Episode XXVII: Shameless Plug

I seem to have gotten more singing gigs in New York since my transition into Philadelphia than I ever had when I was living in New York. The Fates either must a) have been waiting for me to decide that music is what my priority is; b) have a twisted sense of humor; or c) both of the above.

I think the odds are starting to turn in my favor in Philadelphia as well, because I am also singing with the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia (CASP) as a Core Singer and with the Philadelphia Singers as a part of the contracting pool (translation: they’ll call me when they need me for gigs).

In fact, I’m singing the alto solo in the Mozart Requiem with CASP in their concert, “Hallowired” on Thursday, October 30, 2003 at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM at the Philadelphia Cathedral (38th & Chestnut). Those of you who live in the Philly area should come see me. I’d really love to see you in the audience; this is the first time I’ve sung a solo (other than at church) for a large audience this millennium, and I always like to see friendly faces in the crowd.

The other singing adventures are almost too numerous to count. I sang at the Bard Music Festival this summer, where I had to learn songs in Russian (Mussorgsky), Czech (Symanofsky), and Polish (Janáček); I just finished performing some pieces by twelve-tone composer Dallapiccola and pointillist composer Nono with the ASO (boy, that was a serious workout for my brain!); and I also performed with the New York Philharmonic doing Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette with José van Dam (!!!).

Because I wanted to stay closer to home and preserve what is left of my sanity, I decided to find a church job that was in the Philadelphia area. I tearfully left the choir at the Church of the Resurrection in NY; to those of you who are reading this, know that you are my favorite group of musicians, and I am so honored to have worked with all of you.

My next church job was at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, PA. I should have listened to the choir director at Church of the Resurrection when he gasped and said “Oh, no!” at the mere mention of this church. Apparently, these folks are a part of a movement called “Forward In Faith,” which is a group of conservative Episcopalians who is opposed to the ordination of women as priests or bishops, and are currently all over the news because they are upset about Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop in New Hampshire that was confirmed this summer.

I thought this wouldn’t really be a big deal for me, because I don’t care one way or the other who does what in the church. I’m not Anglican (far from it), and I know it sounds fairly mercenary, but I’m only there for the paycheck. However, I should have looked before I leaped, because I didn’t think about the fact that I’d have to work with these incredibly close-minded individuals.

Coming from such a wonderful workplace at the Church of the Resurrection, I realize now that I didn’t know how good I had it. They are nice enough people, but I have been getting the feeling that I’m somehow not good enough to be a part of their church…nobody has said it outright, but it’s just something I feel.

Besides that, it takes almost as long to get to this church from my house as it does to get to New York, and with that kind of commute stacked on top of everything else, it’s no wonder I don’t look forward to rehearsals or services.

Well the Fates had their hand in this pie, too I think…just as I was getting ready to quit this church despite the fact that it would have meant lost money, I received an email notice that Trinity Church in Moorestown (a 20 minute drive from my house) was lookingTrinity Church in Moorestown, NJ for an alto soloist for almost twice what I was getting paid for the Church of the Good Shepherd.

This was one of those moments that I had to seize…over the course of my life, I have learned to trust my instincts about certain jobs, and while I ignored the niggling voice at the back of my head that told me not to take the job in Rosemont, I will not ignore the voice at the back of my head that is exulting at the chance to sing in Moorestown!

So that’s what’s been going on in the land of the singing. Trust me, though, I’m sure I’ll have many more stories where that came from!