Met Opera Chorus anyone?

[Sinfonia2001]

have an interesting question. Are there any of you out there who happen to be members of the Met Opera Chorus but who aspire to be on Broadway? Or do you know anyone who is in this situation?

The Met Chorus pays about $100,000 and it's full-time so it's not possible to audition for any musical theatre shows. I auditioned for the Met Chorus and am waiting to hear back from them.

If I get it, then it's a job (a really damn good one)and a way for me to finally move to NY. But what do I do if I find that I it's hard to quit the Met cuz it's a steady salary, but then I dont wanna stay in it too long because I wanna do musical theatre. Any ideas or advice????? Please!!!!

Thanks!

[Dollypop]

I'd like to be around when you use phrases like "I don't wanna stay in it too long" or "It's hard to quit the Met cuz it's a steady salary" in front of James Levine or Riccardo Muti. They're reations would be priceless.

[RentBoy86]

Gotta go with what you want.

There are plenty of people in American stuck in jobs they don't really like but know that they like the pay. So it's up to you.

I for one would love to join the Met Chorus. I think it'd be fun!

[frogs_fan85]

Dollypop, Muti isn't making his debut at the Met until February of next year. Who the guy should be wary of is Donald Palumbo, the chorus master.

[SporkGoddess]

Dollypop: I have to agree there.

There are SO many aspiring opera singers who would kill to sing in the Met Chorus.

[softershade]

If you were to be hired in the Met chorus do not take it for granted for one second. As SporkGoddess said there are tons of people who would kill for the position, and I count myself as one of them.
I'm not sure how the contracts for the Met's chorus works, but I do know that in Europe a professional chorus member contract is very hard to get out of, or even advance to leading roles.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

I for one, would slaughter lambs and babies to be in the Met Opera Chorus.

I don't really know any singer alive that wouldn't slaughter lambs and babies to be in the Met Opera Chorus.

[dg22894]

^Funny but true. I would do what your heart desires.

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Yeah, it's pretty sad when many peoples' dreams are your back up, and something you're hoping to get out of.

All I know is thank GOD that I'm still working on my Vocal Performance degree and not auditioning with you, or else you would have a very unhappy Soprano coming after you.

[SMT3]

Really? You are questioning whether you would stay in clearly the most prestigious singing gig in the world before you even audition? Don't waste your time. I and about 10,000+ singers DO want to sing in the Met Opera chorus, without question. Have fun on Broadway. It has a big name as well.

[Queen of the Night]

As a soprano who gave up the opera dream a long time ago, I have to agree with everyone else here. I'd kill to work for the Met, especially as a singer. If you are lucky enough to get in, you should definitely take it and stay as long as you can. Broadway is never guaranteed to be long term, unless you are pursuing something like a position in the ensemble of The Phantom of the opera.

[LizzieCurry]

I'm so glad SMT3 joined today to reply to a thread from 2009!

[SMT3]

Geez Lizzycurry, so? Just found this page. Still a relevant issue.

[GavestonPS]

Yes, it is. Lots of people move to New York to work in the theater, struggle for awhile and then end up in other jobs because they get used to the money.

Others eventually quit their steady-paying job and take the plunge into the vagaries of job-to-job employment.

There's no shame in either choice.

[Play Esq.]

Um...in light of a potential strike, I find this particularly apt.
Oh Sh:t!

[FindingNamo]

"Just found this page. Still a relevant issue."

In what way is this still a relevant issue?

[Play Esq.]

Because the Met chorus is likely to get a drastic hit and/or be on strike soon.

But I suppose "relevant" is relative.

[PalJoey]

Geez Lizzycurry, so? Just found this page. Still a relevant issue


Nobody has ever joined this place for the first time and learned how to use the search function. People who have been posting here for years still can't get the damn thing to work.

You must be an old poster with a new name. A VERY old poster with a new name.

Have you ever worked in a gift shop?

[frogs_fan85]

There is a huge difference between going on strike and being locked out by management.

[GavestonPS]

"In what way is this still a relevant issue?"

namo, I understood the question in the broad sense as asking whether one should settle for less than one's highest dream just to survive in NYC and even be in some part of show business?

As you know, very few people come to NYC to be in the theater without eventually wrestling with that issue. Few, for example, grow up dreaming of being in a Broadway chorus, much less working in management, concessions, marketing, etc., but there's no shame in any of those strategies.

[Segorian]

“Nobody has ever joined this place for the first time and learned how to use the search function.”

Doubtless true. However, you don’t find threads like this by using the site-specific search function, but through a Google search.

[Someone in a Tree2]

^ Absolutely correct. I first found BWW when I googled Sleep No More for info on the bizarre night of theater I had just experienced. I was delivered directly to the thread Sleep No More is amazing!, and have never looked back.

[PalJoey]

What did you Google search, Segorian? I'd like to try that particular search.

[Segorian]

Hi PalJoey,

I googled ‘met opera chorus’ and this thread turned up in the top ten results. That was the first time I ever visited BWW.

[Gothampc]

Met chorus pays $100,000?

I went to The Marriage of Figaro last night and the men's chorus had ten minutes of stage time. Where do I sign up?