STAY IN / SING OUT
Opera Buffs’ Solopreneurs
Share Their Stories and Perform Online
PETER BARBER, BASS
First in a Series
No experience is wasted, as Peter Barber’s adventures illustrate. Before pursuing an operatic career, he “dabbled in tons of kinds of music.” He sang with a jazz group in high school, performed with Exit 245, a national award-winning a cappella group, and spent a summer in Nashville as a country music artist. Enter COVID-19. Plans to be an Apprentice Singer at Santa Fe Opera were put on hold. Determined to “stay busy, motivated and moving forward,” Peter harnessed the skills he’d learned – thanks to an undergraduate degree in music production and a stint as an electronic music producer in Miami – to produce a series of a cappella “group” videos. A group of one that, at the same time, is a group of many. Click here to enter a musical ‘funhouse’ featuring a ‘mirror’ of glorious, expanding sound. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmgNjIip5gg
“What’s interesting is that when this piece is sung in a bass voice, it sounds like a crooner tune from the mid-20th century,” says Peter. “My goal is to cover my favorite songs of all time, across all genres, and put a bass spin on it.” As thrilling as Peter has found these endeavors, he continues to practice his classical technique, arias, and roles daily. In September, he will attend the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. This talented young artist remains “forever grateful” to the Buffs – particularly for the opportunity to perform with pianist Brent McMunn, director of opera at USC and music director of the Buffs, whom he calls “simply one of my favorite people on the planet.”
About this series — It’s a challenge to be grateful to COVID-19, but one good thing the pandemic has fostered is adaptation and CREATIVITY. Our Opera Buffs’ singers exemplify this, as our series will reveal. Many have become solopreneurs par excellence – off on adventures despite sheltering in place. Through the power and beauty of their imagination, their spirit, and their voices, our young artists have discovered new ways, often through unfamiliar terrain, to share their artistry. We look forward to applauding the initiative of our singers by sharing their stories with you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmgNjIip5gg