Voice Choices

Looks like longtime Back Stage writer David Finkle is doing a bit of work for the Village Voice. (He could have been writing for them as long as or longer than Back Stage, I'm just noticing it now!)

Anyhoo, his list of articles is a veritable who's who of folks who have connections to Singers Forum. To wit:

MetroStar Challenge was emceed by Lennie Watts, one of the judges was Eric Michael Gillett, SF students Melissa Heche and Joe D'Alessandro competed, and SF teacher Wendy Russell made it to the Top Ten.

The ubiquitous Eric Michael Gillett brings his show "Widescreen" to Feinstein's.

Also appearing at Feinstein's (last week) were "the Nick and Nora of cabaret", SF teachers Barbara Fasano & Eric Comstock.

We also count KT Sullivan among our friends, and were thrilled to have her present at our fundraiser in 2007.

Now, if we can just get him to include the locations...

Where Has the Summer Gone?

Ok, to be fair, I was on vacation for a week in the beautiful Smoky Mountains (and the chokingly hot Raleigh area), so maybe that's why it seems like the last week of the summer semester got here pretty fast. Still, I am a little bit boggled that we'll be starting a brand new Fall semester after Labor Day. That means I've been working for Singers Forum for 6 years! My first class, Voice Technique with Liz Russo, was in January of 2002. I got laid off from my event management job in 2003 and still wanted to take lessons, so I called up Margaret Curry (who was the registrar and Work/Study boss as well as almost everything else at SF back then) and she took me on to work the front desk. Eventually, as Margaret took more time off to work on her acting career, I came on as an employee. I made the mistake of letting the powers that be know that I had some computer skills, and the next thing you know, I was working full-time!

A lot has changed at Singers Forum since I walked through the doors at the old 19th Street location, but one thing that is really the same is the start to every new semester. New classes, new ideas, new students... there's always an air of anticipation, change, and growth. I love seeing new faces come through the door at Open House, as much as I enjoy getting calls from current and past students signing up for another session. I especially enjoy seeing people try many different teachers and their reactions to the different styles. Actually, you can do that at Open House for free.

You know, we've always had free one-on-one consultations, and I just took it for granted, until I told someone else that we do that. His eyes opened wide and he said. "You've got to let everyone know about that." I suppose that all of the things we do take for granted around here - our great space, really talented teachers, and relaxed environment - are actually our greatest assets! Sounds obvious when you write it out, but when you're in the thick of it, sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees.

Anyway, those are my thoughts for today. Hope to see you soon!

Dog Days...

It's a scorcher today in NYC. They say it's supposed to feel like 100 degrees with the humidity. I believe it! Thankfully, we are nice and cool inside here at Singers Forum. I actually have to wear a sweater! I've always found I get warmer when I'm singing, so I'm sure everyone who is working in the studios feels pretty comfortable.

I just sent out an e-mail about the opening of Fall registration, and the calls and e-mails started pouring in. Here are the facts:

1. August 17 is the first day of Fall 2009 registration. It always has been; there have been signs up for a couple of weeks, it's been on the website for a week, and the e-blast confirming that just went out today.
2. August 29 is the last day of "Early Registration." If you sign up for the full session of a group class before the close of business (6 pm) that day, you get a 10% discount on the class fee.
3. There are no waiting lists before August 17. If you call after registration starts and a class is full, we will put you on a waiting list in case people withdraw.
4. You must talk to someone to sign up for class! Don't consider yourself registered unless you have spoken to the registrar and arranged for payment. (That means no e-mail, no voice mail. Face to face or a phone conversation is the only way we sign people up.) That keeps us from overbooking a class.
5. Split-Payment is available if you fill out a form, pay half the fee, and give us a credit card number. That card is charged the second half of the payment on November 9.
6. If you don't know what class you should take, sign up for a free consultation! We can't recommend classes over the phone, and no one but our Administrator (Angelique) or our Artistic Director (Don Rebic) is supposed to recommend classes or teachers. You are free to sign up for any open enrollment class without a consultation, but we do charge a cancellation fee if you withdraw.
7. All of our policies can be found on our website! www.singersforum.org

I hope that's all clear. Always call us if you have any questions! (212-366-0541, 1-800-NYSINGS)