Christine Fairfield (soprano) has been singing as long as she can remember. She was raised by musical parents who sang at home. She began cello lessons in the first grade and then sang in choirs throughout her youth, starting voice lessons in high school. Through college she continued playing the cello in the orchestra, but focused on voice for her music major. She says she never went into music with a solo career in mind. "I just loved to sing. I thought I'd be an elementary school teacher until about half way through college, but then switched to music performance... and decided to pursue graduate study in voice."

       When we asked how the mechanics of solo singing are different from choral singing, if they are, here's how she answered. "This is a tricky question. As my focus growing up was rarely on solo singing, I actually had more technical issues leaning to sing with a 'solo sound'. Now that I've mastered that, I can more consciously choose which voice to use. The easiest way to describe the difference, for me, is focus. The sound is more forward ...adding 'bloom or ring' to my sound through vowel placement for my solo sound... but when singing with the choir, I soften or mute the harmonics to create a tone that blends more easily. It took many years to feel comfortable moving easily between solo and choral singing. Switching back and forth within a single performance is more difficult because I have to switch mentally and change how I am focusing the sound." Christine thinks that the best choral singers are those who are conscious of both their role as individuals - knowing the notes, counting, concentrating, following the conductor - and as part of the group - listening actively to other parts, being sensitive to the nuances of the whole group. In many ways, the soloist and the choral singer have much in common - good posture, good breath management, clear diction, follow the director. Good advice!