"Angie, I know you like to sing," her father, a worker, told Angela Brown, "but you must have something to fall back on ." 

Brown took her father's advice. She got a degree in secretarial science before entering Oakwood College, in Huntsville, Alabama. However, her aim was to become a singer at religious meetings. So after graduation she headed for Indiana University to study with the famous soprano Virginia Zeani. 

Once, when Brown was troubled by self-doubt, Zeani said to her, "If you want to be the next Aretha Franklin, you need no more lessons," Brown remembers her saying. "But if you want to be the best Verdian soprano this world has ever seen, you must work." 

Work she did. Three times she competed in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions . Three times she failed to make the final round in New York. Then, in 1997 at age 33, the age limit for sopranos to audition, she gave it one more try. She signed up at the last minute and didn't even practice, thinking, "All they could do was to tell me no, and that didn't hurt my feelings anymore." She had the strength she needed to fall back on if she failed. 

She won. But making it in New York was just the beginning. It took her three more years to become an understudy at the Met. But waiting in the wings was fine with her. Finally, her time came. When the featured singer fell ill, Brown earned the chance to sing the lead role in Aida. And The New York Times described her performance as a great success. Angela Brown, who had prepared for 20 years, was an "overnight" successful singer at age 40.
Who got a degree?
Had someone suggested she do so?
Who?
What had she liked to do?
What school did she attend?
Did she go to work after graduating?
Where did she go?
Who did she study with while there?
What was she known for?
Did Brown also want to be a soprano?
What kind?
How many times did she audition?
How many times was she rejected?
Did she try again?
Could she keep trying every year for as long as she wished to?
Why not?
And how old was she?
So this would be her last chance?
Angela Brown
 She got a degree in secretarial science
yes
her father, a worker, told Angela Brown, "but you must have something to fall back on ." 
her father
her father, a worker, told Angela Brown, "but you must have something to fall back on ." 
sing
"Angie, I know you like to sing," 
Oakwood College
before entering Oakwood College
no
 So after graduation she headed for Indiana University to study with the famous soprano Virginia Zeani.
Indiana University
 she headed for Indiana University
Virginia Zeani.
she headed for Indiana University to study with the famous soprano Virginia Zeani. 
she was a famous soprano
 famous soprano Virginia Zeani. 
yes
But if you want to be the best Verdian soprano this world has ever seen, you must work
Verdian
But if you want to be the best Verdian soprano this world has ever seen, you must work
three
Three times she competed in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
three
Three times she failed to make the final round in New York.
yes
she gave it one more try
no
 the age limit for sopranos to audition
the age limit for sopranos was 33
Then, in 1997 at age 33, the age limit for sopranos to audition
33
Then, in 1997 at age 33
yes
 Then, in 1997 at age 33, the age limit for sopranos to audition, she gave it one more try.