#requiem #cathedralbasilicaofthesacredheart #trotta #newarkcathedralchoir

“There’s a bit of magic in everything, and some loss to even things out.”

“Given a choice between grief and nothing, I’d choose grief.”

“Grief does not change you, it reveals you.”

“Anyone who has lost something they thought was theirs forever finally comes to realize that nothing really belongs to them.”

“The song is ended but the melody lingers on.”

“Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone.”

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.”

“Grief is itself a medicine.”

“We get no choice. If we love, we grieve.”

#akintsucrooner

MY TOP 11 REASONS & HABITS I GAIN WEIGHT

As a gen x yo yo dieter, these are many of the reasons why my weight management journey continues to challenge me. 

1. TOO LATE: Eating big meals too late. 
2. ON THE GO TRAP: Eating convenient, unhealthy food on the go. 
3. SPEED: Eating too fast without thought.  
4. ZONING OUT: Eating on automatic pilot because it’s time to eat not because I am actually hungry. 
5. INACCURATE TALLY: Under estimating food intake.  
6. SNACK ATTACK: Eating snacks that are too high in calories. 
7. AGE: My metabolism continues to slow as I age. 
8. NUMBING OUT: Avoiding my tough feelings with comfort food. 
9. UNINTUITIVE: Ignoring my authentic hunger signals. 
10. ANXIETY MENU:  Preemptively eating out of food scarcity anxiety. 
11. DRIVE BY COMMENTS:  Allowing random comments from others to affect my resolve and confidence. 

REASONS TO CONTINUE THE GOOD FIGHT: bloodwork, energy levels, apnea, chairs & stairs, and quality of life. 

#akintsucrooner

What Opera Has Meant To Me:
E. Perryman 10.25.2024

Joy.
Fear.
Calm.
Pride.
Rigor.
Passion.
Despair.
Humility.
Sadness.
Patience.
Inspiration.
Dopamine.
Hard Work.
Spirituality.
Excitement.
Authenticity.
Exhilaration.
Vulnerability.
Peacefulness.
Growing Pains.
Self Reflection.
Soul Searching.
Lifelong friends.
Embarrassment.
Personal Agency.
Family Connection.
Finding my soulmate.
Becoming more human.
Unforgettable memories.

I liken being a dramatic operatic soprano to slow cooking rich food:

1. We often have to hang out, while baking all the way through, inhabiting a land of snug Mozart roles.
2. It is no easy feat to pay the bills without compromising the pipes with easy money, inappropriate repertoire.
3. Patience has been essential with singing this sublime repertoire.

I was so grateful for the thoughtful review of my performance last weekend of Chenier excerpts with Vermont Philharmonic.

I have come a long way learning to be ok with being me and leaving all of my messy deep feels on the stage. It has been a rewarding growing process. I’m appreciative for the continued experiences and excited for future endeavors.

Giddy up.

#akintsucrooner

https://www.rutlandherald.com/tncms/asset/editorial/fef62736-908f-11ef-aa25-ff2afec7e08d/

In my 20-30s, singing back to back would have flummoxed my baby Brünn cords and sent me to an existential “what is the meaning of life” dysphonic corner. One of my dear voice teachers Patricia O’Neill said to me after we attempted “ruhe sanft:” what were we smoking?” Lol. Cue 21st century disasters, cursing voice teachers seeking my C5, and necessity driven vocal technique and I can earnestly say, it truly does gets better. ❤️🥺🙏🏻 #operasinger #akintsucrooner

I wore my Dad’s ring tonight as a connective touchstone to his wonderful musical legacy. Before I sang, one of local musicians came up to me and said they met my wife Elizabeth in the audience. He said “can I give you a big hug? I want you to know that my wife and I support you. She and I have marched for equality for over 36 years and we are sorry for all you have to endure.” They realized the need for straight allies when a friend came out to them expressing concern that their friendship could be affected. My family has been very supportive with rock stars Neal and Ann being my first ally. I believe my dad would have accepted my mid life reveal however hearing this tonight from someone close to age my father passed was a blessing. #angelsamongus #messagefrombeyond #grateful #dad #brucefrederickperryman

As I reviewed opera coach’s insights from our recorded work session, I realized my takeaways were prime fodder for an OG Dave Letterman top ten list……. 

So I give you: 

TOP 10 WAYS my lingering Midwest American accent drives my Italian opera coach bonkers (and he has considered stabbing me in the eye)….

1. Singing a nice juicy diphthong on an ending vowel. 
2. Adding an extra vowel to “Ha”. 
3. Slacking with a stingy double mm in mamma.  
4. Rolling the R in “morte” like a lethargic middle schooler. 
5. Nestling that L right back in the throat. 
6. Crooning a delightfully nebulous open vowel in the middle of a word. BAH-NAH-NAH anyone?
7. Aimless phrasing creating vocal kryptonite. 
8. Giving a down and dirty glottal. 
9. Making a federal case out of a double consonant. 
10. Singing like a lead balloon on language heavy Johnny one note phrases. 

#akintsucrooner #belcantosaveslives

BRUCE F. PERRYMAN, BARITONE
“If ever I would leave you”
BERNADINE PERRYMAN, PIANIST

Because of recordings like this that my dad made with my Grandma playing, I can still hear my father’s voice. I haven’t yet found the courage to listen to his last voice lesson cassette tape which was the Saturday before he passed. We found out the hard way that he had set up another voice lesson that Saturday. His teacher called 2 weeks later looking for him and left a message saying “Bruce! Where are you? You’re never late”. I didn’t inherit this admirable trait from my dad. Lol.

23 years ago tonight would have been the last time I would hear him speak to me while living. It was a brief call. I was annoyed with him because he changed his mind about trying out for an opera that fall. Now at 55 I get it. I understand the energy it takes in my middle age to do a full time job plus other side gigs. So my Dad and I got off the phone quickly so I could speak to my mom. Nice daughter, huh.

Gone way too soon, dear Dad. You will always be in our hearts. So grateful for you and your life force.

#rip #brucefperryman #BFP #promotedtoglory

#deinewunderschöneTochter

21 years of being the lizzes
9 years married today
Pic 1 we had begun flirting in 2003
Pic 2 our sapphic wedding polka this month
Grid pic highlight moments over the years

Dear Elizabeth Honer, thanks for picking this penitent yet hopefully humorous MF. Happy Anniversary with all of my love.

TOP OF THE 9TH ANNIVERSARY HAIKU 10.3.15 #lizandeliz

9 years married October 2024.
21 years of Liz and Eliz shenanigans.
Here comes Kiwi style decade.

Flirting in 2003
Naughty 2007 nuns
Central NJ travails
Engaged
Wedding Day
Seattle snakes
Canyon calm
Brunnhilde at last
New experiences
Kiwi dominion