• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Caitlin Ruddy’s got a song in her soul

April 26, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Caitlin Ruddy cannot recall any stage in her life when music didn’t matter, and at this point, the 22-year-old said her entire world revolves around it.

The soprano, a Land O’ Lakes native, will soon be showcasing her talent at three upcoming spring concerts of the Tampa Bay Symphony, under the baton of Mark Sforzini, the symphony’s new music director.

Ruddy, a coloratura soprano, will be a featured performer because she was the symphony’s Young Artist Competition winner. She will sing una voce poco fa, an aria from The Barber of Seville by Rossini.

The University of Florida senior said she found out about the young artist competition when she was searching online for opportunities.

She said five artists were invited to do a live audition, and she was thrilled when she emerged as the winner.

“It wasn’t just vocalists,” Ruddy said. She noted, “Every one was really talented.”

She was surprised and delighted when she learned that she’d won. Her family and neighbors, who were there, were also excited, Ruddy said.

The piece she will be performing is difficult, Ruddy said, but she’s eager to take it on.

The character she’s portraying is feisty, Ruddy said, “So, I have fun with it.”

The young woman began singing when she was a girl and joined her first choir while in third grade at Denham Oaks Elementary.

She performed through her adolescence and teenage years at Pine View Middle, Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake high schools. She has also taken part in productions by Arts in Motion, a youth community theater group.

Ruddy has appeared in musical theater productions, but has focused primarily on opera since entering college. She’s performed in four operas at UF.

Ruddy said her mom has been an influence in her musical life because she also sings and has always been supportive. They’ve done duets at church and at her aunt’s wedding, she said.

Caitlin Ruddy performs at the American Traditions Competition in Savannah, Ga.

Ruddy appreciates singers who have expressive voices in any musical genre. Some singers she admires most include Ann Netrebko, Kathleen Battle, Audra McDonald and Julie Andrews.

Although she considers herself to be somewhat introverted, Ruddy doesn’t give that impression when she appears on stage.

“I really just love performing,” Ruddy said.

She strives to engage the audience, and her goal is to make them feel the emotion that her piece conveys: “It’s really important to make your audience feel something.”

To help her deliver a song effectively, Ruddy said she does her homework.

“It’s good to know the context of whatever piece I’m singing,” she said, explaining that helps her elicit the proper emotion.

She is typically singing in a foreign language, so Ruddy makes sure she knows the translations and the proper pronunciation of the words.

Ruddy also pays attention to the clues that the music presents, she said.

The vocal line can say one thing, while the musical line says another, she said: “It adds to the whole complexity of it. … It’s kind of like real life, where nothing is black and white. Everything has nuances.”

Ruddy has studied Italian, but is not fluent. She also has learned the rules of diction in French and German.

Ruddy, who plans to pursue her Master of Music at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., is the daughter of Gail and Bob Ruddy.

Besides singing, she also enjoys acting and dancing. Ruddy believes all of those skills will be useful as she pursues a performing career, which she hopes lasts many years.

“In opera, your voice keeps maturing as you get older.”

If you want to go:

The concerts are 4 p.m. April 28 at the Arts Auditorium on the Clearwater campus of St. Petersburg College, 2465 Drew St.; 8 p.m. April 30 at the Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N in St. Petersburg; and 4 p.m. May 5 at Ferguson Hall, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Place in Tampa.

The tickets at the door are $20 for adults, with free tickets available for students. Students 18 and older must show student identification.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

Avalon Applauds African American Club of Pasco

March 7, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

One of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s main missions is being a champion for culture. “Celebrating culture is a vital … [Read More...] about Avalon Applauds African American Club of Pasco

CMK Construction: Expertise Guaranteed

March 3, 2023 By Trevor Lloyd

When creativity strikes, it’s only natural to want to get the job done ourselves, and quickly, too. However, some … [Read More...] about CMK Construction: Expertise Guaranteed

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

03/21/2023 – Chess Club

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a Chess Club on March 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for all ages and abilities, in Adult Multipurpose Room C. Participants can use the chess sets provided or bring their own. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 03/21/2023 – Chess Club

03/21/2023 – Teen Advisory Board

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host the Teen Advisory Board on March 21 at 6 p.m., for teens who would like to discuss ideas and recommendations for programming at the library. Call 813-929-1214 for information. … [Read More...] about 03/21/2023 – Teen Advisory Board

03/22/2023 – Florida Landscaping

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host “Florida-Friendly Landscaping 101” on March 22 at 2 p.m. Participants can learn how to create a successful home landscape by following the nine Florida-Friendly program principles. Register online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 03/22/2023 – Florida Landscaping

03/23/2023 – Betmar Chorus

The Betmar Chorus will perform its annual Spring Concert on March 22 at 2 p.m., and on March 23 and March 24 at 7 p.m., at Betmar Acres, 37145 Lakewood Drive, Clubhouse 2, in Zephyrhills. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The choir will perform a variety of show tunes, hymns, spirituals and classics. Tickets will be available at the door for $5. For information, all 810-837-0520. … [Read More...] about 03/23/2023 – Betmar Chorus

03/23/2023 – Free Food Distribution

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Farm Share, Veteran’s Memorial Park, the Gentlemen’s Course, Samaritan Corporation of Pasco County Inc., and the Pasco County NAACP will team up for a free community food distribution on March 23 at Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road in Hudson. The food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis from 9 a.m., until the items run out. … [Read More...] about 03/23/2023 – Free Food Distribution

03/23/2023 – Paint with Puppies

B Creative Painting Studio, 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 103, in Wesley Chapel will host “Paint with Puppies” on March 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in support of the Mercy Full Project. Guests can get creative and cuddle with puppies. Only 50 spots available. An RSVP and $5 deposit is required online at tinyurl.com/PaintWithPuppy. Balance will be due at the event. The total cost of $50 includes a dog bowl, paint, glaze and fire of the bowl. … [Read More...] about 03/23/2023 – Paint with Puppies

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: