turning point

[lapietra]

This thread is dedicated to funkytuba.

Tell us about how you decided to do what it is you think you're doing with your life, even if you don't think you're being very successful at it. Sincerity will make for a better read, in my opinion.

I'll start. Everything I'm doing right now, despite appearances, is to hopefully eventually spend a substantial amount of my time performing classical music as a professional vocalist. I had some success in Los Angeles, had a number of small gigs, but got bogged down in financial garbage and emotional stuff. Now, here I am in San Francisco, a better place for it, and slowly getting back on track.

When did I decide to do this? I decided *for myself* not until I was in my late 20's; before then, I was doing things because other people told me I should, that I had a lot of talent and a beautiful voice; and, being the insecure person that I was, I lapped it up to boost my self-esteem, but didn't recognize what they were actually saying, that I had a responsibility to develop and bring what I had into the world. I vacillated between classical music and jazz, dabbled in composition, but I finally settled and became dedicated to classical music when I saw a video of Leontyne Price's final performance of "Aida". It was stupendous, but the thing that actually did it for me wasn't her performance, but the audience's reaction to it. They knew it was her farewell performance, and after the second aria, they gave her a standing ovation that lasted at least 10 minutes, during which she attempted to stay in character, but finally broke down in tears. The appreciation and love that was communicated in that ovation was overwhelming, and I thought, "If I could give that kind of happiness with my singing, that's what I want to do!"

I don't believe that I have a voice as beautiful as Price's, or am as great a musician - but I believe it's a worthy goal to attempt to develop what I do have to attempt to bring the kind of joy into the world that a beautiful voice and great musicianship can bring. It's certainly not the most popular path - it would probably be better if I was a rock musician - but I'm not good at that So this is what I'm doing.

Your turn!