Thank you so much. Hope both of your sons will be greater.
Congratulations to all who have gotten their results from Juilliard disappointing or not. At least the waiting is done! Alas, we are still waiting for the UG Composition results, argh.
10/27, iluvpiano, UW Madison, Piano Performance, GR (MM)
12/15/14, Violet4s’S, Univ. of Mich, Jazz Piano, UG
11/26/14 Anon, Univ of Mich, VP, UG
12/8/14 Anon,FSU, VP, Graduate
12/8/14 Anon, Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt U, Classical Piano Perf, UG
12/8/14 bluemeringue’s S,Blair School of Music, Vanderbuilt U,Classical Piano Perf,UG
12/9/14 MusicSpeaks,DePauw,VP,UG
12/9/14 Anon,DePauw, VP, UG
12/10/14 Anon, Northwestern, VP, Graduate
12/10/14 Jhk1365,Univ of Mich, VP,UG
12/11/14 Jhk1365,CCM, VP,UG
12/11/14 flute123, Illinois, Flute Performance, GR,
12/11/14 Intune’s D, CCM VP UG
12/12/14 missflutist, Univ of Texas at Austin, Flute Performance, UG
12/13/14 mezzomiss,CCM,VP,UG
12/14/14 FriscoFred’s D, UNT,VP, UG
12/15/14 Tshiknn, Oberlin, Composition, UG
12/15/14 SongandDanceMoms’ S Univ of Mich, Composition, UG
12/15/14 Anon, University of Miami, undecided, GR
12/15/14 jeepers52’s D Univ of Michigan , clarinet UG
12//16/14 hmh3515’s D, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana Univ, VP, GR
12/17/14 obsessivecollege’s D, Boston University, VP, GR
12/17/14 Anon, Univ of Maryland, Opera Performance, GR
12/17/14 Anon, Univ of Mich, VP, GR
12/17/14 hmh3515’s D, Univ of Mich, VP, GR
12/17/14 obsessivecollege’s D, U of Michigan, VP, GR
12/17, iluvpiano, Indiana/Jacobs, Piano Performance, GR (MM)
12/18/14 hseck1, CCM, Piano Performance, UG
12/18/14 kayleighpearl, Thornton School of Music, USC, Trumpet Performance, UG
12/18/14 2015Lalo, Shepherd School of Music, Rice Univ, Cello Performance, UG
12/19/14 hmh3515’s D, Shepard School of Music, Rice Univ, VP, GR
12/19/14 Jhk1365, Manhattan School of Music, VP,UG
12/18/14 missflutist,Shepherd School of Music Rice Univ, Flute Performance, UG
12/18/14 W2BeHome’s D, UNT (Univ. of North Texas), VP, UG
12/18/14 plrsd888’s D, Shepherd School of Music, Rice Univ, Piano Perf, UG
12/19/14 Violet4’s S, Oberlin, Jazz Piano, UG
12/19/14 bluemeringue’s S, Oberlin, Classical Piano Performance, UG
12/19/14 Anon, SFCM, VP, GR
12/19/14 bluemeringue’s S, Thornton School of Music, USC, Piano Perf, UG
12/19/14 bigbro96’s S, Oberlin, Piano Performance,UG
12/19/14 dblebassmom’s S, USC Thornton School of Music ,VP, UG
12/19/14 dblebassmom’s S, UCLA Herb Albert, VP, UG
12/19/14 Littlezhi, USC Thornton School of Music, Classical saxophone,UG
12/19/14 Music Speaks, Oberlin, VP,UG
12/19/14, Anon, USC Thornton School of Music, Classical Flute Performance, UG
12/19/14 steamco D, Oblerlin ,VP, UG
12/19/14 steamco D, USC Thornton School of Music ,VP, UG
12/19/14 steamco D, UCLA Herb Albert, VP, UG
12/19/14, Electra13’S, USC Thornton, Popular Music, Guitar, UG
12/19/14 MplsMom’s S, USC Thornton, Jazz Bass,UG19
12/19/14 OperaAdri, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, VP, UG
12/19/14 kestral44’s S, USC Thornton, Popular Music Guitar, UG
12/19/14 MulpyBass’s S, MSM, Classical Bass Performance, UG
12/19/14 Intune’s D, Oberlin VP UG
12/19/14 souven’s S, USC Thornton jazz bass UG
12/20/14 Jhk1365, Oberlin, VP, UG
12/20/14 Anon, USC, Classical Piano Performance, UG
12/20/14 Anon, Univ of Houston, VP grad
12/20/14 hmh3515’s D, MSM, VP, GR
12/20/14 drummergirl’s S, Oberlin, Jazz Guitar, UG
12/20/14 FriscoFred’s D, Oberlin, VP, UG
