Interview with Melody Moore
Melody Moore, "an Adler Fellow with a glowing track record at the S. F. Opera" (San Francisco Classical Voice), is a rising opera star. The NCCO is excited to collaborate with her on the December program, Celebrate the Holidays. We spoke with her recently about her background and the upcoming collaboration. Purchase tickets for the program here.
Q: Where did you grow up? What was your music training like in your home town?
A: I grew up in Dyersburg, Tennessee (current population is 17,400, and was smaller when I was born) and there was not an emphasis on musical training. I did take childhood piano lessons from my mother and from a piano teacher until I was around 7 years old when we stopped my lessons. We lived in Tennessee until I was 10 when we moved to Texas.
Q: Why did you decide to sing opera specifically? Do you have experience with other styles of music?
A: I decided to sing opera when I first heard La Traviata at Baton Rouge Opera while attending LSU. I received a scholarship to enter LSU as a freshman, but still had no voice training to speak of. I learned about opera by watching VHS recordings in the basement of the library in the evenings. I do have experience playing guitar which I began in college. I mostly play by ear, but can read tablature and enjoy playing for myself.
Q: Are there any professors or teachers that have had an especially significant impact on your life?
A: Shana Buckow, my first voice teacher in high school, prepared me for auditions for Texas All State Choir and suggested that I audition for college (LSU). I would not have begun my music career if not for her.
The Frohnmayers, a husband and wife that teach at Loyola University in New Orleans encouraged me to continue in vocal performance instead of getting a degree in Music Therapy. Again, I am unsure I would have continued without their encouragement.
Dr. Mary Schiller from Cleveland Institute of Music has been my greatest vocal teacher and I still go to her for advice and lessons.
Sheri Greenawald of the Merola Opera Program believed in my talent when others were completely disinterested in what I had to offer. Merola was my first and only Young Artist Program. I went directly from Merola to the Adler program thanks to Sheri and David Gockley.
Q: Later in this season, you are performing the role of Mimi in La Boheme at the English National Opera, which will be in English instead of the usual Italian. How much of a difference does the language make to your preparation for the performance?
A: The change in languages makes a huge difference in preparation as it is almost like learning the entire opera over again. The word emphasis and colors change completely. It is quite an undertaking. However, it is our job as artists to translate emotionally as the text changes...to find our own truth in the words.
Q: Why did you choose to make SF your home?
A: The day that I flew into SF (June 3, 2005) and was driven into the city by my hosts, I knew that I would live here. I enjoyed the lifestyle that I saw all around me. Health, vitality, pride and generosity. I fell in love with the opera company as well.
Q: What do you do in your time off?
A: If I have time off, I love to knit, read, go to the spa and walk around this beautiful city. If I am not at home, I typically find a way to exercise and relax with yoga.
Q: What are you looking forward to most in your December collaboration with the NCCO and Schola Cantorum San Francisco?
A: I love choral music and love collaboration in general. The piece that we have chosen to perform together, "O Magnum Mysterium" will be one of the highlights of my evenings because it is stunning and simply beautiful. I am also very excited to meet and work with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. I look forward to seeing my friends at NCCO again since our last concert together was such a success and we collaborated so well.
Don't miss this exciting concert. Purchase your tickets here to see Melody Moore collaborate with the NCCO and Schola Cantorum San Francisco.