Hello all,



I forgot that II had written my first entry all the way back in December, and it has been sitting and waiting for me to approve all this time....woops! So, if you are wondering why I listed an entry all the way back from December, it seemed like such a waste not to post it!

Well so far the New Year has been busy. I have not been involved with Xerxes, 1. Because they’re really aren't any parts for tenors in Handel, and 2. I was gone in January to sing my first Alfredo in Charlotte, NC. I did 1 performance as Alfredo and 3 as Gastone. It was little confusing at times. For a while, I really wanted to sing everyone's parts but my own! I quickly got over that syndrome! It was a great experience. Alfredo was a good reach for me, it really required that I go back and evaluate where I was technically, and work hard to go farther with it! I spent a lot of time listening to all my lessons from December, and, because of the lack of stage time, I was singing through Alfredo almost everyday in my room...I felt sorry for my neighbors! But, through it all, I am happy to say that I feel Alfredo was a huge success, and I look forward to revisiting Traviata soon!

While I was in Charlotte, I worked really hard on getting in better shape. Next season brings some real challenges to all of us Male Young Artists as we prepare for Billy Budd. Not only is the music difficult, but also it appears that we are all going to have to be shirtless during the production. I know, senseless nudity! But Nathan Gunn who is going to be singing Billy Budd, is known for having an amazing physique, and going shirtless at the drop of a hat...and well, I am trying not to embarrass Pittsburgh Opera, and all of my ancestors, so I am really getting in shape. I got my new running shoes and I have been trying to run on the treadmill here at the Allegheny Center every other day...and working a lot on core training. It is tough, but I think it is starting to pay off. Hopefully, Pittsburgh Opera will be able to get a better workout facility donated to us for next year! The Allegheny Center is not the best, and sometimes I wonder if the treadmill is going to be able to handle me running on it! No offense to the Allegheny Center!

I am trying to make my plans for this coming summer, and it looks like I am going to spend a considerable part of it in Italy! I am trying to pull the funds together as we speak. My goal is to continue to work on my fluency, eat some great food, and drink good wine. Lorenzo Malfatti is trying to help Chuck Unice and me get to Lucca to participate in his program there. It is quite expensive even though we have both been given scholarships. Hopefully we will be able to find a way to make that happen. I think it would be a fantastic experience for both of us! I am going to make it to Italy no matter what happens...I think! A few years back, I lived in Firenze during the summer while I studied Italian. It was an amazing experience! I learned a ton of Italian, and it was fantastic living in another culture! Oh, I could go on forever about that, but I will save those stories for later!