Schools
A Day at the Opera with Amanda Grafton
Columbia High School Class of 2010 graduate presents a senior recital at St. George's Church.
How do you say goodbye and thank you in five languages?
Amanda Grafton did it operatically on Saturday by singing selections from Schubert, Faure, Rorem, Rodrigo, Puccini and Rachmaninoff.
Grafton, a 2010 Columbia High graduate, is leaving Maplewood on August 25 to pursue a Bachelors of Music Degree in Classical Voice at the Manhattan School of Music on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
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But before embarking, Grafton wanted to say thank you to Maplewood, family, friends and her voice teacher and mentor Ray Evans Harrell. Her thank-you was presented before nearly 100 friends and family members in the form of a senior recital performance at St George's Church on Ridgewood Road in Maplewood.
Grafton was accompanied on piano by Greg Dlugos.
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Grafton's ability to pursue her dream has also been supported by the Maplewood Glee Club. Amanda applied for and won the 2010 John A. Plummer Memorial Scholarship. This $1,500 prize is given to a student intending to puruse a career in music.
Since the age of 10, Grafton has sung at Mass at St. Joseph's Church. She captured major roles in all three of her Maplewood Middle School musicals and continued on stage at CHS from her freshmen to junior years, playing Aunt Em in The Wiz in 2009. Grafton also excelled in the CHS Excelsior Singers—the school's honors chorus—and has performed for the last two years in the local a cappella group Half Step Up.
Grafton has always had an affinity for fine arts, including painting and drawing. In fact, the summer before 11th grade Grafton was at a crossroads in terms of what she wanted to study after graduating. Most of her time had been spent pursuing musical theater; however, she started to be pulled in a different direction. "There was something about voice, using my body as an instrument. Singing was what I really wanted to do, and I started listening to more opera," said Grafton.
Grafton became acquainted with dramatic soprano Beverly Vanessa Hill who studied with Ray Evans Harrell, a renowned opera teacher in New York City. About a year ago, just prior to the start of her senior year of high school, Grafton was referred to Harrell and met with him. Because of his stature in the opera community, Grafton did not think she would be able to afford Harrell's rate. However, something about Grafton struck Harrell and he agreed to take Grafton on as a scholarship studen—in effect allowing her to come three or four times a week for 2-3 hour lessons, all at the rate equivalent to a one-hour weekly lesson.
Grafton doesn't hesitate to thank Harrell profusely for all he has done for her. In her program she wrote: "Ray has worked relentlessly to train my instrument, mental and vocal, to help me become the best musician I can be. He and his wife Stephanie have hosted me in their home for several lessons, life and musical, and have given me more than I will ever be able to pay back. They are my teachers, mentors and family."
Grafton realizes that pursing her passion will be a challenge. "Only 2% of people who go to school for this get a job. Is this something you're willing to do for the rest of your life and struggle? After working with Ray I realized this is what I wanted to do," stated Grafton.
Most of her past year was spent attending classes at CHS, after which, 3 to 4 days a week, she hopped on the Midtown Direct to have her multi-hour lesson in New York City with Harrell. Throw in her part-time job at Core Mind and Body Pilates on Maplewood Avenue, and Grafton was always on the go.
All of her training was in preparation for her auditions for 11 College Programs. Grafton was nervous about the audition process since the many of the students she was competing against have been training in opera since they were little. Grafton in essence was late to the game.
Her training however helped her build up a solid performance repertoire, which she was able to present at the recital, as well as prepare for her placement exams at the Manhattan College of Music. "In essence," said Grafton "it's been a full year of preparation, building layers of complexity to the music."
After completing her undergraduate degree, Grafton plans to continue her studies in a masters program. Grafton mentioned that "your voice matures at age 30" so she is definitely aware that having a career in this field is a long-term endeavor. However, Grafton is unequivocal about her goal. "I know I want to perform."
