How do I find places to sing? -serious teenage bass vocalist?

Question:As a boy soprano, I performed at a lot of big places such as Wrigley Field, Ravinia, the Chicago Lyric Opera, and the Marriott Theater. I'm a junior in high school now, and my voice has matured into a rich bass voice. I've been busy with high school, and I haven't found any significant opportunities to sing. My high school has choirs, but they aren't great and won't advance my situation as a singer. I've dropped musical theater altogether because there are very few roles for basses, especially teenage basses. I sing opera, R&B, pop, oldies, rock, and anything that fits the situation. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to find places to sing and show people my voice?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: As a boy soprano, I performed at a lot of big places such as Wrigley Field, Ravinia, the Chicago Lyric Opera, and the Marriott Theater. I'm a junior in high school now, and my voice has matured into a rich bass voice. I've been busy with high school, and I haven't found any significant opportunities to sing. My high school has choirs, but they aren't great and won't advance my situation as a singer. I've dropped musical theater altogether because there are very few roles for basses, especially teenage basses. I sing opera, R&B, pop, oldies, rock, and anything that fits the situation. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to find places to sing and show people my voice?

Choirs won't "advance your situation" as a singer? Dear, any musical endeavors are going to "advance" your experience.

If your school's choirs are doing classic repertoire, that would be an excellent way for you to broaden your musical education. Since you've worked at a renowned house like Chicago Lyric, it's natural for you to find your school choir "lacking" in comparison; that does not mean it's unworthy of your time [unless the quality is truly awful].

You are indeed at a crossroads of sorts, but it's an enviable one -- not many folks your age have the opportunity to do prestigious work as a child and then grow into a worthy adult voice. However, you just need to have patience -- you're at the point where you are all but unemployable professionally as an "adult" singer since you're not yet a legal adult. So you need to sit tight for awhile and have patience -- trust me, though you feel like you've been at this forever, you're still quite young, so nothing is really passing you by.

If you don't want to do the school choir thing, seek out community opportunities. Is there a Master Chorale in Chicago? If not, explore churches that have renowned music programs, or even put together a solo concert/recital at your school or some other institution.

But if none of that pans out, just have patience, bide your time, and by all means continue studying and learning. You could even take advantage of the next year or so and learn a bunch of repertoire -- get it into your brain now so you'll have it for future use. Trust me, you don't always have to be performing in order to feel like you're moving forward and accomplishing things. Serve the art, not the ego. :-)

Best of luck to you -- you sound like you have a lot of brains and determination.

You might join an opera and/or symphony chorus. Last I looked, Chicago had both.

If I were you I would put an ad in the paper and say just what you are looking for. I have seen several ads in our paper asking for singers. Your local city may have some places for you to try out. There are always musical theaters to try out for in our area too. It might be something worth getting into. I am sure if you can sing as well as you say then you could act as well as sing! After all to sing with feeling you are acting anyway. Good luck to you!

Have you tried barbershop? Call 1-800-876-SING or see www.barbershop.org for more information and to locate a group near you or one that fits your goals. Good luck!