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SHSS3SS5B . For th ^ t/SC junior Misty Brinkley b OPERA USC and makes her AMY SHANNON Features Editor From a sleazy, cleavage-bearing cig- y( arette girl to a prim and proper young a lady, USC junior Misty Brinkley has found ? a way to showcase her beautiful voice as q an opera singer for OPERA USC. p ^ But learning opera wasn't original- ii ^ ly a part of Brinkley's career plans. "I didn't really start studying opera until last year," Brinkley said. "It was f( a late (start) because it wasn't a goal that gj my parents encouraged. I'm going for the a biggest dream anyone in my family ever ^ pursued. "And it's scary. It's a big jump to go to w school to learn music and how to write e. songs. Many people don't call (studying music) a real degree." ^ In contrast to what people might a W think, the study of music presents a chal- t] lenge, Brinkley said. "It's a lot more difficult than I ^ thought," she said. "The curriculum is re- s ally fierce. It's something you have to g study, and it's something new. You're go- g ing from the ground up, and it's hard." y But Brinkley's not complaining. This semester, she's carrying 18 credit hours, 0 singing in an opera and working at the Q front desk at Bates West. a And she wants to become more in- j volved on campus by joining music or- C( ganizations and possibly becoming a Res- f( ident Advisor. t] Right now, Brinkley balances her school work, job and social life with re- ^ hearsals for OPERA USC's season open- v er, The Marriage Contract, composed ^ by Rossini. "The Marriage Contract is an ani- r mated comedy," Brinkley said. The char- t acters are really animated and not as realistic." t Set in the late 18th century in Eng- s land, the opera is based on a love trian- q gle between Brinkley's character, Frances, c the poor man she loves and the rich man she must marry. * cuit JIYIfU ONTO TELEV Win a trip in the Cons fnllppp Bp What's the; video (no longer!) < the tape to ConanO 30 Rockefeller Plai NY 10112. Videos mi P 1997. Tapes will be ance and rock spiri legal U.S. resident: 3/4 of members mi equivalent) by Sep rules, send a SASE Plaza, Room 4880I * THE 12TH ANNUAL 1 COLLEGE BAND SE/ e love of sew ? 4 / egins singing with ^ dream come true / 3 Vrancoo io a 1 fi. sfll ear-old girl betrothed / iI gainst her wishes to a % / V wealthy Canadian. The \ | ianadian promises to pay 'ranees' father for his daughter's hand 1 marriage. jhv But Frances has other wishes. M \ "Frances is in love with a dif- M irent guy who's poor," Brinkley aid. "He and I come on stage nd we do a sappy, lovely duet || jgether." In the end, everything fcr|. i forks out, and there's a happy ? i nding, she said. V 111 / Brinkley hopes a lot of peo- VJIl j V le will come out to see the K* 1 I * pera, even though it's not ex- EgpLf i remely famous. |||P? "The opera's not really well- ^ nraim hut the miisir'n crrwl " nhp \ aid. "Rossini's music is used in the | tugs Bunny cartoons. It's fun mu- j 'f . ? ic. Even though the opera's 200 f : , ears old, it's still funny." w Brinkley will perform in the role f Frances during the Sunday matiee Oct. 12 as part of the second cast. i'yv. The Marriage Contract will run Oct. ft v"**? 0 and Oct. 12 at Drayton Hall. Tickets Dst $15 and $10 for the public and $5 >r students. They can be purchased at lie Coliseum box office. Small beginnings. Brinkley began ler singing career as a shy 3-year-old /ho was reluctant to sing with other chiliren. "My mama had to practically push special t< ne up front to sing because I didn't want o do it. I was real shy," Brinkley said. Playing the Later, Brinkley played in her school ?'r' 'a8t .8 iand before joining the choir. At first, pwsentatio he simply wasn't interested in choir ^ ITien, she saw something that helped hange her mind. opera set i ;h your way late night hsion! | to New York J|| m O'Brien ^ no aearcni % gig-' Make a five-minute jf your band, VHS only. Send I'Brien's College Band Search, la, Room 4880E, New York, rH| ust be received by October 15, HH rH judged on creativity, perform- ( II it. Band members must be s and be 18 or older to enter; *Nj jst be enrolled in college (or jj^^Kyl tember 30,1997. For official to: Conan Rules, 30 Rockefeller i, New York, NY 10112. Rock on! I0NAN O'BRIEN 1 iRCH IS PRESENTED BY: I ETC UI heard the '3 Tenors' on the TV in ninth grade and fell in love with it," she 'It fit my voice.' In high school, bnnkiey sang i ne star spangiea E|Pi *|*JB Banner" at basketball games, and she sang at pageants as part of the en"Before I ever had any training, I'd H said. "I originally came from a very ISMPPk rural area in North Carohna, and everyone in my family listens to country or beach and blues. "But my brother told me 1 sounded like a trained 3SK. ninrrn* tmi/?A V?o#4 n jj^ camera. Brinkley was so nerj^)i^"^^% ^ ^ V | pounds, she'd make a million uuiims sixxgiixg upexa. 