K. When did you begin to study music seriously?
A. I began to study music seriously at age 9. I was singing classical music in my room as a 10 year-old. At 13 I started studying music at La Sierra University. I was home schooled through junior high and took private voice and piano lessons at the music department at LSU. I became involved in their opera department and performed in their shows as an "honorary" college student. I was part of three operas there and I was in heaven! It was a great learning experience.
K. Why music? What was your inspiration?
A. My love for opera/classical music began early. My first inspiration was when my grandparents took me to see Handel's Messiah. After that performance that there was nothing else I wanted to do but sing. My grandparents paid for my private lessons, and at age 10 took me to see Don Giovanni. I absolutely loved it! I sang in many classical competitions in high school and tried to glean as much information from the adjudicators during those. I enjoyed the process of preparing classical repertoire for a competition; playing opera arias at my piano for hours, working hard and presenting the music I had poured my heart and soul into before the judges. I remember watching a soprano singing an aria on television once when I was 9 years old and I started to cry. My dad asked me why I was crying, and I said, "Because it's so beautiful, and I want to sing it, but I haven't learned it yet!" I have always been internally motivated because singing is what I love to do.
K. What teaching technique have you adopted from the educators here?
A. I have learned so much here at BCCM. My voice teacher Shigemi Matsumoto is a miracle worker. She always pushes me to try harder and trust my instrument more. She keeps me balanced in the areas of artistry, natural instincts as a performer, and technicality. Being in Chamber Choir with Dr. Talberg has been really wonderful for my musicianship skills. I feel very prepared when I am in an audition or sight-reading a piece, because of the skills I learn everyday in choir. I am so blessed to be apart of an incredible Opera Program. I learn something new every year coaching with Dr. Anglin, and get familiar with different, interesting roles in various languages. I am motivated daily to be better and more informed as a performer in Opera!
K. What do you find most valuable to prepare for a role—ie. how do you memorize, tone, pitch words, diction, and then sing all at the same time? Do you have a secret technique for prep?
A. What I find most valuable in preparing for a role is having a strong work ethic. It is important to be as technically prepared as possible before the rehearsals/performance. Knowing translations, rhythms, and technique is essential. All the technical preparation is important so that when the performance and character development take place, I can then trust that I have done my work and focus strictly on conveying the emotions of the character while having fun onstage! One secret technique I use to prep myself right before I go onstage is that I pray. I am a Christian, and believe God has blessed me with many musical opportunities. I always like to calm my nerves by praying that God would bless my performance.
K. Why CSULB? Future plans, etc.
A. I chose CSULB because I heard the chamber choir an ACDA convention and I loved the powerful voices that were in the group (I didn't know at that point that I would be apart of that group and sing in it with the man that eventually became my husband!). I also wouldn't be here if I didn't receive the Bob Cole Scholarship, it has been truly such a blessing! I loved the opera program at BCCM and that was a huge deciding factor for me. My future plans include a lot of singing! I hope to continue singing and performing in operas. I just want as much experience under my belt that I can find. After my studies here at BCCM, I know that I want to audition for some Young Artist programs and major competitions to experience what the professional life of a singer is like, and to meet some new faces in the musical world. I am so excited for the future possibilities, and I am so grateful to work everyday on a career path that I am so passionate about!
Congraulations to Amy Joy, our May 2012 Cole Scholar of the Month! |