12/20/14 FriscoFred’s D, SUNY Fredonia, VP,UG
12/20/14, UmmaBlue3’s D, Oberlin, VP, UG
12/21/14 SteinwayandD Oberlin, Piano Performance,UG
12/22/14 SongandDanceMoms’ S, Boston Conservatory, Composition, UG
12/22/14 drummergirl’s S, UMiami Frost, Jazz Guitar, UG
12/22/14 missflutist, Univ of Colorado Boulder, Flute Performance, UG
12/23/14 musicisbae, New England Conservatory, Flute Performance, UG
12/23/14 hsheck1, Curtis, Piano Performance, UG
12/23/14 drummergirl’s S, Eastman, Jazz Guitar, UG
12/23/14 plrsd888’s D, Curtis, Piano Perf, UG
12/23/14, Anon, NEC, Flute, UG
12/23/14 steamco’s D, New England Conservatory, VP, UG
12/23/14 bigbro96’s S ,Curtis, Piano Performance
12/23/14, UmmaBlue3’s D, NEC, VP, UG
12/26/14 flute123, Eastman, Flute Performance, GR
12/27/14 JAMusicBox’s D, Eastman, VP, UG
12/27/14, UmmaBlue3’s D, Eastman, VP, UG
12/27/14 Intune’s D, Eastman VP UG
12/29/14 mceejay’s S, CIM, Comp, UG
12/29/14 kestral44’s S, Frost Comp/Commercial Music & Production, Contemporary Guitar
12/29/14 FriscoFred’s D, Ithaca College, VP,UG
12/29/14 FriscoFred’s D, Mannes, VP, UG
12/30/14 Anon, Mannes, Vocal Performance, GR
12/30/14 mcejay’S, Mannes, Composition, UG,
12/30/14 OperaAdri, Mannes, VP, UG
12/30/14 bigbro96’s S, Mannes, Piano Performance, UG
12/30/14 steamco’s D, Mannes, VP, UG
12/30/14, UmmaBlue3’s D, Boston University, VP, UG
1/1/15 mezzomiss, CIM, VP, UG
1/2/15 iluvpiano, Northwestern/Bienen, Piano Performance, GR (MM)
1/4/15 Violet4’s S, NYU Jazz Piano UG
1/5/15 bigbro96’s S, Eastman, Piano Performance,UG
1/5/15 steamco’s D, Northwestern Bienen, VP, UG
1/5/15 2015Lalo’s S Northwestern Bienen, Cello, UG
1/5/15 Jhk1365, Northwestern Bienen VP UG
1/5/15 Intune’s D, Northwestern Bienen VP UG
1/5/15, UmmaBlue3’s D, Northwestern, VP, UG
1/5/15 missflutist, Northwestern Bienen, Flute Performance, UG
1/6/15 2015Lalo’s S, Eastman, Cello Performance, UG
1/6/15 souven’s S, NYU jazz bass UG
1/07/15 drummergirl’s S, NEC, Contemporary Improvisation, UG
1/7/15 Anon, CIM, Oboe Performance, GR
1/8/15 SteinwayandDs, NEC, Piano Performance, UG
1/8/15 Intune’s D, CMU, VP UG
1/8/15, BigBro96’s S, CMU, Piano Performance, UG
1/9/15, plrsd888’s D, Peabody, Piano Perf, UG
1/9/15 BigBro96’s S, Peabody, Piano Performance,UG
1/8/15, Anon D, CMU, Flute Performance, UG
1/9/15 Intune’s D, BU, VP UG
1/9/15 kayleighpearl, BU, Trumpet Performance, UG
1/11/15 paintbrush22, UGA -Hugh Hodgson School, VP GR
1/12/15 operacabra, NYU Steinhardt - Music Theatre GR
1/13/15 mezzomiss. Curtis. VP,UG
1/13, Irishmomof2’s D, Shenandoah Conservatory, Music Therapy, Voice
1/13/15 hmh3515’s D, Curtis, VP GR
1/13/15 heintzman’s D Yale, piano peformance,GR
1/14/15 bam7piano, Juilliard, Collaborative Piano GR
1/15/15 obsessivecollege’s D, Bard , VP. GR
1/15/15 mceejay’s S, NEC, Composition, UG
1/16/15, Anon D, Julliard, Flute Performance, UG
1/21/15, missflutist, CCM, Flute Performance, UG
1/21/15 mezzomiss,Juilliard, VP, UG
1/21/15 Holberg, Juilliard, VP,UG
1/21/15 hmh3515’s D, Juilliard, VP, GR
1/21/15 jhk1365. Juilliard, VP, UG,
1/21/2015 bigbro96’s S, Bard, Piano Performance, UG
1/21/15 Anon, Yale, Oboe Performance, GR
1/21/15 OperaAdri Juilliard VP UG
1/23/2015 lisnel23’s D, NEC, Jazz vocal, UG
1/26/2015 plrsd888’s D, Juilliard, Piano Perf, UG
1/26/2015 lisnel23’s D, UNT, Jazz vocal, UG
What do you think of a private teacher telling a student that they will not pass a pre screen because he didn’t want her disappointed when she gets the rejection??
