What an enjoyable week I’ve spent at the Veronica Dunne International Singing competition in Dublin, Ireland. I sang alongside my peers, met the most lovely generous couple, Susan and Glen, who hosted me and a fellow soprano Claire Lees from London, and I’m hoping to stay friends with them both for a long time to come.
“Inaugurated in 1995, the Competition was created to honour the lifetime’s work of Dr. Veronica Dunne, Ireland’s Grande Dame of singing. Ireland is known throughout the world as a land of song, and in the classical and operatic field, this is in no small measure due to the unique and dedicated teaching of Dr. Dunne.”
To get to this stage I submitted an application with videos to get through to a live audition at one of six City locations throughout Europe and the US. 160 singers were selected from 35 Countries for live audition my location was The Wigmore Hall in London, which was a treat in itself. I was thrilled to get selected as one of the 50 competitors that got through to the live preliminary round of the competition in Dublin on Friday/Saturday, and even more so to get through to the 21 singers selected for the quarter-final on Sunday especially as I had sat in the audience and listened to the most excellent singing.
Sadly the quarter-final is where my adventure ended, I was hoping to give you all good news on Sunday evening but I discovered the result at twenty past nine Sunday evening and didn’t have time to put this post together, and you know what I’m like I was optimistic of getting through to the Semi-finals. It was fun though and a great experience plus my first ever visit to Ireland!
Each round was held at the National Concert Hall in Dublin and was open to the public. It was a great honour to sing for such a prestigious jury: Jane Carty; Richard Bonynge AC CBE; Orla Boylan; Peter Carwell; John Gilhooly; Olga Kapanina; Andreas Massow and Evamaria Wieser read more about them here.
I’m going today for my personal feedback which is a bit nerve-wracking but on the bright side I get to hear from this star-studded jury what I need to improve on to give me a better chance in future competitions and auditions.
You are going to be fabulous. BELIEVE IT.
Thank you Linda 😊
All my best wishes
Charlotte
You did really well. Hope the remarks are positive and helpful xx
The remarks were very positive and helpful Les, I was quite tense because I’d not had much sleep the night before and the nicer people are when they give me critique the harder it can be if that makes sense.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for sharing your amazing adventure!
You are most welcome, I’ve certainly got a busy year coming up!
Best wishes
Charlotte
Too bad, but do not worry, it’s a good experience, you won others and you will win again! wish you the best .
Je ne suis pas inquiet d’être content de ma performance. C’était une opportunité fabuleuse.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I’m sorry you didn’t make it all of the way, but you did make it to an exclusive group, so something to be proud of. I hope the feedback is good and helpful 🙂
Yes the feedback was good, I will be using it in preparation for another competition I have coming up. I used to love competing from Karate to swimming to singing festivals but in the third year of my degree I was advised to stop competing and concentrate on languages which I did. It gets you out of practice of how to control the emotions after the event though 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Good try and next time you will make it.
Thank you Jovina I’m happy with my performance and progress and I’ll keep working hard to do better next time.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Well done! Quarter finals is terrific, heaven knows what the original number of applicants was (before they whittled it down to 160) and you achieved a place among the last 21. Hope the feedback is positively helpful!
It certainly was terrific, singing in competition for six distinguished judges was a new experience for me to overcome and they were all pleased with my stage presence so that’s a major plus, lots to work on to improve and you know I will be working hard.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte, how well you have done quarter finals , is a good result.
I hope your feedback is helpful, lots more to come in the next 6 months .xx
The quality of the other singers inspired me and have motivated me to become better. I’m growing and learning with everything I’ve put myself up for this year and I feel good moving forward.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Well done Charlotte, you really did well to get through to the quarter finals. Very proud of you. 😘
Thanks so much Gill I know you were rooting for me. My competition is inside myself so as long as I feel I did a personal best I’m happy.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Okay, you didn’t make it past the final quarter round, but you made it TO that round and for that I say, well done you! Keep up the good work dear Charlotte.
Thank you my friend, I certainly gave it all I had during the heats. The come down of adrenaline after I came home left me feeling exhausted this morning but I’m perking up again after lunch 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very useful professional quest, dear Charlotte! Experience & practice will make you Montserrat Caballe! For sure! 🙂
Oo I like that ‘professional quest’! Oh for an ounce of the success of Senora Caballe. Thank you Maria merci.
Best wishes
Charlotte
🙂 🙂 🙂 You will make it, my dear! I believe in you! 🙂
Despite the disappointment of not getting chosen, you will hear what you need to work on from those in the know. I am certain you will handle any criticism with your usual professionalism..
Actually they were so nice to me that I nearly blubbed, I was thinking no, be nasty I can handle that. I was hearing my Mum in my head and my Karate Sensei saying “don’t be mardy Charlotte”. It’s a great expression usually coupled ‘mardy bum’ meaning sulky and feeling sorry for yourself. If Sensei Dave told me off and I teared up he used to make me drop and give him 20 push ups can you image if I’d done that in the room hehe. I am professional though GP and I wrote everything they said down and I’m going to try to put it right for the next competition.
Best wishes
Charlotte
See – I knew you’d react like a pro!
Charlotte, sorry for the disappointment, but you are strong and will take all criticism and build on it. You have won before, too!!! Best of luck in the future!
