~With the esteemed Judges of the evening~

1. Last night was wonderful. I was selected by the audience and judges as winner of the semi- final round of Opera Idol! Everyone sounded truly fantastic and it was an honor to be chosen from among such great artists last evening! 

However, this year - I will be double booked on the night of the finals~ (It is the same weekend that I will be competing at the Florida Grand Opera!) so they informed me that next year, I will advance directly to the final round of this wonderful competition that Sherrill Milnes has created. 

What an honor! Thank you to the judges, who were in charge of 60% of the decision, and thank you to the audience who covered the other 40%! 

The other development I am ecstatic about is that I have found my Sparrow! While searching online for a little sparrow songbird to use in thank-you notes... I found the perfect image! I am SO thrilled and grateful to have found the artist Krislyn Dillard! She has a WONDERFUL collection PLEASE go check out her artwork! (and buy some!)  Here is my little sparrow, in grey, and in color! I simply LOVE this beautiful watercolor and the joyous flight and soul that Krislyn so expertly enlivened this little sparrow with! This little bird just brightens my soul every time I look at it! Watch Krislyn draw, or follow Krislyn on Twitter!  I LOVE it!! It is going to be a part of all of my stationary from here on out!

For me, 'Audience Favorite' is the best prize that you could ever win. It was a lot of fun! And yes, BLUE was the color of the evening! Haha.   

Throwback picture below- from this same competition a year ago, when I placed Second, and also received the 'Audience Favorite' award.

 Congrats to the winners this year! My hat is off to you! Thank You, Comic Opera Guild, for a wonderful experience! And thank you, dear Jackson Symphony Hall (Michigan) audience, you rock. 

What a fantastic experience at the American Traditions Competition in Savannah, GA this past week. My hat is off to the winners, there was PHENOMENAL talent and UNREAL singing happening all over the place! I learned so much from watching my brilliant colleagues and also gained some fantastic friends! And what other competition can you watch so much vocal variety? By the way, serious SHOUT OUT to Annastasia Victory. Pianist EXTRAORDINAIRE! Check her OUT!

 It was so valuable to receive feedback from the judges and also to participate in a masterclass with Kristen Blodgette, best known for being the conductor/musical director for The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and touring productions for the past 27 years. Her feedback was extremely valuable! She helped me with Ado Annie's "I Cain't Say No"- and also "You Don't Know This Man" from Parade. What's more, is that Kristen seriously just the kindest and most sincerely genuine person!

Making everything even more lovely, I was able to visit family on my way to and from Georgia, in Nashville, including celebrating the life of a beloved Great-Aunt, and visiting my 98-year-old grandmother in Nashville, and catching up with cousins and old friends.  I was SO fulfilled on this trip, I do not feel as if anything was 'lost', only gained! What a wonderful time. 

Enjoy the performance below! My favorite, I think, is Star Dust. Looking forward to the next two competitions: at Harold Haugh Light Opera this Sat &  Florida Grand Opera in April!