There and Back Again: A Summer in the Adirondacks at an Opera Festival

A mushroom found behind my cabin at the Seagle Festival

When you think of a 9-week, 4 show opera festival, you may expect to spend your summer in a small town in Italy.

  Friend, I did not find myself in a small, Italian town. Instead, I found myself driving 17 hours across the United States in June to attend the Seagle Festival, a 111 year-old opera festival in the Adirondacks. Across my summer this year, I found lifelong friends, learned many lessons, and gained confidence that I'm not sure I've ever had. 

  I honestly wasn't sure what to expect during my summer. After all, I'd never attended a full-summer training program before. Still, as a 28 year-old who is still getting their bearings in this career, I thought one last summer program couldn't hurt. Indeed, my roles were good, and the idea of training consistently 4 times a week was too good to pass up. Once you're out of schooling, access to consistent lessons and coachings becomes almost impossible if you also have a secondary career outside of singing (as so many of us do these days). 

  So, after saving and planning and paying my dues, it was off to the Adirondacks for the summer. I arrived right at the last moments (perhaps my drive up meandered a bit too much), and it was off to the races with roughly 40-something others that I did not know. Everyone was so kind, but admittedly it took several days for us to get comfortable with one another. I didn't expect the other singers to be quite so unapologetically themselves so quickly, but it was a breath of fresh air! It helped ease me into connecting with them more openly, too, which I will always be grateful for. 

  Our days were busy, but I still had time to get some work done. There was always something to do; Seagle kept me occupied with classes, audition masterclass, fittings, and rehearsals. So many rehearsals. And yet, even though I was tired, I felt fulfilled and proud that I was able to tackle the busy schedule. 

9 Mile Coffee Co.'s Blueberry Pancake Latte

  Life outside of the Hill (Seagle's campus) was considerably less busy. Located in Schroon Lake, NY, we were surrounded by a gorgeous, sleepy town with stunning views of one of the US's only potable lakes. There were small restaurants with wonderful home cooking, a beautiful park, and mountains to hike.

  I found a coffee shop in town, 9 Mile-aptly named for Schroon Lake, which is 9 miles long-made a lovely Blueberry Pancake Latte that became my comfort drink during my time on the Hill. I've always loved the simple things, and grabbing my silly little latte and a still-warm muffin to go enjoy a morning at the lake before classes became my refuge. 

  During my off days, I was able to explore the surrounding area, hike, and connect with friends. Though we only had 1 off day a week, I was still able to explore and find treasures in upstate New York. From Saratoga Spa Park to Rochester to Middlebury Vermont, the whole area became a second home to me.  

Saratoga Spa State Park, New York

Though my time in New York was limited, I truly hope that it stays close to my heart forever. Sweet friends, challenging stories to convey, and reassurance that I'm on the right track have made me excited to find what comes next. As I slowly transition out of my emerging artist phase and into a full-fledged artist, I wonder how I'll change?

The author, some 5 minutes after ringing the bell that calls us home.