I think more teachers should be that honest with their students, but that conversation should have been had before the prescreens were sent out.
1/26/2015 bam7piano, Juilliard, Piano Performance, GR
Seriously it’s like they want us to buy really expensive plane tickets…
ha or trying to prepare for the cost of tuition…
For everyone who didn’t get called back to Juilliard (and even those who did), the problem with Juilliard is that they only hear you, they don’t see you. They can’t see if it was a room with bad acoustics, or the feeling you really put into a song. As a VP major, the performance (acting, really) aspect is the second-most important part after singing. I know that Juilliard gets a zillion people auditioning so they can’t exactly sit there and watch a video, but honestly, it’s an extremely important part of one’s performance. I mean, at least with singing I know that’s the case. If you look at all the big opera singers you’ll see they can act incredibly well, and really that’s what differentiates someone with a good voice and someone with the ability to perform. Anyone feel the same? Someone in the instrumental field want to pitch in (I honestly don’t know much about the instruments and how this factors in so some feedback from an instrumentalist would be perfect right now).
anyone heard from the Juilliard jazz dept
I would think the main reason instrumental departments require video is to ensure that there are no splices (and that the prescreen is indeed being performed by the person who is applying. They require a single camera to rule out the possibility of jump cuts. The more honest applicants are forced to be in their screening materials, the better for everyone. As for acoustics being poor in the room, it’s not the conservatory’s look-out if the applicant chooses a poor room to record in. That’s going to be true for the rest of the applicant’s life; it’s something all musicians need to learn to deal with. In this very competitive business, you always need to put your best foot forward. No one will cut you slack for a disadvantaged acoustical situation. On the other hand, I have seen parents spend thousands on their kids’ prescreening videos and audios but it’s unclear to me that make a difference, either.
Bottom line: the VP department at Juilliard is not the “be all and end all” and should never be held up as such. NO school should because there are pluses and minuses to every program and, for instance, what is good for a grad or post grad may not serve the needs of a younger singer. Teachers who can polish an almost finished singer may not be able to work well with a singer who is still in need of developing good technique. There are too many variables at play.
Other factors not within the applicant’s control are the openings within a department. If they already have 25 light lyric sopranos, they may not want any more but will have spots for heavier voices or mezzos. Don’t try to second guess admissions departments- you have no idea what is going on and it will drive you to distraction!
Perhaps I missed it, but I didn’t see anyone here pining over the fact that they didn’t get through the VP prescreen at Juillard. Singers need to be a hardy lot. They have to be because their instrument is intrinsic; criticism of it feels more personal. They audition for everything and they audition for years and years with varying rates of success. If they start to let it get to them they have to take a step back and regroup and decide where corrections need to be made, if those corrections will have a positive impact or whether they are at the point in their career where it is time to reevaluate their goals. You just have to do the best you can at all times and handle what you’re dealt because it’s out of your hands once you’ve sung or played that last note.
