Comments on Sam Dixon's Spivey Hall Blog: Met Opera National Council Auditions winners

So many people have felt the loss of Ryan Smith de...

2009-04-20T08:57:00.000-07:00

So many people have felt the loss of Ryan Smith deeply. Especially when you know how close he came to giving up serious singing altogether, and then triumphed, with critical encouragement from people like Walter Huff (chorus master of The Atlanta Opera) and his many friends. Those who cared for Ryan may take some comfort, I hope, in knowing that he was doing what he truly wanted to be doing. One way we can honor our departed loved ones is to remember them joyfully at their best. Though I didn't know Ryan personally, I will remember the joy that he radiated from the stage of Spivey Hall when he won the National Council Auditions here.

Just saw The Audition today. I have worked the Me...

2009-04-20T00:11:00.000-07:00

Just saw The Audition today. I have worked the Metropolitan Opera auditions in Florida for years, so it was fascinating to see where and how the top winners end up.

But at he end it was so sad. My Mom & I had so much fun watching, and we were both rooting for Ryan Smith. He had such a great personality and an absolutely gorgeous voice. To read what happened to him at end was just so sad, it made me cry. Mostly for his wonderful personality and spirit, and then secondarily a selfish reason -- the loss of his beautiful voice, and the loss of opportunity for so many people to see him and hear him.