Darlene
I was really hoping to get into the semi-final to be seen performing a full twenty minute program and the final is with orchestra which I love the opportunity of doing. I learnt a lot though and met so many super people it will help me to prepare better for next time. 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
To be able to get this level, you have accomplished a lot already. I am sure you will have good suggestions for further improvement.. Although my heart wants you to get to the final but on the other hand I congrats you!
Oh yes, the opportunity to sing is the favourite part of the game, I was only upset because I wanted so much to sing my semi-final program and sing with the orchestra. I’d practised the night before because I’d be one of the first singers up the following morning and then I had to deflate after the build up.
My very best wishes
Charlotte
Where is the video? You are lucky they give you feedback. I applied for a Guggenheim and all you get is a rejection letter. I got as far as a portfolio request, so that was something.
Keep going…good luck!
No video sadly. I was going to get the ferry back to England on the Monday afternoon but I cancelled it in order to get my feedback it is so important to help with future preparations. I sing with my soul as well as my body so I have to let all the emotions go after a big event.
I’m good today, already started work on my next audition this weekend.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow!
You are a rising star, Charlotte! Quarter finals, with all the competition you had, is no light matter.
Your attitude toward the feedback is perfect. You go!
Also, shallowly speaking, I really like your outfit. I’d like to know if the “feedback” has anything to say on that topic.
Well, I was just about to answer your comment on my blog, but was magically transported here first.
Now that I’m here, I think I’ll catch up. Then I’ll go home and answer your comment.
Awesome, dear Charlotte!!!!!
I love clothes that don’t crease during travel. I could have spent hours with the judges but it was like speed dating with people committed to telling you the truth and I didn’t want to hog them.
Thank you for catching up on my adventures. I can see how busy you are too xxx
All my best wishes and hugs 🤗
Charlotte
I can see why you would choose creaseless travelling clothes. I hope you got a lot out of the judges. The truth is a valuable thing.
I’ll always have time to catch up on your adventures. You are special, and your blog is a joy. xoxo 🌹
So sorry Charlotte, it is a world renowned competition and congratulations for getting through to the quarter finals. I will be there on Thursday evening and was so hoping you would be in the Final. Looking forward to hearing you at Llangollen if not before. Incidentally Ronnie Dunne was one of last people to sing with Kathleen Ferrier in Orfeo at Covent Garden. She is a wonderful person and true inspiration.
What a shame I’d love to have seen you in Dublin Kath. Another time 🤞🏻, I hope you enjoy the final the standard was amazing. I didn’t get the chance to meet Veronica Dunne I’d have loved to have done. I’m very much looking forward to Llangollen hope we get the chance for a catch up there.
My best wishes
Charlotte
Sorry about your disappointing outcome. Such things aren’t easy to take, even though they’re a part of the process, and, in theory, should affect us less with more experience. But you did well to get that far, farther than most, in the top 15%. My short script made it to the 2nd round of the Austin Film Festival Competition. I’d hoped for the semi-finals, but no. I’m picking up notes from AFF and Screencraft, then on to the 2019 entries!
Well done Jeff on your success in the Austin Film Festival. Stepping stones, just don’t give up.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Well done on reaching the quarter-finals, to be sure to be sure!
Thank you, I got the opportunity to catch up with three really good friends in Dublin, i’ve Got to build on this now, to be sure!😜.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Follow the luck of the Irish, indeed!
Jeepers, Charlotte. Top 21 is nothing to sneeze at. I am so happy that you get feedback from the Jurors because that doesn’t happen with most of the Competitions I Enter. Quite a few simply say, I’ll here from them if Selected. I have to do a bit of guess work on how to know what they were looking for if my Work is not chosen. Bravo.
It’s a very well organised competition. There is the same process from many singing competitions some only let you know if they select you not if you’ve failed the selection, so you can be hoping in vain for weeks. Good luck to you this year Eric 🍀
Best wishes
Charlotte
Ireland is wonderful. You are a rising star and bigger things will happen 🙂
Thank you Alex, it was my first visit to Ireland and I have some good friends living over there who made time for me in their busy schedules.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Oh well, at least you tried. Keep plugging away! You are doing great! x
Thank you Christine, freelancing is hard but it’s a tough world for lots of people including those who have regular jobs and regular income. I have to set your own targets, which you always do I notice with your private challenges, I take inspiration from you.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
You gave it a good shot and done well. It just wasn’t to be this time. I love the black and red dress by the way. Very stylish and elegant. 👍🙂
Thank you, I always learn lots from competition, I know what I need to do now if I get another opportunity in the future.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations on getting to the quarter finals, Charlotte. I have read all the comments and your answers so I know how deflated you felt and can truly sympathise; it’s a miserable feeling but fortunately, doesn’t last long! Best of luck in your next competition!
Thanks Clare, I bounce back quickly I’m used to it, the way I handle it is just to enjoy every opportunity to sing for distinguished people and panels and try not to think of not progressing as a bad judgement of me as a person or a singer because I’ve seen people go to that dark place. I’m feeling good and looking forward to this week, busy, busy, busy.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
I had a feeling you would be alright! 🙂
I watched a synopsis of the event prior to its hosting on our national news bulletin and immediately thought of you and wondered if you were in attendance. So glad to know you were and congratulations on reaching as far as you did. You truly are gifted.
I’m a bit after the fair on this news, but congrats on getting the quarter-finals. Every competition achievement is a building block for your singing, your performance, your stage presence and the next competition – so it’s all win win.