This week I had to turn down my first professional offer as an opera singer. I received a call with a great offer for the summer from New Jersey Opera Theatre - their artistic director is a bass, so I suppose he had particularly good insight into what kind of experience I could use. It was a lot of training specifically dedicated to roles that I could be performing now, as a young bass, and NJOT has a solid reputation as a young artist program.
Unfortunately, finances weren't in their favor. NJOT doesn't charge young artists, but they don't pay either - leaving it to the singers to set up their own living arrangements in Princeton. I called around to the other programs who had heard me sing (aggressive, I know. I don't like doing it unless I have to), and told them frankly about my position. As difficult as it would be to pay for NJOT, if that was my only offer for the summer I would have made it happen.
Fortunately, Ash Lawn Opera was able to make me a preliminary offer - no details, just a price tag - and that was enough that I could feel comfortable declining NJOT. It was a difficult decision to make, especially since the Jersey offer was so well tailored to my development. But in the end, I have to be able to eat! Ash Lawn doesn't pay a fortune by any means, but knowing that I can make some money singing this summer puts me in a better position.
Of course, sometime in the summer I'm supposed to have a honeymoon, too... though methinks that I'll have to wait until after the spring auditions to plan that one!
