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This is not about piano but someone might be able to give me a link or some advice. So here goes... it's about OPERA singing. To your knowledge, has anyone STARTED studying/singing in their 20's and still made a career?. Thanks.

A lot of teachers will not even teach singers until they are 19-20, because the voice does not start coming into full maturity until mid 20's. We tried to get singing lessons for my little sister (12), and she was turned away at countless places on account of her age. So, I would imagine that most don't start their careers until their mid-20's (unlike piano, in many cases!)
I do not know enough of the singing world to answer your question more specifically, but I will bet there are many singing forums out there where your question will be answered more fully!

Thanks PianoMuse for your reply... the reason I ask is my 21 yr old daughter feels like she has lost all chances to succeed in this arena.. and what you told me confirms what I told her... thank you so much. anyone else .. please describe your experience with singers. I know this is a piano site, but we do work closely with singers, and it is different than an instrument that you "play". If one starts serious voice lessons at 21 (assuming there is talent, drive, perseverence, a fantastic teacher/coach, etc) oh i almost forgot...money, anyway... is this TOO LATE to fulfill a dream? do you know of anyone who was discovered/debuted very late in life?

There was a lady whose daughter I met that didn't start her singing career until she was 40. The daughter showed me one of her programs. On the front it read Carnegie Hall.

Mike

Its a different thing to start a career at 21, and to start singing at 21. Even though the voice is not fully developed, it must be worked on to some degree before. With the proper talent and drive, it can be done though.

This is an interesting thread.

I am a classical singer, and have been singing since the wee years of my memory, since before I was playing the piano. I didn't really pursue classical voice until I was in ninth grade, going into a state-wide classical competition for tenor voice (up against juniors and seniors, no less! :rolleyes: ).

I have recently been debating what I want to pursue after high school - voice or piano. I know that my forte is probably voice, but, with practice, I think I could also get into a music school for piano.

This is beside the point.

Point is: most conservatories or music schools won't even think of taking any singer under the age of 18. I have learned this through my much exploring into music schools and surfing the 'net for countless hours, searching for a teacher in the general vicinity of my area. My voice teacher usually specifically deals with high school students; that's why I got with her.

For an older student of classical voice, I think there is definitely time. Never give up hope. Even if she were 41, if she were good enough, then I think it would still be plausible for her to be successful. Just get her into voice lessons now, if she isn't in them already, and make sure she knows how hard she will have to work. Singing is just so natural, I think, that we singers forget that it can be extremely difficult to attain excellence in such a dynamic medium.

The Curtis Institute, founded for young musicians, won't take a vocal student unless they are at least 18. They take piano students only if they are under 21. If this doesn't give her some hope, then I don't know what will.

The best of luck, and positive energy to your daughter!

There's a singer here in Canada, Isabel Barakdaryan (spelled that wrong...) who didn't start singing lessons until she was in college doing some kind of science degree. Now she sings in operas, recitals, and has made a CD ot two. I've heard her on TV, and she's fantastic.

Florence Foster Jenkins.

Thanks, all... I have passed these encouraging words on to my daughter. She is currently a senior in college, majoring in Journalism, and attends a university with a terrific music dept. I hope she will at least audition for the voice faculty. They Do accept a few non-voice majors each year. It's very competitive to be accepted, but I hope she'll try!

opus,

Tell her to go for it, and let us know what develops!

Good luck to her!

About Florence.. she is truly an inspiration! Thanks for the tip.

She won't know if she can do it unless she tries, and reason tells us its a good shot!

Florence is a true role model to live by- I believe I would even go as far as to deem her the goddess of singing.
Plus, you could pick up some tips on how to dress at your debut... ( think giant angel wings).

All I want to know is, who was her pianist for the Carnegie hall recital? Nobody knew, because he hid behind a screen!

I was unaware of her pianist's not being visible in that recital. Knowing a little of her habits, I suspect she may have insisted that he be hidden, so that all of the audience attention was directed at her. But it's also possible (perhaps even likely) that the pianist insisted on anonymity. Her usual pianist was Cosme McMoon, who grew rather tired in his later years of being constantly asked about his association with the great woman.

My first college, Sarah Lawrence, has a first rate music department. My room-mate of two years double majored in Voice and Medieval History. Her voice coach cried when she decided to be a medieval historian instead of a professional Opera singer, as she (and the rest of the department) believed Maggie had the potential for stardom. She started singing in her freshman year. So that's a lot of development in a potentially professional singer, at an age not all that much younger than your friend.

(She's a darn good medieval historian, but now she says she wishes she had gone into Law, because of the remuneration! Not sure if she is serious)

Ariel