Even though I'm under the weather, I just had an amazing lesson/coaching with these two geniuses, Victoria Livengood and Arlene Shrut. These ladies put me through the ringer in the best sort of way and I came out feeling like a real singer. Such a good feeling.

Canio and Nedda getting ready to perform. Come catch Opera Carolina's double bill of I Pagliacci and Aleko, opening April 10. (I'm in the chorus!) #clt #queencity #ocdoublebill #ocpagliacci #ocaleko (at Charlotte, North Carolina)

Charlotteans (and those nearby), here's a chance to hear me sing! I'm competing in the Charlotte Opera Guild competition on April 9, and the auditions are open to the public. I'm scheduled to sing at 11:40, but you can also stay to hear more amazing local singers. Hope to see you there! #queencity #clt

Well, I missed #tbt, but I was talking with a Facebook friend today about my time as the titular character in Seymour Barab's Little Red Riding Hood, so I thought I'd share. Enjoy this trip back 2008. 🍓

A small clip of me performing "Song to the Moon" yesterday at Charlotte's Maslenitsa Slavic Festival. (Full performance available at http://youtu.be/Uwd9gfcZf00)

Hey, Charlotteans! I'm singing "Song to the Moon" at the Slavic Festival tomorrow, and you should come! The Opera Carolina chorus will also be performing. We start at 3 pm. Should be a good time! (Also, what's a ruffle prize?) 😊 #clt #queencity

A little #tbt to my musical theater days, playing Irene Molloy in "Hello, Dolly!" with Spartanburg Little Theater. 💗

Trying out some new(-ish) social media. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter! (@melmsoprano on both) #instasoprano

The Nearly-Impossible Dream

I recently had the most stressful, exhilarating, challenging, gratifying experience of my professional life so far. On a Monday night, I got a message from a local director I know saying that she had an opera opening the following Thursday and her lead had just dropped out. She wanted to know if I could learn it. I (in a moment of insanity and diva-dom) told her yes. The next ten days were full of little other than practicing this beautiful, hilarious, little Haydn score. If I wasn't working, sleeping, or showering, I was at the piano, dutifully banging out recitative chords and trying to come up with pneumonic devices that would help me cram all the lyrics into my brain. By opening night, we had a show, and honestly, it just might take the prize for Most Fun Show I've Ever Been In. Though it was no cake walk, I feel like this was a big step towards developing myself into a Real Live Opera Singer. Having to quickly learn a show is something that could happen out in the real world, and now I know that I have that experience under my belt, and on my resumé.

I am so blessed to have been able to work the audition circuit this season. Yes, it was expensive. Yes, I had to be away from home during the holidays. Yes, I had to leave my students right before their recital. But you know what? I was in New York City, seeing things I'd never seen before, catching up with wonderful friends, and most importantly, making music and getting out there in the world I want to live in. Even if nothing comes of it, it will not have been a waste; it will have been an experience worth having, and I consider myself lucky to have had it.

But I could always come back if I got homesick for the valley, So I'll leave it someday an' see fer myself. Someday I'll leave an' then I'll come back When I've seen what's beyond them mountains.

Here's the beginning of what I'm calling My Whitest Weekend Ever: Drinking Starbucks and listening to Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen at the World Of Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh, NC.

I'm struggling a lot with this sign, because all I want to do is reenact that scene from The Little Mermaid. You know which one I'm talking about.