Update!

Dear Friends,

Welcome back after several months :) Since my safe return from Italy, a lot has happened! As I believe I mentioned in a previous post, I was hired by Indianapolis Opera (IO, affectionately) as a chorus member for this season. Our first production "The Magic Flute" was in September, and it was a spectacular event to be involved in! Our next one is "Tosca" in March, to be followed by "The Tales of Hoffman" in May.

Also, I have made a geographical change recently...I moved to an apartment in downtown Indianapolis. It is wonderful to be so close to work and a lot of activity! In addition to that big change, I have decided to take a leave of absence from my studies at Christian Theological Seminary for the spring semester to devote more time to my study of opera and participation in IO.

I would like to thank all of my family and friends for your love and support as I'm discerning where I will be led next in my career and vocation. I appreciate your prayers (and comments and questions!) as you come along with me on this exciting journey :D

All the best, and Merry Christmas!

~Allison

Ah yes, and some captions for the new photos...

-one of me as the "blue nun" L'infermiera in "Suor Angelica" in Novafeltria, Italy
-a concert performance in Italy of "Porgi, amor" an aria sung by the Countess from "Le Nozze di Figaro" (red gown)
-some IO chorus ladies and me in our dressing room
-the stage at Clowes Hall at a dress rehearsal for "The Magic Flute"

Yes, I'm alive!

Hello friends!

I have not gone halfway across the globe and fallen off the face of the earth! It just seems to be as busy (if not busier) here in Italy than at home! In the last couple of weeks I have gotten more settled into our weekly routine here of Italian class, lessons, coachings, and rehearsals. "Suor Angelica" opens next Wednesday, so our schedule is going to pick up even more as we do run-throughs with both casts (many roles are double-cast, but not mine so I will perform all 4 nights). I am also in an opera scene with about 6 others for the final scene of "The Marriage of Figaro." We will perform that (and other scenes) on alternate nights with another opera called "Betly."

I am not sure if I have mentioned it yet, but I really like the women I am living with! There are 6 of us in one very old house, and we are surviving (and even having fun) though we've had countless mosquitos, several scorpions, ants, rolly-poly bugs that don't roll (very scientific, I know), tiny lizards and pidgeons who threaten to fly in our open windows at any moment!

With all of that excitement, we're still managing to enjoy each other's company, usually over lunch and dinner. My roommate Naomi is still cooking wonderful meals every week with the very different food here :-)

Our Italian teacher took us on a field trip to the supermarket yesterday to explain some of the labels so that we don't buy anything too strange (like fabric softener instead of detergent or salted bread, not wheat)...this is still such an adventure!

On Saturday night some of the students traveled to Rimini, the closest city to Novafeltria, for a faculty concert. We arrived early, so a few of us walked along the beach of the Adriatic Sea where there happened to be a festival called "La Notta di Rose" which means literally "The Night of Pink." It was a big party, and very beautiful looking out over the water. Some of the students in the program have taken the bus to Rimini on our Sundays off to play at the beach, and I think I'll do that very soon! The concert that night was incredible. This summer has been a great opportunity to hear my own voice teacher from Indianapolis, Mary Anne Scott, sing several times. I am fortunate to have such a talented and accomplished instructor, and I know that her students here enjoy working with her too!

Has anyone gotten a postcard yet? I sent the first few last week and I've been told it takes about a week to get them to the U.S. And...if you still haven't sent me your address and you would like to get one, email me!!!

Well, I am off to rehearsal for 2 hours...I need to channel my inner nun :-)

Take care and I will write again soon.

Love,

A

P.S. The first picture is the view from our kitchen window! I don't even mind doing dishes, hehe. And the second one is our Italian teacher, Ilaria. She threw us a mini-pizza party when we did well on our prepositions!!!

After week one...

It's time for another update! My apologies for nearly a week with no news...it has been extremely busy here! The days are full of class, lessons and rehearsal. Friday evening was my first concert performance (and my gown arrived in my luggage just in time on Friday morning). On Sunday, a bus full of people from the La Musica Lirica program traveled to Venice. It was a beautiful hot day! I took many pictures, I'm excited to share them!

Much more soon,

A

Update

Today has been fresh with new adventures- my first nearly 4 hour Italian class (for beginners) made me remember how much I love studying languages. Also the fact that I can immediately put what I learn into practice is very inspiring for attending class @ 9am. *yawn*

In attempt to become a regular (Italiana) domestic goddess, I have exhausted myself. Somehow, I was free from voice lessons, Italian coachings or opera rehearsal, at least for today so my roommate Naomi and I ventured to the supermarket called Conad (no Kroger here, kids) and carried all of our groceries and fresh produce from the fruit shop, back to our flat...nearly a mile...up a hill. Whew!

When we got home, I realized I was out of clean clothes (since my luggage has STILL not arrived) I washed everything I had worn for the last several days- by hand. Somehow I managed to make myself a sandwich before I collapsed to write this! :-)

Probably the most exciting news of the day is that I finally have an Italian SIM card in my phone! If you feel like making international calls or sending me texts, I'll gladly email the # to you. FYI- Novafeltria is 6 hours ahead of EDT (that's 7 ahead of CDT). I will answer at all hours! :-D

I feel very different here. Very liberated, but also confused at the same time. Since I'm very accustomed to working constantly and singing only when I have the time, it feels like the world has been turned upside down. Everyone in the program is always talking about opera! I realize more and more how much I have yet to learn, and I'm trying to be more excited than intimidated.

