April 2004

Branching out!

One of the many perks that go along with working with young singers is watching them develop their musical talents in various ways. I love receiving invitations to concerts that former Cantabile singers are performing in. Or hearing about a conservatory program, opera program or theatre program they are involved in. One of our singers, Bonnie Wagner, started out as a Prep singer, moved up through the ranks, sang in her high school choir, became our accompanist and is now in graduate school at the University of Michigan studying accompanying. She has studied in Europe for several summers. I was looking through old rosters the other day. In 1994 Stephanie Wu was a Prep choir singer. She too moved up—and is now a sophomore at Yale University. Her younger sister, Elaine, now in Chamber Choir, has studied piano and violin, so my relationship with the Wu family is 10 years old! There are many more examples that I could cite. You can read about some of them in this newsletter.

These singers have definitely “branched out” to experience new musical experiences in their lives. I am touched by their commitment.

—Signe