Clare is a Senior Sound and Broadcast Technician at the Royal Opera House, Muscat. Her blog will focus on resilience and adaptation as a woman in the sound industry including past and present challenges with working abroad.
A Sound Education
Should one pursue an education in audio?
There is no straight forward answer to this other than to say that you need to seriously consider the opportunities that you will be afforded. Would you have the same networking opportunities if you didn’t do the course? Will you receive a rich and rounded mentorship away from the ...
Summer Season
Unbelievably, I celebrated two years in Muscat last month! Time is flying by and our dark time in the Opera House over the summer is coming to an end. Working regular hours is some what of a novelty to those of us used to working in commercial theatre, so we are all keen to make ...
A SoundGirls Guide to the Middle East
A SoundGirls Guide to the Middle East
SoundGirls in Muscat – Workshop
SoundGirls workshops in Muscat. Two workshops were held at the Classical Music and Arts Institute in Qurum, kindly supported by manager Thanae Pachiyannaki. The first workshop was for 10-15-year-olds and the second for 16+. Due to the interest booking had to be closed earlier than expected and a waiting list for places was created.
Connections
No matter how remote you are feeling, there is always someone who will share your enthusiasm and passion. The support and encouragement we are able to offer each other is unmeasurable. So next time you feel alone, know you are not. If you look hard enough there is always someone to lean on
Challenges
The battles we overcome today will become part of a much larger picture. Once again, we are left in the wake of this concert feeling that the learning that we gathered in previous challenges produces greater knowledge and success moving forwards.
Without Reflection – We Go Blindly on Our Way
‘Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.’
Margaret J WheatleyMilitary Music
On 18th of November, Oman celebrates ‘National Day’. Every year Omanis celebrate with great pride the independence from the Portuguese in 1650.
Omani Women’s Day
In line with Omani Women’s Day a group of sound girls took the opportunity to attend the first SoundGirls.org meet up in the Middle East. We are a hugely diverse group (already) with attendees from as far afield as Cuba and Australia. All members are currently residing within the GCC and working in live music, ...
There’s More Than One Way to Peel an Orange
Of course our previous experiences will inform the way in which we approach new productions but it is important to bear in mind that there is always more than one way of mic’ing an orchestra, or a singer, or a drum kit! May we continue to be open to ideas and new ways of thinking.
A Teaching Guide to Monitors
With only a few weeks left until the beginning of the season, we are focusing on desk training. In particular, programming for monitor engineering. This article can be used as a tried and tested teaching aid for those new to monitors.
Living and Learning
Eid Al Fitir was announced last week, marking the end of Ramadan. The opera house is currently dark as we are out of season. This means that the strict rules of no music, no eating or drinking are more easily adhered to during this holy month.
Mind the Culture Gap
It is all too easy to forget the enormity of our jobs here during our hectic season. The careful balance between respecting the Omani culture and delivering iconic opera and ballet from around the world is a constant.