I am totally in agreement with Mezzo’s Mama and glasshrmonica’s comments. It is never ever a good idea to comment on how auditions/prescreenings are done at any school. Each and every school is different in so many ways. The schools look at the total package and the needs of the departments at the present time. Whether going into college as an undergrad, or going on for your masters there is so much to be learned with the auditioning process. It is going to be an ongoing thing for your entire future.
10/27, iluvpiano, UW Madison, Piano Performance, GR (MM)
12/15/14, Violet4s’S, Univ. of Mich, Jazz Piano, UG
11/26/14 Anon, Univ of Mich, VP, UG
12/8/14 Anon,FSU, VP, Graduate
12/8/14 Anon, Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt U, Classical Piano Perf, UG
12/8/14 bluemeringue’s S,Blair School of Music, Vanderbuilt U,Classical Piano Perf,UG
12/9/14 MusicSpeaks,DePauw,VP,UG
12/9/14 Anon,DePauw, VP, UG
12/10/14 Anon, Northwestern, VP, Graduate
12/10/14 Jhk1365,Univ of Mich, VP,UG
12/11/14 Jhk1365,CCM, VP,UG
12/11/14 flute123, Illinois, Flute Performance, GR,
12/11/14 Intune’s D, CCM VP UG
12/12/14 missflutist, Univ of Texas at Austin, Flute Performance, UG
12/13/14 mezzomiss,CCM,VP,UG
12/14/14 FriscoFred’s D, UNT,VP, UG
12/15/14 Tshiknn, Oberlin, Composition, UG
12/15/14 SongandDanceMoms’ S Univ of Mich, Composition, UG
12/15/14 Anon, University of Miami, undecided, GR
12/15/14 jeepers52’s D Univ of Michigan , clarinet UG
12//16/14 hmh3515’s D, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana Univ, VP, GR
12/17/14 obsessivecollege’s D, Boston University, VP, GR
12/17/14 Anon, Univ of Maryland, Opera Performance, GR
12/17/14 Anon, Univ of Mich, VP, GR
12/17/14 hmh3515’s D, Univ of Mich, VP, GR
12/17/14 obsessivecollege’s D, U of Michigan, VP, GR
12/17, iluvpiano, Indiana/Jacobs, Piano Performance, GR (MM)
12/18/14 hseck1, CCM, Piano Performance, UG
12/18/14 kayleighpearl, Thornton School of Music, USC, Trumpet Performance, UG
12/18/14 2015Lalo, Shepherd School of Music, Rice Univ, Cello Performance, UG
12/19/14 hmh3515’s D, Shepard School of Music, Rice Univ, VP, GR
12/19/14 Jhk1365, Manhattan School of Music, VP,UG
12/18/14 missflutist,Shepherd School of Music Rice Univ, Flute Performance, UG
12/18/14 W2BeHome’s D, UNT (Univ. of North Texas), VP, UG
12/18/14 plrsd888’s D, Shepherd School of Music, Rice Univ, Piano Perf, UG
12/19/14 Violet4’s S, Oberlin, Jazz Piano, UG
12/19/14 bluemeringue’s S, Oberlin, Classical Piano Performance, UG
12/19/14 Anon, SFCM, VP, GR
12/19/14 bluemeringue’s S, Thornton School of Music, USC, Piano Perf, UG
12/19/14 bigbro96’s S, Oberlin, Piano Performance,UG
12/19/14 dblebassmom’s S, USC Thornton School of Music ,VP, UG
12/19/14 dblebassmom’s S, UCLA Herb Albert, VP, UG
12/19/14 Littlezhi, USC Thornton School of Music, Classical saxophone,UG
12/19/14 Music Speaks, Oberlin, VP,UG
12/19/14, Anon, USC Thornton School of Music, Classical Flute Performance, UG
12/19/14 steamco D, Oblerlin ,VP, UG
12/19/14 steamco D, USC Thornton School of Music ,VP, UG
12/19/14 steamco D, UCLA Herb Albert, VP, UG
12/19/14, Electra13’S, USC Thornton, Popular Music, Guitar, UG
