I built the scheduling database for the Chautauqua Institute Voice Program several years ago and have greatly enjoyed being back by the lake this week with Velvet Singer. I was happy to find that the new scheduling coordinator found the database easy to use and she intends to use it as well at another program back in NYC. Win-win-win as Michael Scott would say.
I tried a different recipe today at the Chautauqua Institute Voice Program seminar (the one run by Marlena Malas). We drew a big crowd of forty students in to the brand new McKnight Hall. The projected image on the screen was massive and we had a very interesting discussion.
This summer program draws a wide array of singers from the US, Canada, and several other countries, as well as singers at many different levels in their career. The singers come from a wide array of schools, many from top-tier schools such as Curtis, Manhattan, and Juilliard.
We began with the self-management questionnaire. Naturally, the results were “higher” than the Northwestern undergrads (meaning the Chautauqua group does more career self-management activities than average senior undergraduates):
- 22 out of 53 activities that they currently do
- 24 out of 53 activities that they do not do but would like to
- 6 out of 53 activities that they say do not apply
This was the first day of the program so I tailored the discussion a little differently than normal. We talked a lot about where people are in their process as they were eager to get to know each other.
When I asked about “things we don’t do but would like to,” this time it triggered an interesting conversation about competitions, agents, and grants. Those singers with agents and who’d won major international competitions and grants, were able to transfer some knowledge to the younger singers (and to me). How do you find out about competitions? What types of grants are out there? How do you know when you are ready? It was really quite impressive to see all of that experience so generously shared.
Unfortunately it was such a big crowd that I never remembered to snap a few photos of the seminar. Tomorrow’s installation meetings should provide some photo “op”s.
The program selects 32 highly-talented young artists to sing in six fully-staged productions. They will be very busy to be sure, but the leaderships is committed to giving their singers a well-rounded experience featuring many masterclasses and workshops. I am excited to be a part of it. 
This was the first installation & setup “workshop” that I have run and it was quite enlightening to see the array of computers and operating systems. Great testing for me, and the singers were hugely appreciative.