The Preface: The Life of an Opera Singer

All good books have a preface; and while I don't endeavor to call this blog a novel, I figure that it would at least be helpful.

So, dear reader, welcome to my little world. 
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Growing up, I hated writing. The way my hand cramped holding a pencil in elementary school as I struggled to keep up with the pace of my thoughts, or constantly being told my writing wasn't "academic enough" throughout my years pursuing my Master's degree. I've really never been one for following the rules of academia anyway, and it certainly showed in my grades. 

Though at the time I write this I am only 26, I find that as I've been away from schooling my opinions on writing have softened somewhat. It's refreshing to share my thoughts, and I like that by doing so I'll have a chronicle of how I was thinking and where I was at in the future. Besides, I've decided that rules be damned, I'm just going to write how I want. 

I also think that others might find my life to be interesting, so what's the harm in starting a blog?

As I sit here at my day job (Opera work is gig work, and when you're new to the industry there's no way you can make enough to pursue it without any other supplemental income), I watch the dance teachers on the other side of my window practice for their upcoming showcase. I can hear their vibrant clave rhythms they're dancing to through the wall, and it creates a juxtaposition of the soft music and dim lighting my office provides. 

In the evenings, I'm often in a large rehearsal room with the Nashville Opera refining music for an upcoming show, but for right now I have a brief month of respite post-Carmen....Is what I'd say, if I weren't plunged into the middle of audition season for us Young Artists. It seems like every week there's an audition to drive to. But, that's the grind we face when deciding to cultivate a career as an opera singer. It's much less glamorous than the Divas of old made it seem, but opera's a hell of a drug. The connections you make and the art that's created by every single person involved in an opera is the most fulfilling experience I'll ever have. Even marriage can't come close (been there, done that.)

Throughout my struggles as a young opera singer, I've held a lot of different jobs in a lot of different places, including (but not limited to) bartender, tour guide, and glitter slinger. It's given me a lot of perspective, and I'm thankful for how adaptable it's made me. My current day shindig is managing a concierge service. It's-again- not glamorous, but it's a job that I'm grateful to have, and it's nice seeing people smile while they're learning to dance through the window of my office. I'll take it, for sure. 

I think ideally, I'd like to have a career singing opera and sharing my journey via social media; I've started my social media journey (@lensgoblin, go follow me to keep up with my antics in a video format) and it's surprising how refreshing making content can be. I love photography in addition to singing, so it's been a lot of fun to share aspects of my life and then capture them in a visual medium like photography-there's something almost meditative about capturing a beautiful moment on camera, and immortalizing it forever...but, back on topic. It's a long road to get to the point where I'll be able to monetize, well, anything, so until then I'll be sitting here, at my desk. 

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From my description, my day-to-day might seem mundane; but, dear reader, it is anything but. Romanticizing little moments, honing my craft, learning roles & languages, learning to love the outdoors...life is so beautiful. I hope you'll join me and come read a bit of mine.  

I hope this reaches you.