Hitting All the Right Notes

Coloratura soprano Virginia (Ginnie) Schaap has helped students discover the wonderful world of music, while doing what she loves.

Schaap was always blessed with singing ability, and much of her early experience was singing in church. But when she was 12 years old, people started to notice her voice. More than being able to warble a few notes, she had perfect pitch and was able to hit the high notes. Around this same age, she began taking voice lessons.

She sang mostly traditional church music and classical. She was never really attracted to pop music for singing. While in high school, Schaap began to sing in Italian. “I don’t speak Italian, but you learn the pronunciation,” she notes.

When attending the University of Pittsburgh, Schaap sang in many different languages with a special emphasis on Latin. Most operatic music is written in one of the romance languages of Italian, French and Spanish because the words sing much smoother than languages with sharp edges. Also, it’s used quite a bit in churches as well.

Schaap learned songs largely phonetically without understanding them. She was able to remember them by rote, with daily practice and repetition.

Besides pursuing a degree in vocal performance at Pitt, she majored in journalism. “I thought I would enjoy the music, but that journalism was going to pay the bills. I’ve never used the journalism degree.”

She instead found a way to make her love for music turn into a career that has not only supported her but brought her great joy.

It may have helped that Schaap was extremely realistic about her goals in music.

As it turns out, there is far more competition among sopranos than altos, simply because there are more of them. Even though she is a special kind of soprano (a coloratura), the ability to hit ultra-high notes is still not a guarantee of placement in a professional opera company.

Early in her quest to pursue a career in music, Schaap imagined doing solo work, singing in churches, weddings and funerals, and teaching music—all of which have come to pass.

She has sung professionally in churches since the age of 12 and continues to sing at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral downtown. She has retired from teaching music at K–12 schools, including serving as the musical director for 16 years. A multitalented musician, Schaap plays the flute, piccolo, clarinet and saxophone.

She played the flute in the marching band at Pitt and is an assistant band director at the university and a woodwind specialist.

Her husband, David, is a talented organist and the founder of Selah Publishing, a church music publisher specializing in newly written traditional church music for choir, hymnals and organ. He has also served on the Brentwood School Board for 20 years. Schaap works with her husband as well, helping with music editing.

She has held a variety of roles within the world of music and has helped thousands of students discover their own passion for music. Schaap’s advice to young people hoping for a music career is to be realistic and to work hard on their craft.

“Don’t think it’s just going to fall into your lap. Take whatever job comes your way. You never know who’s watching and it can lead to bigger things. The little jobs matter too. You can make a career of doing something you love.”