Church Hiring series, Post 1 Over the past year, I’ve heard a version of the same sentence from multiple church music directors: “We’re having a much harder time filling paid section leader positions.” Not volunteer choir seats or children’s choir enrollment — those are perennial struggles for many congregations. They’re talking about searches for paid, … Read more
As an OperaWorks alumna myself, I’m sorry to see this announcement from Ann Baltz, but fully acknowledge the number of singers this organization has nurtured over the years, with innovative and multi-skilled instruction, unforgettable performances, and an overall experience that lasts a lifetime. Thanks to all of you that make OperaWorks a reality, and best … Read more
I’m a little late to the party on the Timothée Chalamet opera-dissing fracas, but as enraged as I have felt (intermittently), the truly fascinating part of the internet drama has been watching the response from various corners. In the end, there are lessons to be learned about talking about the arts, on both sides of … Read more
It’s February, which means the first High Holy Day inquiries have begun. Over the next few months, we’ll receive requests from congregations across Southern California looking for singers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We don’t contract these services or take a fee — we simply connect temples with singers who are likely to be … Read more
If it feels like everyone you know is rethinking something right now—career, schedule, genre focus, income mix, long-term plans—you’re not imagining it. The world is shifting fast, and the arts always feel it early. For singers, that often shows up as questions like: Do I double down? Pivot? Add something new? Let something go? Let’s … Read more
We’re so sorry to hear about the passing of LizBeth Lucca, most known in our community for founding and operating Repertory Opera Company for many years and helping a lot of local singers find the joy of singing opera. She was passionate, she was a talented singer and stage director, she was fun (and sometimes … Read more
One of the things I often hear from Listers and community members is some version of: “I just need to talk this through with someone who understands how this world actually works.” So, I’m introducing a new practice designed to help. Lister Office Hours are short, one-on-one online sessions you can book directly through an … Read more
Here’s the truth most of us already know: a performing career does not reset on January 1. If you’re anything like the folks we’ve been talking to, the start of this year (in and out of our careers) has already flown by. I had big plans for 2026 — brilliant posts about business planning and … Read more
This post is also available on the podcast! To the singers and musicians who have been working incredibly hard this season: You’ve been stitching together gigs like an elite sport, memorizing repertoire on the run, running choir folders and juggling costumes on too little sleep, and singing concerts that exist only because you showed up … Read more
I’m writing you all a note. —> If you’re not sure who Epstein’s Mother is, look it up. There is another story behind this, starting with a mini-rant I posted recently in our Listerhood group on Facebook. (Have you joined us yet?) The idea has not only stayed with me, it has garnered some interesting … Read more