Stephen Anthony Ray

It’s morning on the day of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Grand Finals.  It’s 9:00am and I am about to make my way down to the opera house here in thirty minutes.  Normally, with an audition this big, I am pacing back and forth, sweating, and praying excessively (were there such a thing).  However, this morning my soul is at peace - and I think I know why.  Something happened last night that really put this competition (not to mention my career) into its proper place in the list of priority and perspectives.  A good friend from high school, Derek DiBlasi, lost his father (Frank DiBlasi).  He called me and we prayed together just before it happened.

Things like this help me to understand about the vocation to which I have been called.  Number one - vocal technique, character analysis, aural balance, and all those other “opera” things I’m worried about really don’t seem to matter right now.  Neither does this competition.  What matters is that I need to be there for my friend - and to pray for his family.  Number two - opera is focused on imposing smiles, laughs, tears, frowns, deep thoughts and profound meaning into the lives of its listeners and watchers.  I can think of no other event outside of death that brings the immense importance of these things to the surface.  Life is short.  Music is a great gift from God that helps our souls express emotions and communicate with ideas and beings that remain beyond our grasp in the utilization of simple speech or thought.

My task is great and small; small because I will not forget my friend, Derek - great because my obligation here is to perform an art that transcends death and life.  I dedicate my performance today to the memory of Frank Diblasi and to the Diblasi family.

SRay

I came into Santa Barbara last night just before ten. Since then, in almost 24 hours, my world has been so enlarged that I am already having a pretty tough time not being overwhelmed. Here are some thoughts.

1.) It really gets cool here at night. They don’t really tell you that - they only tell you how amazingly wonderful it is during the day (and it is). If you ever come out here, bring a jacket.

2.) There are people here literally from all over the world - China, Canada, Spain, and the like. Different cultures and different languages…same creator. It’s amazing to know that God’s imagination and plan for humanity includes the fact that we are not all the same - rather, we think differently, we eat differently, we love differently. And what still amazes and encourages me is that the Gospel is still relevant, regardless of who you are and what culture you live in.

3.) That said, I am having a really difficult time resolving the issue of why some choose to ignore the question of eternal destiny. In my short time here, I have already begun to meet people who I’m sure will turn into lifelong friends. However, I cannot help but grieve over the lives that some of them have chosen. For some, their choices contain an abundance of uncommitted sex and drunken bliss…along with an thirsty emptiness that their “fun” could never quench. For some, it is a strong devotion to music…so strong that music itself is their end. For some, it is the adoption of some post-modern belief system that attempts to resolve the universal need for loving and accepting each other while simultaneously leaving out the author and manifestation of that love, Jesus Christ; and while such an adoption is admirable, it does nothing to prepare and save souls.

4.) Of late, I have been debating with some good friends about Calvinism. I myself am not a Calvinist - for me, that theology seems to negate the loving essence of God’s character (not to mention it seems to negate common sense). But one thing in the Calvinist’s corner that I’ve seen more in the last few hours than ever before…Calvinist theology sure makes it a lot easier to keep to yourself and not worry about the destiny of others, rather than becoming deeply grieved over people’s resistance to the Truth as well as the question of how in the world one person can be salt and light among so many turned off hearts.

5.) Am I really committed to preaching this Gospel because I believe it to be true and have seen its Truth at work in my life? Or am I only doing so because it makes me uncomfortable when others around me don’t believe something that I do? The recent inconsistency in my faith has forced me to ask this question - and it’s so uncomfortable. It has forced me to realize this: I have to own and believe my faith even if I am the only one doing so. If it’s real, I should have no reason to be uncomfortable with others’ denial of the Truth. Furthermore, the Truth, as sure as the tide, better be changing my life if I’m going to preach and recommend it to others.

6.) I walked to the Ocean today. All I could do was close my mouth and silently admire the majesty and immensity of God’s creation.

SRay

Well friends, thanks to those of you that have been keeping up with this New York saga of mine concerning my vocal future. The Full Story is in.

As you already know, after auditioning in New York City, I have been invited and accepted to the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. The Academy is a two-month program for advanced musicians that combines weekly lessons, master classes, chamber performances, and the performance of a fully staged opera (La Bohème) for an amazingly intense, professional level training experience. The Voice Program is staffed by some of the world’s foremost experts in the fields of voice, coaching, stage acting, and diction. It is headed up by Marilyn Horne, the world renowned mezzo-soprano whose career in opera spanned over forty years.

Now for the part you didn’t know. My second audition in that crazy week was at the Metropolitan Opera. It was really a double audition, partially for admission into the Lindemann Young Artist Program and partially for the National Council Education Fund.
The Lindemann Young Artist Program is a two or three year program which seeks the most talented young singers and trains them, using the Met’s vast resources, to become tomorrow’s most successful artists. The Education Fund is basically money that is given to past National Semi-finalists, Finalists, or Winners in the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions (which I did last March and made it to the National Semi-finalists) that is to be used for music-relates expenses, such as travel, a piano, recordings, scores, pictures, etc. You audition again at least six months after the last time you were heard, and if you have shown considerable progression, you will be given some money. Now that you know what I was auditioning for, here’s the news: I was NOT accepted into the Lindemann Young Artist Program. After having talked with its director, Lenore Rosenberg, she advised me that it was too early for me come into the program and that I should pursue Graduate School first. However, I WAS given some money by the auditions committee - $3000.00, the maximum amount awarded in a single audition.

So all in all, it was a wonderful experience. I got Santa Barbara, I got $3000 (which I can’t wait to start spending), and I got some invaluable feedback from Lenore Rosenberg and Gayletha Nichols (of the Met) that will help guide me into the right next steps for my musical career. God has been good!

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. It’s great to know that I have so many wonderful people behind me, should I ever fall. God bless.

SRay

Dear Friends

Last week in New York City, I had two separate auditions - the one on Thursday was for the Lindemann Young Artist Program of the Metropolitan Opera, a graduate school - like program for extremely talented young opera singers that utilizes the vast resources of the Met to prepare them for succesful careers in singing. Sunday’s audition, however, was for the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California; it’s a two month summer academy centered around intense musical training for young artists. 463 singers applied and auditioned for the 22 spots that were to be chosen. I am happy to report that I will be one of the 22 next summer in Santa Barbara, covering the role of Marcello in the Academy’s production of Puccini’s La Boheme, as well as participating voice lessons with Marilyn Horne and master classes with many world-class musicians and clinicians. I thank God for this amazing opportunity and pray that he would use my talent to help draw others closer to himself. Thank you, dear friends, for all of your support. I will post again soon once I hear back the Met. God bless.

SRay

Great news! This weekend was the NATS Regional Competition, which comes every fall and was quite competitive this year (NATS, by the way, stands for the National Association of Teachers in Singing). I did well this weekend, advancing to the finals and winning both the Upper Division Musical Theatre and Senior Men’s Classical categories. Furthermore, I received the Governor’s Award, given to the student (in the advanced categories, i.e. upperclassmen; grad students) who most exhibits potential for a professional career. It was a really big honor. Thanks for all of your prayers and support - and congratulations to all of my colleagues at Ouachita for a great competition and representing yourselves, Ouachita, and our Lord and Savior so well.

SRay