Hi, Laura! I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to come to my school, HSPVA, and sing for us! I spoke to you that day- I played the flashback of Gilda in HGO's Rigoletto! It was an inspiration for all of us as young singers and wonderful to see you again! I know you are very busy, but if you have time, keep in touch! (great website!)

Thanks for a GREAT site with lots of COMMON SENSE ADVICE! Thanks for putting the time & effort in to help get us "newies" informed! Also looked at your repertoire list. Opera repertoire missing MOZART - all the roles/operas there but RIEN composer... Good luck with future engagements. Hope to be able to hear you in London sometime.
Sincerely
Erica Malaprade (néé Eloff)

Great performance in La Monnaie on 6 March.

Loved your Rossignol in Cleveland last week. E-mailed Speight Jenkins in the hope he'll book you in Seattle in the coming years.

Heard you sing with MTT last night. You were wonderful. You made it look so east and I know it isn't. I will try to hear you at future concerts.

Dear Laura,

I'm a real opera fan and just came across your web site. You certainly have a wonderful vocal gift and I wish you much further success.

Alex.

Dear Ms. Claycomb - I heard you last night in Pittsburgh singing Gilda. You were exquisite - I have heard many Gildas and I, myself briefly toyed with the role (you guessed it - another soprano)myself - but your singing of Caro Nome was really the best I have ever heard - my other favorite is Caballe (which I had on an LP). Your entire interpretation of the role was wonderful, and the integration of your low and lowest parts of your voice was fabulous. Brava 1000x1000! Hope Pittsburgh made you feel like a queen!

Rowna Sutin (I am the cantorial soloist at the largest Reform Synagogue here)

Love your site, love your dog, love your voice and love your honesty.
Hope to meet you someda

Just finished reading through your young artists corner. Thank you for putting it together. It contains so much valuable information and has given me a lot to think about. The world of opera needs more beautiful souls like you! I hope you receive everything you richly deserve.

Actually, you were referred by your lovely recording of the Mahler 4th with MTT. Heard it on the radio, looked you up, and found your Young Artists Corner!

Thank you so much for putting this resource out on the web. I know how much time and trouble goes into making a webpage, and you have given so much information and advice! With your own career going along as it is, it's very generous to share ideas and insights.

I'm a not so young singer (returning to school and grad school at 33!) but I have really enjoyed the reading and found it helpful and relevant. Best wishes!

Dear Ms. Claycomb:

Hello. My name is Hugo Alvarez, I'm 17 and I live in A Coruña (Galicia) in Spain. I have listened to you yesterday at Santaigo and you were SUPERB!!!!! The 'Brentano Lieder' were magnific!!!!!! as well as the belcanto songs. Congratulations!
Just one question. I enjoyed so much the first encore, 'La farfalletta', but I can't find a recording. Do you have a mp3 of you singing it and can put it on the web?
Thanks in advance
Best wishes!
Hugo (A Coruña)

Dear Ms. Claycomb,

Thank you wholeheartedly for the invaluable information on the Young Artists' Corner section of your website! I have read every section of it (from Goals to Competitions) and wanted to make sure you knew that it isn't going unappreciated. I am seriously considering a career in opera but have not yet taken the first step of enrolling in a university-level music program. So far I've only been meeting and practicing regularly with vocal coaches, but your website is truly indispensable, even for the very beginner like me. Thank you.

Kind regards,
Alon Eshet

Dear Laura,

I am so greatful for all your effort. I never thought I would see such honesty and generousity in this field. Thank you for all your advice and I wish you all the best. I am stuck in a very annoying state right now: finished studying and trying to figure it out how to break into the professional market. It seems there are so many more opportunities in the US...

lots of love

Maria

Laura, I am writing to you from my school address. I wanted you to know that I am so excited about your site that I am making it required reading for my master's students at CCM. Please let me know if you have any specific notes that you would like them to see or any interesting feedback that you may have for them.

Hope you are doing well. I still think of the Rig in Pittsburgh. What a great time had by all! SB

Dear Laura ,

I'd like to thank you for an AMAZING performance which took place on Monday 27th in Chaykovskii Hall in Moscow, that was an absolutly briliant show, the celection of recitals was very original and impressive and of course I cant help to say that you sing in russian absolutly without accent!!! And yr voice Ohh... its just NO COMMENTS ... I mean its one of the best voices in the world, but you have probably heard it already.

just THANKS A LOT , I really enjoyed the evening

Oleg

p.s. and I love that brown dress :))) congratulations to yr stylist !!! You were a real queen of the night!