1 ' 4 "And then last year I told *'" * It :> them I was going to be an .v% M opera singer," she said. "It V\ JKV fit my voice." X%; " %? Preparation. Brink< ^ ,^-?{ ley first studied voice foryB*' mally under Maureen ^f| Simpson, a USC doctorm al candidate. Simpson ^ ^ ^ encouraged Brinkley to Jp derful and she helped me said. "I auditioned for the p. * Brinkley currently |f takes voice lessons HEP Hl:' ] iA?wi iuuii[A3uu auu viuiaucj aic yvwc, B"W S smart women who love to teach and love to help," Brinkley said. 3 THE GAMECOCK Brinkleys voice training prepared her part of a ffirtatiouB cigarette weU for ^ National Association of Teachpring in OPERA USC's ers.of SinPnS (NATS) competition last n of 'Carmen,' USC junior springikley will sing a lead role Brinkley won the state round and triage Contract,' a comedic went on to win the regional round. She in the 18th century. had to sing in front of voice teachers from universities throughout the entire Southeast. gliBM|, 411 '.^^'W, ^^ H9I| |?||BtejJ I ,.. t^t ^MMMHr VHHQpr jl ? " ^ -i'f,i fifiimMMr-'-"""- ' ^-^flHi i -^jKaaB l ? "It was more pressure than singing I Site of on the opera stage, she said. But, it was all really exciting and ateally good ex- /f perience." f Precautions. Singing all day in class I If and then rehearsing at night can over- \ I I strain a singer's voice. But more than anything else, bad habits such as smoking or drinking will weaken your I J riMM voice, Brinkley said. "I can't go out," she said. "It's not that I don't want to, but if I do, I'll have to EtiSaSS make up for it. I'm in training. You have to be prudent. You can't take your CONCE voice out and put it in a case in the band room. It's like an athlete. You have to be in the best condition." * dayroom, If her sinuses are swollen, Brinkley is careful not to sing in the upper range The Niel of her voice because of possible tissue TBA, Sept. scarring. And her voice can reach up to ro, NC) the stratosphere. "I have a lyric coloratura soprano # Ajbert ^ range, which is a real light soprano that Room can perform arias with agility," she said. "I can go up to really high notes, Mariah Carey notes." Soup, TI Those are the notes that break the microphone if it's turned on, Brinkley Dokken, sa*d- Blues (Myrl But opera singers don't use microphones. They are trained to project their .. .. voices over a 12U-member orchestra and ~ , into the audience. Oct.2,Block "It takes a lot of training to learn how to do that without killing your voice," Brinkley said. ETC. BR 'A dream come true.' Brinkley hopes to graduate next year with a bachelor's degree in music performance. She wants I own Ine to continue at USC for a master's degree 8011 in the opera program or in vocafl peda- The mus gogy. Town Theat A degree in vocal pedagogy would en- ^ 4, Ti< able her to teach high school students beloved she the basics and earn a living, since for seniors; opera has become veiy competitive, Brink- *or y?u" ley said. 8 p.m. exc< I166S 8i13 d r "There are so many singers that want to sing opera," she said. "The field is so competitive because it's worldwide. You Frankens can get any girl with a gorgeous voice, but she has to have a complete package? The real i the gorgeous voice with the body that fits classic tale i the role." creator and Despite the stiff competition, Brink- on stage tn ley said she still feels that opera singing torium froi is worth the hard work. times are 8 "When you work so hard and look to urday and i all the professionals that you admire, are av a and then you actually get to participate Ctt in the one thing you love the most, it's j ,0r pretty much a dream come true between the experience and the love of doing it," she said. fa, tit i rm a a a .1 tv Y wed.- inurs. s:uu in me kussi H NextWei Wed.- Thurs. @ 8:00 in the Russel I If IKE your thcMDay WT CALENDAR TBA, Sept 10, Elbow Room ds w/ Michelle Malone, 11, Cat's Cradle (Carbor [ill, TBA, Sept. 18, Elbow 3A, Sept. 18, Rockafellas , TBA, Sept. 26, House of ;le Beach, SC) Luscious Jackson, TBA, Jbuster Pavilion (Charlotte, !EF? atre kicks off 79th sealical "Hello Dolly!" opens at re on Sept. 12 and runs unlets to this irresistible and >w are $14 for adults, $11 and full-time students and is. All performances are at spt for the Sunday matin. Call 799-2610 for details. item" arrives at Theatre story of "Frankenstein," the ibout the struggle between . creation, will be depicted USC's Drayton Hall audin Sept. 19 to 28. Curtain p.m. Tuesday through Sat} p.m. on Sundays. Tickets e at the Longstreet Box Ofit $10 for the general pubSC faculty/staff and $6 for mm ell House Theater *k ^ l/Ami S ? Sfli ? i H M * a> 1 House Theater , ?it!