West Bay Opera August 4, 2013

During my scientific career, I espoused the motto “never miss a grant deadline”, or something to that effect.  During the coming year, I hope to modify that intention to “never miss an audition”, and actually, the two pose quite similar problems.  Both take a lot of preparation, both dates loom with trepidation, and both are more likely to culminate in rejections rather than acceptances.  But still, they must be attended to, for without the grant application or the audition, there is no funding or no performance. 

After my fun with Pirates of Penzance, I surfed the web looking for other interesting singing opportunities in the Bay Area and decided to audition for the West Bay Opera.  Located in Palo Alto, West Bay Opera is almost as old as I am, and Tosca, one of my top five favorite operas, was planned for the fall.  So I downloaded the audition music, worked on it for a week, and drove down 280 for the audition.  Within a week or so, I was offered a spot in the chorus, and I’m thrilled!