Thanks Jim, yes I do think this thread would benefit from actual advice / cunning plan.

The piece you've posted gives a glimpse of what might be going on at those group meetings. It would be good to hear the sound clips. Without them I'm afraid I am still quite in the dark about the nature of the kind of constructive criticism that was being offered. I mean I have no idea at all about what they might be talking about.

Beyond this, the kind of working on singing that I would love to hear more about would be vocal exercises aimed at strengthening or retaining the voice. I am guessing this is not what is covered in the critics group session.