orchestra, but the opportunity will come again.

The last thing I am going to talk about is my decision to move on from an opera company that will remain nameless. I have been with them since day one, but there is too much going on for me. In the last concert I saved them by singing the role of Figaro with one days notice. After that they wanted to act funny about paying me for my services. Since then they have had 2 concerts that I have not been asked to participate in. I just don't understand how I can be in almost all of the concerts, and then after I saved their behinds, I get nothing. That is my cue to move on with my life. That is all I will say about that.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading!

Brandon

Professionalism

Disclaimer: I am writing this blog in a frustrated mood. I have calmed down a little, but I am still very upset at the things that have occurred.

Tonight I will be singing in a recital with 4 of my friends, and we were going to be accompanied by a person whose name I will not use. We have been in contact with him for over a month about him playing for our recital. He agreed and was all gungho about it, so we all thought it was a good option. He is a great pianist, and we were excited to work with him. From that moment things started to go downhill. He is not easy to get in contact with. He doesn't respond to text, phone calls, or e-mails. We all have tried contacting him, but he responds when he is ready. So, we were able to schedule a rehearsal for Wednesday (for a recital that is supposed to be on Friday). Tuesday night we receive an e-mail from him stating that he has a doctor appointment during our rehearsal time, and he has to go because he is going out of the country on Saturday. He asked could we possibly rehearse on Thursday at his place or he can meet us. Some of us said we can rehearse on Thursday, and some declined. So we were ready to rehearse on Thursday, and we didn't here back from him until 5:12 p.m.! He said that he thought we couldn't rehearse on Thursday. Why in the world would he ask can we rehearse, and then not respond to calls, e-mails, and texts? So, not the performance is almost 24 hours away, and we have yet to rehearse with our accompanist.

One of the other singers tweeted that he wish he could have rehearsed with the accompanist before the concert, and I retweeted it, saying me too. We both finally got a message from the accompanist almost right away saying that if that is the way we feel we should find another accompanist for tomorrow. He then went on to say that it was too far and not enough money, and he complained about getting the music late. He then proceeds to text my friend that planned this event, and told her that he is not going to play tomorrow because he feels disrespected by me and my other friend. I'm trying to figure out what was said or done that was disrespectful. Is there something wrong with having the desire to rehearse with an accompanist before a concert? So he drops out of the concert, and it is 24 hours away. Now we have to find someone that can play all of the music at the 11th hour. Luckily my friend found someone, and we all have to pray that it works out.

My friend then receives a text from our original accompanist saying that he decided on a "confidence front" that he will not play because of what was said, but he has found a replacement. At that point all I could do was the stupid look. If he had such a problem with what was said, why would he find someone else to play, and agree to it so quickly? There is definitely something fishy about this situation. He didn't want to play from the beginning. If there was a problem with anything he should have said it then, and not 24 hours before the concert. He was just using that to get out of playing because he probably overextended himself. If he knew he was going out of the country the next day, then he should have told us that a long time ago. I am very perturbed at his lack of professionalism and character. He has made himself look very bad, and in his selfish and cowardly act, he has sabotaged our concert. I am going end here because I don't want to get my pressure up anymore than it already is.

Good Day.

Weary in my well doing...

I have not written a blog in over a month now, and that is not good. I am writing this blog in the middle of the night with an uneasy mind and weary in my well doing. Since the last time I have blogged, I have done 2 auditions. I have one more audition on Monday. My 2 auditions went really well. I have gone in with no fear of the high note, and put my all into these auditions, and I feel really good about how they went. I have not heard from anybody that I have auditioned for and it worries me. The one that I did Tuesday said that we would hear back by yesterday, and that has now passed. So, here I am in the middle of the night trying to figure out what it is that has me being overlooked. I know that I have got the chops, and anybody around the city can vouch for that. I sing for all of these groups that I am one of the best then, but when I try to further my career in the professional realm, something seems to be wrong. I know that singers are told no, more than they are told yes, but that is not easy to deal with. Singing is a very personal thing because the voice is part of me. I begin to wonder has it all been in vain? Should I get a real job and put my singing on the backburner? I don’t really feel comfortable putting my feelings out there like that because I always exude confidence when it comes to the Melodious Tones, but we all have our low points. I have a supportive group of people that help me along my journey, and I guess I am just in need of a little encouragement. I do believe that the Lord didn’t bring me this far, just to leave me, but I can’t say that I don’t feel no ways tired.

I’ll end this blog with one of Shirley Caesar’s classics:

You’re Next in Line for a Miracle

Have you ever walked with the Lord all night long,
wondering how you were going to pay your bills?
And a still small voice says, "be strong",
"sometimes struggle is my will".

And they were late, I'm always all time,
get ready for your miracle, move to the front of the line;
today is your day, you're next in line for a miracle".

A miracle, the Holy Ghost said, "it's your miracle"
you're next in line for your miracle.

Chorus:
You're next in line for a miracle,
your breakthrough.

You're next in line for a miracle,
you have kept the faith,
today is your day for a miracle.

