James N Kryshak - Tenor

I have been working with my voice teacher, Michele Friedman for the past six or so weeks and I am making GREAT progress.  I know that it as the right decision to come here and study once again because I am getting as much out of it as possible.  My voice has grown so much in the few weeks I have been here!  I am very pleased.  There is still so much to work on.  I love when I am talking to people who have no concept of what it takes to “be a singer” and have come to the realization that besides singers, generally people have no idea how much work and time it takes to get the results we all strive for.  

Currently, I have been working on my applications for Graduate Studies and getting together the music I will use for my audition and pre-screening recording.  I will be in a recording session next Friday, so needless to say I have been working quite diligently the past two weeks figuring out what music will work across the board for all schools and then getting this music polished and of recording quality.  I have also decided to give a recital at the Institute for European Studies (IES is the school I studied at as a student in Vienna) in order to be prepared for the auditions in January.  This recital is going to be on the 15th of December and I will share it with a great friend of mine, and former roommate, Anne Wieben.  So between filling out applications, writing essays for applications, and practicing between vocal lessons, musically I am on my track and being very successful.  

I have also adopted the study of Alexander Technique.  It is a way of finding the correct and natural alignment within your body to steer clear of doing harmful things to our body, by way of contortion, which will in effect make it more difficult to perform to our utmost ability!  I LOVE IT!

Graduate School Search 2006!!

As I mentioned above, I have been researching, applying, and getting ready to audition for Graduate Schools for next year.  It was a VERY difficult process to narrow down the choice of schools as there are so many wonderful programs across the US and Europe.  After weeks and many long nights of reading, researching, and comparing I have come up with the following choices:

University of Wisconsin, Madison
University of Colorado at Boulder
The Yale School of Music
The Julliard School
University of Vienna
Vienna Conservatory

Six schools may seem like a lot to apply to, and it is, but I have gone through and found positive aspects of each school and have thought hard as to what I would do there.  I can see myself at all of these schools and doing successful things for my career!  I look forward to being done with the process of applying/auditioning and having the chance to make a decision (at least I hope I have a choice).  Anyway, I will keep you all informed as to what comes of everything and where I will be next year!  This is a very exciting time and very unsure at the same time!  I am the type of person that NEEDS to know what he is doing at least a year in advance so needless to say this is really driving me a little nuts!  I have no idea where I will be next year at this time…it scares me just a little, but it is also very enthralling.

Jim’s Reviews:

This is a new aspect of the Newsletter I am going to try out this month!  Here I will post the most recent things I have read, seen, listened to for the first time, etc. I hope you find it fun and entertaining!

Books:

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë – This is by far one of the greatest novels I have EVER read.  If you have not done so, read it and be captivated by every page as I was!  Then we can talk about it!

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf, by Edward Albee – What a phenomenal play!  If you ever want to be on the edge of your seat and read a great play…pick it up!  I was driving to turn the page and find out what was going to be said next.  The language is not for everybody, but if you want to see a story unfold between two CRAZY people and how they treat others read this play.  You will be amazed!  

TV Series:

Dallas – Season 1 & 2:  This is the most ridiculous show ever created.  It is so bad that it is good! My friends, Anne and Gretl, and I watch it while eating dinner some nights.  Who ever thought you could get sucked into a Prime Time Soap Opera as much as we did?  I don’t recommend starting it…you won’t want to leave the TV set!  (Just kidding)

Movies:

True Romance: Christian Slater in German just wasn’t working!   My roommate, David, and I both decided it would have been good when we were 18, but it is pretty bad now!  Oh well!  You can’t always win with movies!

Remarks:

Well, I should close this newsletter now.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family whom I can send this letter to and feel that it will be read.  I think about all of you SO MUCH and hope that your lives are as blessed as mine is.  I have been reading “The Way to a Meaningful Life” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and in it, he tells how we are to be grateful for what we have and not want.  He also tells us to tell the people who make and impact on us, how much they mean to us!  In other words, if you are getting this newsletter, you have made an enormous impact on my life and I hope that you realize how much you mean to me!  Thank you for supporting me and caring about what I am up to!  Please let me know how you are doing as well!  I love getting emails and mail!  Much love!