In this episode, Ros interviews the tour de force Zach Finkelstein, of Middleclass Artist. You can order Zach's latest album here: https://www.zachfinkelstein.com/product-page/order-cd-dark-is-yonder-town and can read his publication at www.middleclassartist.com

Sponsor link: https://theoperadolls.com/?ref=z6xg6kfaroab All information recounted in this episode is either freely published on the pay-to-sing program's own website, is common knowledge, or is alleged to us from listeners' personal experiences. In this episode, Ros and Adele unpack the phenomenon of Pay-to-sing programs for young opera singers. They investigate the high-profile case of Chicago Summer Opera, and reveal details of several programs that have not delivered on promises paid for. The hosts reflect on whether pay-to-sings can ever be truly ethical, and whether if the system continues in this direction, the opera industry will slowly die. Please leave a 5 star review on apple podcasts, and you can subscribe to Fach my Life Pod on YouTube to listen to the show there, and get some exclusive content.

Sponsor link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SingPrettyDesigns

Sponsor link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SingPrettyDesigns In the Fach My Life Christmas Round-up, Ros and Adele talk the mythical rent-paying Messiah, Jonas Kaufmann's Christmas album, Strictly Come Dancing, rejection emails that come just in time to ruin your Christmas or New Year, and their plans to go full detective with season 2 in 2021.

Sponsor: follow @singprettydesigns on Instagram. Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SingPrettyDesigns .............. Ros & Adele discuss the glorious fun of costumes and dressing up as an opera singer... and the costumes that have revolted, disappointed and even physically injured them! Mentioned links for further reading: https://pastebin.com/Qmu2cP22?fbclid=IwAR0hxQo1JExpJ7kgEs9na4UIrPC9SmrYCKH6WwKo0Oh4WTrq-XymA0MBsmk and http://www.throwcase.com/2016/01/11/sally-mcnallys-tips-for-singers-what-to-wear-for-your-audition/

Shop with Ros & Adele at the Opera Dolls by this link: https://theoperadolls.com/?ref=z6xg6kfaroab and click for a FREE opera-themed activity book. In this episode, Ros and Adele interview Naomi Pohl, deputy General Secretary of the Musicians Union, about her work on the Safe Space campaign, and the MU's development of an app which will allow anyone working in the music industry to report inappropriate behaviour that they have either witnessed or personally been victim to. The girls discuss their own instances colleagues stepping in to defend them at rehearsal, and also of colleagues overriding bodily autonomy. Follow us on Instagram at @fachmylifepod or on twitter @fachpod

Sponsor link: https://theoperadolls.com/?ref=z6xg6kfaroab This episode, Ros and Adele discuss the constant stream of rejection as a female opera singer, how women are set up to be phased out of the industry, and gaslit by companies conflating their own need to choose one singer put of hundreds or even thousands with the concept of a 'standard' or 'level'. We truly hope that this episode will actually give a boost to the self-esteem of female singers, and we discuss the various psychological and physical consequences of a stream of rejection. We would particularly like to thank Zach Finkelstein, Dana Lynne Varga and Hillary Le Bonte for their excellent research on the subject of women's exclusion from opera. Article link: https://www.middleclassartist.com/post/excluded-penalized-indebted-harassed-a-study-of-systemic-discrimination-against-women-in-opera

We need to discuss this

Sponsor link: https://theoperadolls.com/?ref=z6xg6kfaroab join us for the second part of our interview with the wonderful Vick Bain, where she details her work with Attitude is Everything, and her consulting work with the Max Steiner orchestra. Ros and Adele question why ableism is accepted on the opera stage, and discuss listener stories and their own experiences of women losing out on bursaries to men who don't fully participate in programs.

Sponsor link: https://theoperadolls.com/?ref=z6xg6kfaroab This week, Ros and Adele are joined by the tour de force Vick Bain; the first part of their interview and subsequent episode discussion covers the F-List, gender pay gaps and parent's rights in the music industry. Tune in to hear about Vick's work with PIPA, her PHD on women in the music industry, and listen to the trio discuss why men make vertical progression in the music industry while so many women remain stuck at square one. As always, Ros & Adele love to hear from you on Instagram @fachmylifepod or on twitter @fachpod or you can send an email to [email protected] - do get in touch if you have questions for Vick and we will pass them onto her and get back to you! You can also follow Vick @vickbain on twitter!

Sponsor link - The Opera Dolls: https://theoperadolls.com/?ref=z6xg6kfaroab Follow the link for a FREE opera-themed activity book and to shop adorable dolls based on opera characters that SING when you squeeze them, and opera-themed colouring books! In this episode, Ros and Adele ponder WHY so many men in and outside of the operatic profession pass constant comment on the way that women look, why 'good looks' is automatically assumed to mean thin, and why anyone ever thought that 'models who can kinda sing' would get through the role of Turandot. Join the dynamic duo again for discussion about the operatic industry and the world at large, stories of the hosts and listeners that can be both funny and poignant, and recommended further research into issues mentioned. Instagram accounts that are recommended in this episode are @ourstreetsnow and @sparklejams - and you can follow @fachmylifepod on Instagram or email [email protected] to share your own stories, connect with our hosts or ask follow-up questions. Messages will be treated with the strictest confidence and your name will never be shared.