“I can't believe I get to use all this space!” Jessie exclaimed as she spun around in the middle of the room like a small child in the middle of a field. She stopped after spinning a couple of times and sat down in the middle of the floor. Jessie felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
--
Jessie was nervous. She knew she wanted to be here, but she was so concerned about this interview and audition. It had been a while since she had to audition for anything and she had never had to try out in front of so many people. Sure, she had performed in front of thousands of people, but she never had to perform for so many people that could make or break her future career. As she stood waiting in the wings for her chance to go out in front of the crowd, she could remember her very first time on a stage this size. She was in middle school and she was in a choral group. Her first solo on a stage had been a couple of weeks later when she went to her recital. She wasn't singing then, but she still was out there.
As Jessie watched the other performers, she was certain that she would be seeing some of them again there at the school. Everyone at this audition was probably accepted, the big question was which program they would get into. Jessie had originally signed up for the summer program, but even the person who called her to set up this audition and get her here started talking about bigger and better things. There were rumors of her getting into the “Intensità” program and staying on year round for a couple of years so that she would be ready for the “big time;” life with one of the largest opera companies on the East Coast followed by a promising solo career. The same people were also talking about this audition for the school just being a platform for one of the professional companies to recruit those who were “the best.” Jessie knew better than to think that a professional company would come here to directly recruit. The big companies would want someone who they could be sure would be able to learn the parts and the nuances that went with them. Raw talent had it's place, but the refinement of a good education made superstars.
“Next to audition, we have Jessica Noshe of Tulsa, Oklahoma,” Jessie started walking to the middle of the stage as the announcer continued. “Jessica was with the Indian Nation Opera company for 4 years. Most recently Jessica has performed with the Fort James opera company and was their principle women's mid to low voice performer. Miss Noshe will be performing the “Habanera” from Bizet's 'Carmen'.” Jessie stood in the middle of the stage waiting for the familiar opening notes of the piece. As the music started, she let everything else fade away to focus on the performance. Just as she let the stage lights block out the audience, her cue came and she started to sing:
“L'amour est un oiseau rebelle
que nul ne peut apprivoiser,
et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle,
s'il lui convient de refuser.
Rien n'y fait, menace ou prière,
l'un parle bien, l'autre se tait:
Et c'est l'autre que je préfère,
Il n'a rien dit mais il me plaît.
L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!
“L'amour est enfant de Bohème,
il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi;
si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime:
si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!
si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!”
Jessie really got into the music, remembering all the times she had performed the song. She naturally performed the way she had with the Indian Nation company. This had been her first lead role years ago, but she could remember every bit of blocking as if she had just rehearsed it yesterday. Jessie continued:
“L'oiseau que tu croyais surprendre
battit de l'aile et s'envola ...
l'amour est loin, tu peux l'attendre;
tu ne l'attends plus, il est là!
Tout autour de toi, vite, vite,
il vient, s'en va, puis il revient ...
tu crois le tenir, il t'évite,
tu crois l'éviter, il te tient.
L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!
“L'amour est enfant de Bohème,
il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi;
si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime:
si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!
si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!”
After Jessie finished the piece, she snapped out of her performance state of mind and took her bow. A stage hand brought out a stool and a microphone for the interview portion and Jessie took the items with a smile and a “thank you.” As Jessie took her seat, the interview began.
“Good day, Miss Noshe. My name is Aaron Turing. I am the Dean of Admissions here at Senesino Conservatory. To my right is Mrs Harriet Kingston. She is the head of our Vocal Music Department. On my left we have Mister Jack Harbison, the Chairman of the Patroni Board and Coordinator for the Donatori. The rest of the faculty is seated behind us and behind them are the patroni and the donatori, the patrons and donors for the school. I do have just a few questions for you, so let's get started.” Mr Turing's voice was deep, but not too much so. Jessie found it very soothing and it out her at ease even in front of so many people. “First off, Miss Noshe, I have to say that I am very impressed. I think that most everyone here agrees with me on that point.”
“Thank you,” Jessie quickly replied into the microphone.
“I also noticed that you appeared to be blocking the scene as if you were performing the opera itself. I notice that you have listed performing that role in your resume a couple of times as well as several other roles.” There was a slight rustling of papers as a couple of the faculty members shifted in their seats. One younger man a couple of rows back leaned forward to look at a sheet of paper. “Why did you choose this piece in particular?”
“This is probably one of my favorite pieces,” Jessie started. “The first time I performed this piece, I was 16 and my voice instructor chose the piece for me. I recognized the tune immediately, I used to love to play the song off of one of my father's vinyl records. I spent a month learning the straight version of the melody and another 2 months after that learning the flourishes. It took another month after all that to learn the French lyrics because I had been using the English ones. I then spent another two months re-learning the French lyrics because I was not using the proper pronunciation and I had to sync them up with the melody.” Jessie smiled as she was explaining, she could hear a chuckle from a few of the audience members as she was describing the situation. She often got that response when telling the story. “Finally, after six months, I could sing the song properly. I took that song along with a couple of others to the regional solo competition. It was the only song out of the three that qualified for state competition. I managed to get a medal for it at state as well.” Jessie took a brief pause before continuing.
