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USU's own baritone opera singer By
Liz Hobson
do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do. For Nicholas Pallesen, warming up his vocal chords is an important key to a strong baritone singing voice. "I do some vocal exercises and scales to get everything working and the blood flowing," he said. "I just stand and do my thing" Singing since he was a young child, Pallesen has always dreamed of being a famous opera singer. "I started singing when I was 6 years old in primary, and I knew then that I loved singing" he said. "I decided when I was 12 that I wanted to be a professional singer. It was what I wanted to do with my life" Pallesen, a freshman vocal performance major at Utah State University, began singing professionally at age 13. He has performed the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein as a soloist with the California Symphony Orchestra and had various chorus parts with the Utah Festival Opera Company in Logan. He had many concerts in Italy while on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As one of the winners of the 2001 Student Concerto Competition, Pallesen, along with seven other USU students, performed in a "Concerto Evening" Monday in Kent Concert Hall. Pallesen was the only featured vocalist and sang an English opera piece from Handel's Samson titled "Honor and Arms." "The song is about a very strong warrior who has just had a victory, but won't deliver the final blow because there is no honor in fighting someone who is weak and unable to fight back," Pallesen said. He chose to sing "Honor and Arms" because he felt it most accurately represented his voice for the competition. "It is a very exciting and difficult song" he said. "It requires a lot of the singer because you have to have a big range and tons of breath control." Ten singers tried out in January for the concerto competition, but only Pallesen was chosen. "When I found out that I won, I was very honored and really surprised," he said. "It was a tight competition. Everyone who tried out did really well. I was just grateful I was chosen. ôI am looking forward to it because the orchestra plays very well, and I am excited to have the opportunity to sing with them." He said by this time next year he wants to be in New York studying at a conservatory and eventually sing at the Metropolitan Opera and at La Scala, a world famous opera house in Milan, Italy. La Scala is not as far away for Pallesen as it might seem geographically. Singing has bridged that gap. However, while practice is what keeps Pallesen's opera goals within reach, too much practice could jeopardize his chances. "It is very time consuming,ö he said. ôI can't sing too much because if I do, I will just destroy my throat. Usually I spend about four to five hours a day singing and studying music" He said the grueling schedule is tough on his voice but necessary to meet his goals. Pallesen is well versed in many areas of music. His favorite type of music is opera, but he does not limit himself to that; he studies classical pieces and Broadway music as well. Despite his interest in other areas, opera is where he excels, which should not come as a surprise considering he sings in five languages: English, Latin, Italian, German and French. Before performing an opera in another language, Pallesen makes sure he knows exactly what he is singing. "It is so important to understand what you are singing," he said."You have to be able to communicate the mood and the message of the song. When you understand what you are singing, you are able to feel it and it is easier to make other people feel it too." Italian opera comes easiest to Pallesen because he speaks the language. "Italian opera is my favorite to sing," he said. "It is the language of music and romance. It just flows and is so romantic." Pallesen said he admires the works of Puccini the most because the music is so beautiful and "the melodies are lush and soaring." Opera is not always at the front of his mind, however. He said it is hard for him to listen to it at home. "I have to perform in it or watch it. Listening to opera without seeing anything , it takes away from the whole magic of the production," he said. So what does a highly trained opera singer listen to when he's not singing concertos? Well, Pallesen is a diehard fan of '80s rock n' roll. "I love' 80s music. I love the groups from England like, Tears for Fears, Duran Duran and Depeche Mode," he said. Regardless of whether he is singing Puccini or Duran Duran hits such as Hungry Like theWolf Pallesen said he enjoys singing because it is a pure, unfiltered form of communication. "Music is so wonderful because it gives me a chance to express a variety of feelings," he said. "I am not good at expressing myself, but I have always been able to find a song to show what I am feeling." He said he also uses his talent to help others. "It gives me a chance to help someone smile or inspire somebody, help them feel better and know it will be OK in the end," Pallesen said. Many people along the way have helped Pallesen develop his musical talent. He credits his high school choir director in Riverside, Calif., with the inspiration to become a performer. "He gave me the courage and motivation I needed to go out and have a career in singing," he said. However, the most influential people in encouraging Pallesen to sing opera have been voice teacher Mary Shearer and Michael Ballam of the Utah Festival Opera Company. "These two people have given me incredible opportunities; I am so grateful for them," he said. "Michael has done a lot to help me develop my career and get people to know me." Ballam, founder and general director of the Utah Festival Opera Company, has worked closely with Pallesen since 1997. "He has a truly remarkable voice," Ballam said. "He is capable of becoming a world renowned singer." He said it is up to Pallesen to work hard and train to become one of the best, and it won't happen overnight. "(Professional singing) takes tremendous discipline and training," Ballam said. "You have to compete with the very best. It is a major test, but I think he has all of the tools and raw material to do it." According to Ballam, USU is good for Pallesen now, but the next step for him will be to move to a school like Indiana University or Manhattan University that offers more specialized and advanced training. Ballam has nothing but high hopes for Pallesen. "If I were a betting man, I would lay some pretty high wagers on Nick's success," he said. "I think I see the ingredient in him to succeed, but the bottom line is it's up to him." With the hard work and discipline Pallesen is putting into his lifelong dream of becoming a famous opera singer, he just might sing his way to the top. "I am so grateful for the opportunity to sing," Pallesen said."It has been the most important thing in my life. It has brought joy to my life and, above all, helped me bring joy to others' lives. That is what music is all about, isn't it? Reaching out and touching other people's lives?"
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