Also, Italian culture is so laid back in contrast to America. Almost all of the businesses here close for 4 hours every afternoon because people go home and take a nap! We have been instructed to be very quiet during this time (especially with our singing) to avoid angry, sleepy Italians! I was thinking about it...and I bet if everyone in America got a 4 hour nap in the afternoon, we'd all be in a better mood! I'll have to run that one past my boss, heehee.

I found out that my voice teacher while I'm here will be Brian Leeper (I believe he teaches at Florida State University). I'm hoping for a fun first lesson tomorrow...more very soon!!!

Love,

A

Greetings from Italy!

Ciao!

I have arrived in Novafeltria after some intense travel, even slept some! The La Musica Lirica group was met by a warm welcome in the main piazza of the village with a dinner of pizza and pastries (followed by a visit to the gelateria- it's better than ice cream!). I am living in an apartment with 4 other women from the program...it is an old building with amazing views of the mountains, and everything is pink! Our beds, tablecloths, you name it! Very cute!

We had our first meetings about the operas today. I will be in Suor Angelica, and the rehearsals begin tomorrow! We also took an Italian placement test. I predict I'll be in the beginner's class. We meet for 3 hours each morning, so I should return to the US knowing some Italian!

One of the most exciting things I've seen is my name on a poster for the opera performance right outside the theater! My name is almost in lights! ;-)

Much more to come...and hopefully some pictures if I can get that figured out!

Allison

Today is the day!

Good Morning, Friends!

In just a few short hours, I will begin my journey to Italy. Thanks to everyone for the lovely emails, kind words and prayers. I will post an update as soon I arrive and find a computer!

Love you,

A

9 more days in the USA...

After quite awhile, I am back! Now that the semester is over, and I'm only working, I have been in preparation for my trip to Italy! I will depart next Friday, June 15th at 2:00pm from Indianapolis to Philadelphia and then take an overnight flight to Rome. I will arrive the morning of my 24th birthday- what a gift! :-) My last day working at T-Mobile before my leave is Monday the 11th, and my family will be staying with me next week to help me pack and get ready. I have my opera role learned (now it's all about memorization!). I am also in a scene from The Marriage of Figaro, so that will be a fun adventure too. I'm basically spending the next week or so getting my ducks in a row AND I'm gathering addresses, so if you'd like a postcard from "The Boot Country" as my sister calls it, please email me your address!!! More to come very soon! ~A

P.S. This photo is from my recital on April 15th (with my piano professor @ CTS)

Great news!

I have excellent news to report! My leave of absence was approved by T-Mobile today! This is a huge step toward making the trip a reality, so needless to say, I am very excited! Thanks for continuing to celebrate with me!!!

~A

Update...

Another exciting week (0r two?) has flown by, and I have sent my acceptance letters for both programs! They also requested the list of the repertoire I will sing on concerts, recitals and master classes while I am in Italy, and also an acceptance deposit. Included in these forms, I have requested to sing with a teacher my own voice instructor recommended, so I will post that information as soon as I know who I will be studying with.

I am both excited and anxious because I have begun the process of requesting a leave of absence from T-Mobile, my current full-time job. Please pray with me that the HR department sees this as an important experience for me, and that I will get 6 weeks of leave approved with no problems! T-Mobile continues to be an excellent opportunity for me to work with people and learn new things about technology. It would be the best-case-scenario if I could resume my position there after I return, but I am preparing for every outcome. (On a side note, there is only one drawback to traveling to a foreign country...my beloved Sidekick 3 will not work overseas! I am going to use a different phone to use while I am "international," and then of course I'll hurry home to my texting addiction, hehe)

Preparations for my upcoming recital are going very well. I am thrilled to announce that Jennifer Brandon, a new classmate of mine at CTS will be singing with me on one piece that evening. I am excited that we will be able to exercise some of my material before I travel to Italy.

More to come very soon...

~A

A few more details...

It has been quite a day, sharing my news with people and exploring more details of my upcoming time in Italy. I have been accepted to both the Opera Division and the Young Artists Division at La Musica Lirica. I have the role of Suor Infermia (a nun) in the Puccini opera, Suor Angelica. I will perform my role at least twice during my time there (from June 18-July 20). The Young Artists Division includes learning and performing scenes from operas, Italian lessons and several voice lessons each week.

A million thoughts are in my head as I dream of flying over the Atlantic, rehearsals, performance gowns, making connections with world-renowned singers and teachers...but most of all, I keep pinching myself and realizing what a gift this is. Thanks to all of you for your words of encouragement. Please ask any questions, and I'll do my best to post as much info as soon as I get it!

~A

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my very first blog! I am so excited to share this big next step in my life with all of my family and friends! :-) As most everyone knows, I have been singing basically since I could speak, and for years I've dreamed of making it my career. I'm in my second year of seminary, and I'm continuing to discern where I need to be. At the encouragement of my voice teacher, I auditioned for a summer opera program in Italy to help me decide if this is a path I could take. I am thrilled to report that I am on my way to Europe (for the first time) in June and I could not be more anxious to find out what is in store for me there!!! In the meantime, I will be learning lots of music for my role, brushing up on Italian (language and culture) and also performing a recital at the seminary on Sunday, April 15th at 5:00pm, showcasing the repertoire that I have studied over the last year. Stay tuned!!! ~A