I was just on hand for a most exciting singing debut. No, it wasn’t in any opera house or concert hall- and it wasn’t for hundreds of people. But trust me- it was still a really big deal, and a truly exciting and moving experience.
The place: Siebert Chapel
The occasion: Morning Chapel
The Singer: Nicholas Gonzales
Nicholas is one of our sophomore music majors here at Carthage and is actually a trumpet principal. But Nicholas also enjoys singing, although he hasn’t done too much of it. (His first loves in high school were band and baseball.) Last spring he approached me about the possibility of taking voice lessons with me, and I could tell from that brief encounter that this was a fine young man that I would thoroughly enjoy teaching. So I said that I would be sure to find room for him in my schedule….. and even though I am teaching 21 45-minute lessons here at Carthage this semester (the most I’ve taught in quite some time) I am more than happy to make room for a student like Nicholas. And not surprisingly, it has been a joy and a blast from the very first lesson.
One of the things that is most touching to me is that even though Voice is definitely Nicholas’s secondary pursuit behind trumpet, he is attacking his vocal studies with great ferocity. In fact, if anything I am having to hold him back a bit so he’s not pushing himself or his voice too hard or punishing himself unnecessarily for the things with which he might be struggling. “You’re just a baby, Nicholas,” I told him at his most recent lesson, “at least as far as singing is concerned. Quit being so hard on yourself!” Actually, we spoke more specifically at his last lesson about how tricky it is to be focused on some specific facet of your technique you want to improve or on a challenging moment in a particular song- and go after it with tenacity and determination without getting in your own way with so much gritted-teeth effort. Nicholas knew exactly what I was talking about and related it to the challenge of trying to fix some flaw in his pitching motion and having to find the right balance between Trying Hard and Letting Go. That’s one of the perpetual challenges of singing, and each and every singer has to contend with that particular challenge in their own way.
Anyway, I’ve been delighted with Nicholas’s progress thus far (we’ve just had three lessons) and I was excited about the possibility of him singing for one of our upcoming studio classes. Then lo and behold, he and I happened to bump into another student, Andrew Rewerts, who is coordinating the special music offerings for morning chapel. Most of the time slots are filled with our choral ensembles, but he was still needing to fill a couple of the earlier slots and was beginning to pull his hair out. It was funny how you could sort of feel Nicholas melt into the floor as I turned to him and said “I have a great idea!” Only after I blurted out my idea and Nicholas haltingly said yes did it dawn on me that I had just coerced Nicholas into making his debut as a solo singer in front of an audience of mostly strangers, and in the cavernous space of Siebert Chapel …. which can be a very intimidating room even to an experienced singer. But what was done was done- and the more Nicholas thought about it, the more excited he got.
When Nicholas showed up at my office door this morning for a last warmup and run through, I thought he might be a basket case, in need of hand-holding and calming-down. But no, Nicholas wasn’t unduly nervous at all. He said that felt just a touch nervous- but actually just enough to feel energized, the way you might before a really big game. And as we started vocalizing, it was very clear to me that Nicholas was absolutely ready to go, vocally, mentally, and emotionally. And yes indeed, he sang “Lord God of Abraham” from Mendelssohn’s Elijah with poise and grace and confidence. And I couldn’t have been more proud as I sat at the grand piano and played for him. And when it was done and Nicholas was accepting the applause of his appreciative listeners, I leaned into the mic and announced to everyone that they had just heard Nicholas’s first vocal solo EVER, which spurred a second round of applause – and smiles all around.
I think one thing that especially delighted me about the whole thing was Nicholas’s willingness to do this when his vocal study had scarcely begun. A lot of singers with far more experience might have shied away from such an opportunity – or viewed it more as a burden or obligation to be dispatched rather than an adventure to be enjoyed. Nicholas knew – and rightly so – that getting himself up in front of people and singing this aria would be a chance to carry forward the progress he had already made in a short amount of time. He seized the opportunity and made the most of it, which was even more exciting.
It was one of those golden moments when a student you care deeply about rises to the occasion so impressively- so convincingly – and it really underscored for me how this kind of excitement and satisfaction for a voice teacher does not just come with the most experienced and accomplished students. It can also come from those students who are very early in their vocal development and have a lot to learn, but who are engaged in the act of singing with all of their being. I know that Nicholas has a lot of responsibilities and obligations in his life and I have no idea for how much of the rest of his time at Carthage he will be able to find time for voice lessons. But as long as he’s interested, I will make time for him. I will always – always – have time for a student who loves singing the way Nicholas does. And if there’s anything I can do to help him on his way as a singer, I am thrilled and privileged to do so.