As I come to the end of my undergraduate career, many questions pass through my mind in a flurry, both clouding my vision and providing true insight. What happens next? Will my hard work and dedication in pursuit of a degree in music be in vain? What is the correct next step for me, and how do I begin to make an income with the skills I have acquired in the last 4 years? How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
As I pensively move through the motions of considering graduate schools, wading through the endless numbers of applications for young artist programs, and contemplating the horror of moving towards a full time position in the service industry, I sense that this is a time for self reflection and gut decision making. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child to live abroad, and I believe the time has finally come for me to embark upon that vast journey. My recent visits to Europe have been but a taste of the delightful vintage of wine that is a life abroad, and I think I have decided that the particular lineage that I have acquired a taste for is Paris. A beautiful city, the most beautiful city, with tastes and sights and experiences just waiting to be enjoyed. I want to experience nightly walks around the Seine, frequenting small brunch cafes on mornings off, submerging myself in a foreign culture, becoming truly fluent in a language that I have been slowly progressing in, and understanding how music and life are approached with a completely different view of the world. The only problem is, how do I go about finding a way to live in a foreign country and provide for myself as an adult? I am in the beginning stages of reviewing Universities and artist programs that may be able to provide for me as a young singer, but with so many things to consider and minute details to plan, I am overcome with apprehension and doubt. I will be applying to L’ Atelier Lyrique Opéra national de Paris in hopes of receiving an audition for the upcoming year. If I am granted one I will then be able to audition in early January, which coincides with my vacation time in France I have planned for this winter. This is my main hope for the next year abroad, however I feel it is necessary to find other options if that does not pan out. I will also be auditioning to L’Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, a conservatory designed to work with international students studying in Paris. If you have information or resources to help me in my endeavor to go abroad, please reach out to me! I would be quite gracious and thankful for any information on this matter. (You can contact me through the form found here: http://nicholasyaquinto.com/contact-hire/)
(If you would like to check out a little more about L’Atelier, there website can be found here: https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/les-artistes/l-atelier-lyrique)
In the mean time I continue with current endeavors, working towards finishing this degree that I have worked so hard for, and reaping the benefits of positive relationships and experiences that I have accrued in my 4 years here in Atlanta. Ambition will either be the life of me or the death of me, but I feel that if ever there were a time to reach for my dreams, it is now. Truly I have no fear towards my future, and I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. After all, c’est la vie!