We're partway through the first day of the AD audition at CCM. There are only 4 of us auditioning this weekend, which is a good thing. The fewer the better! :)
We had an interview session with the two chairs of the Opera Department, as well as 20 minute coaching sessions with each of the three coaches. I felt good about the interview, though I rambled a bit. The more I learn about this program, the more perfectly it seems to fit what I want to do, what I believe to be the optimal next step in my training. It is largely self-directed, which plays to one of my great strengths. The coursework is acting, movement, and performance classes, along with whatever other training you want to take from the vast resources of the university. They really want you to learn how to get out there and do your role work and get those jobs... It is exactly what I want to be doing!
Unfortunately, my experience in the coachings wa a bit of a mixed bag. In my first session, I just couldn't get my breath under me! I got tense, lost a lot of tone... in short, I was not at all satisfied with my work. My second coaching was with Tibby Plyler - quite possibly my favorite coach in all the world. It took all of 30 seconds in her studio to get my breath moving, and we had a wonderful session. My last coaching was also much better - a coach who I am familiar and comfortable with, who really knew how to make a big voice work in a scaled back piece like the lullaby I brought in.
In exactly one minute, I'm due for the next item: improv sessions with one of the directors. Keep those fingers crossed!