Vamp 1:
Today is your day.

Vamp 2:
Today is your day;
take it by faith, take it by faith.

Ending:
Today is your day for a miracle.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things!

I am sitting at work finished working for the day, so I decided to write a blog. I guess this blog should include the ups and downs of my journey, so I will have both in this blog. I have done two auditions since my last blog. They were both on the same day, and I just was not in good voice for a couple of days prior leading up to that day. I didn't sound bad, but it wasn't my best. I was a little down after that, but I received some feedback from the judges, and I took it to my coach. I had a coaching on yesterday, and I felt so good after leaving, because I finally overcame by battle with the high note! That is one of the things that I have been trying to conquer for a long time. I have come a long way, and yesterday I felt like I made it, and a burden has been lifted. I was going in to my lesson kind of down trodden because of what happened, and my coach said that he was thinking of me earlier in the day, and how he wants to work with me on my high notes. I knew then that the Lord put in his spirit what was troubling me, and he was given the right words so that I can understand what to do.

Today I was cleaning out my junk mail folder and I almost deleted a very important e-mail. Apparently, I had been granted an audition to one of the top Young Artist Programs and I hadn't confirmed my audition. They have had it posted on their website for I don't know how long, and they sent an e-mail to say that it was the last day to confirm. I am so glad the Lord had me look over those e-mails because I would have been devastated. I am excited about this audition, and I am sending off another application today. I'll end this blog with the words to the song "He that overcometh"

HE THAT OVERCOMETH, SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS
HE THAT OVERCOMETH, SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS
WITH THE HELP OF THE LORD, YOU CAN MAKE IT
HE THAT OVERCOMETH, HE THAT OVERCOMETH, HE THAT OVERCOMETH,
HE THAT OVERCOMETH, SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS

I'LL SHOW YOU A MYSTERY, WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP
BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE
THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE
AND WE, WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN ARE GOING TO MEET HIM IN THE SKY
HE THAT OVERCOMETH

Use Me

I just wanted to give a quick update about YAPs. I have sent off 3, and heard back from 1 so far. I have been wait listed, but that is much better than being told no. I am going to remain optimistic about it. I still have more YAPs that I will be applying to, so stay tuned with that. I also applied to a very well known competition, and I have been chosen to compete. I wish I would have had more notice as to the particulars for this competition sooner, but i am excited to haven been chosen. The competition is next Saturday, so I am really going to have to buckle down the next couple of days and make sure I have everything on point. One of my friends told me something that I think I will share. He read that Roland Hayes would pray before he sang that the Lord would remove himself, so that he can be used by the Lord. I am really taking that to heart. I have heard that many times by preachers, but never by a singer. I have to remove myself from the performance, so nerves, anxiety, fear, or whatever else won't be part of the scenario. If I remove myself and concentrate on the music then everything will run smoothly. I already knew that, but it was a great reminder, and I will be including that in my prayers each time before I sing. Turn to your neighbor and say "Let the Lord use you" lol. On a side note, I am still living in the high of my church choir concert 2 weeks ago. It was the best concert I have put on so far. I am extremely grateful to have good friends that love and support my endeavors rather its musically, emotionally, physically, or whatever. I will end this blog with lyrics to the song "Use Me." "If you can use anything Lord, you can use me. If you can use anything Lord, you can use me. Take my hands Lord, and my feet. Touch my heart Lord and speak through me. If you can use anything Lord, you can use me!"

My first App!

I finally got my first app off a few days ago, and the check has already been cashed. I don't hear back from them until mid-October though. I went through a lot of drama to get everything I needed to include with the application. I almost gave up, but I received some encouraging words, and was able to send it off in time. I am not going to go into all of the details, but I will say that I will not be getting my pictures printed at Walgreens again! Thank God for having a flexible job, because without it I would not have been able to complete everything I needed to do. On a good note I have my edited CD, and it sounds great! I am really excited about that! I have some great repertoire, and when I figure out how to put the mp3 on here, I will! This is a fairly short blog, just wanted to give an update.

Ram in the bush

I have really taken the bull by the horn with these YAPs. I admit that procrastination has taken over a little, but not too much! Tomorrow I will be recording my audition CD to send off to the YAPs that request them. I have worked really hard on this music, so I know recording them will be a breeze. It has been kind of rough finding someone that could accompany me who's schedule matched mine, but the Lord will send a ram in a bush. I had met someone that was really excited to collaborate with me, but our schedules just didn't work out for this project. I am sure we will have more opportunities to work together in the future though. He is a great pianist and I look forward to working with him. I was starting to get worried when I found out he couldn't do it before the deadline because I didn't have a backup plan, but the Lord will make a way! One of my friends roommate is going to play the piano and record the CD. Don't tell me what my God won't do! He is a great accompanist as well, and I know I have nothing to worry about. There is nothing worse than having to sing and be worried about your accompanist. Hopefully we will only have to do the songs once because this isn't easy singing I'm doing lol. I will be sure to post clips once I get them!