Dear Laura CLAYCOMB,

I wish we could have worked together. I have been working as an co-ordinator of Leyla Gencer Voice Competition since this January in Ýstanbul Foundation for Culture & Arts. While I was surfing on operastars.com I visited your website and saw your Competition page which is wonderfull for young singers. And if you could kindly add our competition in your page I will be so glad.

God blessed you Laura.

with my best wishes

IV. LEYLA GENCER VOICE COMPETITION
------------------ --------------------------------------------
Tel: + 90 212 334 07 80
Fax: + 90 212 334 07 05
e-mail: hale.tasli@iksv.org

Hi, I'm a 23 year old lyric coloratura finishing my first year of conservatory studies. I wanted to thank you for your young artists section. What in invaluable resource for young singers. I have recently come to realize that there is no point in waiting around until I develop in to the next Anna Moffo (ha!) I am a fine first lady et al. now so why not audition! so thats what ive been doing..one day I may be Violetta and Gilda...today I am Susanna, Despina, Zerlina... Reading through the tough facts made me realize that this career isnt glamorous..but the world has enough singers..it needs artists..and I feel I am one and have something to share. Thank you so much for your inspiration and beautiful voice!

I am an aspiring lyric coloratura soprano studying at the University of Houston. I heard your 'Caro Nome' and was absolutely floored. My goal is to one day sing like you!

Dear Ms. Claycomb,

I have had the pleasure of hearing you sing live on two occasions - the first was your Giulietta in Paris and later in "Le Grand Macabre" at Châtelet.

I am also a soprano (a redhead, too!) and I found your Giulietta gorgeous and breathtakingly touching. I felt then that you were truly a singular artist with something very special to say. It was fun to watch you in the Ligeti piece and see how free you were onstage.
I really enjoyed watching you and hearing you on these two occasions. Truly outstanding!

So... fast forward... My husband, French tenor Franck Hagendorf, and I have been looking into creating a website. As we were looking at various singers' websites we checked into yours and found it to be the most engaging, best organized, most professional, visually delightful and just altogether a pleasant experience.

If it is not too personal a question to ask you, we were wondering if you would be willing to tell us who created your website since we would like to contact that person to see about helping us.

We would really appreciate your help and any particular suggestions you might have regarding setting up a website.

Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,
Rosalie Becker and Franck Hagendorf

I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading your site. Its really refreshing to have all this valuable info available to young singers. Thankyou.

Laura, I am so glad to see that you are doing so well. I knew I heard a star long ago when we sang together at Merola. You still look and sound gorgeous. I enjoyed your site and congrats on all your triumphs. If you see Patrick Summers soon say hi for me. Best of Luck, Eric Perkins

Still looking for a Gilda equal to the one you did in Pittsburgh last year. I've tried three times since, but yours is still the best. What has to happen to get you out to Seattle for a Lucia, Juliet or Gilda?

Thank you for your talent and for offering your advice and resources to young singers! As a lyric coloratura soprano myself, it's inspiring to read what you have to say. Best wishes!

Young Dramatic Soprano - Thanks for some Great tips - Googled 'Young Artist Programs' and found you. LUCKY!

Ms. Claycomb, I simply LOVE your site and I totally pimp it to everyone I know! Thank you so much for posting so many sound clips--after I heard your absolutely glorious Cleopatra in Houston (sort of by accident-I was just in town for a day and a friend called with an extra ticket! what an AMAZING production!) I looked in vain for more recordings to buy and was thrilled to find so many on your site. Love the pics, the dog, the rants, the young artist advice. You have been so generous to share so much of your singing, as well as your thoughts and opinions on this site. I appreciate all you have to say and you are absolutely spot on about everything from SUV's to sleeping around! I find your artistry and fearlessness incredibly inspiring I can't WAIT until I'm able to hear another live performance.

I am a soprano about to enter college, and I have been doing as much possible research on singing and music in general as possible. This young artist's page has proved to be invaluable to me. The information is fascinating and eye-opening. Thanks for all of the great advice!

Dearest Laura,
Whenever I feel the need for inspiration, I drop by your website. Talent, humor, intelligence, compassion, wit, political passion, panache, great advice, and Tullio the Wonder Dog, all in one great place. Your greatness of heart is a gift to the world, Laura. Thank you!
All my love,
Joanie

You are one of my favorite singers of today-- I saw you in recital in Austin a few years ago and you blew me away. As a young coloratura, there aren't many wonderful singer-actor coloraturas to look up to that have such varied repertoire and personality as well. Thank you for all of your wonderful advice to young singers as well! All the best!