“About two years after I started working with the Indian Nation company, we put on a production of 'Carmen.' I was originally selected to be the understudy for the the role of Carmen and I was given a smaller role. While we were doing a rehearsal for the understudies, we went over this song. I apparently impressed the director because he had me take the lead role and he gave the role I had to the original girl who was going to be the lead. From that moment until I left the company 2 years after that, I was considered the principle mid to low voice female for the company.” Jessie shifted around in her seat a little bit.
“The second time I performed the role of Carmen was about three years ago. I had just started with the Fort James company and we were getting ready to put on the production. The Fort James company is small and most of us that are in it are usually used for the minor roles or the chorus. The company typically brings in guest artists for the principle roles. I was actually at a production meeting one day when we received news that the our original artist that we had selected for the role was going to be unable to perform with us for personal reasons. This was about a month before opening night. The producers and the director were trying to figure out who they could get on such short notice and they were having trouble coming up with names. I volunteered myself at that point. I already knew the part, so I was a natural choice. I was Carmen to our guest artists' other parts and all went well. We had a lovely three night run and the audience loved it. Every time the company has put on a revue, my performance of the “Habanera” is the most requested piece. I have probably sung this piece over a hundred times, but I've never gotten tired of it, I love it that much.” Mister Turing nodded his head a bit and started to write a few notes. He seems satisfied with the answer.
“Hi, Miss Noshe, I'm Harriet Kingston, head of the vocal music department here at the conservatory. My question for you is what would you consider the ideal performance?” Mrs Kingston leaned forward in her seat a bit. Jessie paused for a moment to think about her answer before speaking.
“My ideal performance,” Jessie repeated as she thought. She took another short pause before continuing. “I think my ideal performance would be one that was well-rehearsed and well planned. There are things that could still go wrong, but an ideal performance and/or an ideal performer can still go on smoothly when there is a problem. The people in the show need to know their parts inside and out, but they still need to be flexible enough to roll with the punches, so to speak. In addition to good performers, a show needs a good crew behind the scenes. I can't count the number of times that a stage hand has saved the show I was in.” Jessie paused for a moment. “I guess, my true ideal performance would be perfect with no mishaps, everything going according to plan. But, since that's not realistic, I'd have to go with a show that appears to be going according to the plan as far as what the audience sees. That would be the best.” Mrs Kingston nodded he head and thanked Jessie before starting to make some notes. Jessie thought that things appeared to be going well. Jessie was completely relaxed as the last person started to speak.
“My name is Jack Harbison and I am the Chairman of the Patroni board and Coordinator for the Donatori. My job is to keep the money coming in to the conservatory. I work with both groups to secure funding for the students that enter this institution. Both groups believe in educating the next generation to carry on this tradition of excellence in our society, so we take an active role in the student selection process.” Mister Harbison pushed his glasses back on to his face. “With that in mind I'd like to ask why you want to be trained here and what you wish to accomplish while you are here.” It seemed more like a statement rather than a question. Jessie took a deep breath before answering.
“Not to brag, but I'm good, you've all heard that. I've been told so many times how good I am. I'm actually pretty humble about it,” Jessie grinned. A couple of the people out in the crowd chucked as well. “I've been told how good I am my entire life and I've been pushed in so many different directions for so long. I always wanted to study music, but some people I know have just considered it a hobby and not worth the time or the expense of study. With that being the case, I had to take a couple of years off to take care of my family. I just got back into music in the last 4 years. Over the course of my time off, I lost some of the control I had along with other skills. Even though I gained the skills back and have improved even more, I know I can be better. Even though every pro I have sung with has said that I could go pro if I applied myself over the next 2 or 3 years, I know that I would be lacking some polish that intense training could provide. I could release a CD and then go sing as a guest artist with small opera companies across the country. But I feel that my time could be spent better by training for a while, going back to the beginning part that I skipped and starting from scratch someplace where I know so few people who know what I can do. I may be older than most of the students that you've seen on this stage, but I am still young as far as the music world is concerned and I have a long way I can go. But without a proper foundation, I won't be going far.
“I originally just signed up for the summer music program, but somebody apparently thought that I should be doing more,” Jessie started. “I have always had people in my life that have thought that I was worth more and could do more than I could ever have planned. If it wasn't for people like that, I wouldn't be here.” Jessie looked out on the group, she had their full attention. “Not to mention that I probably wouldn't have been offered an audition if whomever reviewed my application and thought that I was worth training. I am here because somebody wants me here and wants me to get better than I have ever dreamed I could be. I'm hoping that I won't let that person down and I am hoping that I could look back at the end of my life and see that this moment is the moment that changed the direction of my entire life. I am here because I want to see how far I can go. I want to be in the program because I need to be here for some reason and I want to discover what that reason is and where this journey could lead.” Jessie let out a long sigh. She was hoping that she said something to make them want her.
“Thank you, Miss Noshe,” Mister Turing replied. “We look forward to seeing you at the reception later tonight so that we can get to know you at a more personal level as well as give you an opportunity for you to meet individually with the people here behind me.” Jessie smiled as Mister Turing continued. “We will be getting back to you about your admission status in a few weeks. So, until this evening, have a pleasant afternoon.”
“Thank you,” Jessie replied, “and a good day to all of you as well.” Jessie heard applause as she walked off the stage. She turned to take a look over her shoulder as she was entering the wings. The young man who picked up the sheet of paper stood up along with a couple of others. Jessie suspected that they were taking a short break before the next group. As Jessie left the backstage area, she mentally reviewed the situation. “That went well,” she thought as she headed to the dorm.
No comments:
Post a Comment