12/19/14 MplsMom’s S, USC Thornton, Jazz Bass,UG19
12/19/14 OperaAdri, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, VP, UG
12/19/14 kestral44’s S, USC Thornton, Popular Music Guitar, UG
12/19/14 MulpyBass’s S, MSM, Classical Bass Performance, UG
12/19/14 Intune’s D, Oberlin VP UG
12/19/14 souven’s S, USC Thornton jazz bass UG
12/20/14 Jhk1365, Oberlin, VP, UG
12/20/14 Anon, USC, Classical Piano Performance, UG
12/20/14 Anon, Univ of Houston, VP grad
12/20/14 hmh3515’s D, MSM, VP, GR
12/20/14 drummergirl’s S, Oberlin, Jazz Guitar, UG
12/20/14 FriscoFred’s D, Oberlin, VP, UG
12/20/14 FriscoFred’s D, SUNY Fredonia, VP,UG
12/20/14, UmmaBlue3’s D, Oberlin, VP, UG
12/21/14 SteinwayandD Oberlin, Piano Performance,UG
12/22/14 SongandDanceMoms’ S, Boston Conservatory, Composition, UG
12/22/14 drummergirl’s S, UMiami Frost, Jazz Guitar, UG
12/22/14 missflutist, Univ of Colorado Boulder, Flute Performance, UG
12/23/14 musicisbae, New England Conservatory, Flute Performance, UG
12/23/14 hsheck1, Curtis, Piano Performance, UG
12/23/14 drummergirl’s S, Eastman, Jazz Guitar, UG
12/23/14 plrsd888’s D, Curtis, Piano Perf, UG
12/23/14, Anon, NEC, Flute, UG
12/23/14 steamco’s D, New England Conservatory, VP, UG
12/23/14 bigbro96’s S ,Curtis, Piano Performance
12/23/14, UmmaBlue3’s D, NEC, VP, UG
12/26/14 flute123, Eastman, Flute Performance, GR
12/27/14 JAMusicBox’s D, Eastman, VP, UG
12/27/14, UmmaBlue3’s D, Eastman, VP, UG
12/27/14 Intune’s D, Eastman VP UG
12/29/14 mceejay’s S, CIM, Comp, UG
12/29/14 kestral44’s S, Frost Comp/Commercial Music & Production, Contemporary Guitar
12/29/14 FriscoFred’s D, Ithaca College, VP,UG
12/29/14 FriscoFred’s D, Mannes, VP, UG
12/30/14 Anon, Mannes, Vocal Performance, GR
12/30/14 mcejay’S, Mannes, Composition, UG,
12/30/14 OperaAdri, Mannes, VP, UG
12/30/14 bigbro96’s S, Mannes, Piano Performance, UG
12/30/14 steamco’s D, Mannes, VP, UG
12/30/14, UmmaBlue3’s D, Boston University, VP, UG
1/1/15 mezzomiss, CIM, VP, UG
1/2/15 iluvpiano, Northwestern/Bienen, Piano Performance, GR (MM)
1/4/15 Violet4’s S, NYU Jazz Piano UG
1/5/15 bigbro96’s S, Eastman, Piano Performance,UG
1/5/15 steamco’s D, Northwestern Bienen, VP, UG
1/5/15 2015Lalo’s S Northwestern Bienen, Cello, UG
1/5/15 Jhk1365, Northwestern Bienen VP UG
1/5/15 Intune’s D, Northwestern Bienen VP UG
1/5/15, UmmaBlue3’s D, Northwestern, VP, UG
1/5/15 missflutist, Northwestern Bienen, Flute Performance, UG
1/6/15 2015Lalo’s S, Eastman, Cello Performance, UG
1/6/15 souven’s S, NYU jazz bass UG
1/07/15 drummergirl’s S, NEC, Contemporary Improvisation, UG
1/7/15 Anon, CIM, Oboe Performance, GR
1/8/15 SteinwayandDs, NEC, Piano Performance, UG
1/8/15 Intune’s D, CMU, VP UG
1/8/15, BigBro96’s S, CMU, Piano Performance, UG
1/9/15, plrsd888’s D, Peabody, Piano Perf, UG
1/9/15 BigBro96’s S, Peabody, Piano Performance,UG
1/8/15, Anon D, CMU, Flute Performance, UG
1/9/15 Intune’s D, BU, VP UG
1/9/15 kayleighpearl, BU, Trumpet Performance, UG
1/11/15 paintbrush22, UGA -Hugh Hodgson School, VP GR
1/12/15 operacabra, NYU Steinhardt - Music Theatre GR
1/13/15 mezzomiss. Curtis. VP,UG
1/13, Irishmomof2’s D, Shenandoah Conservatory, Music Therapy, Voice
1/13/15 hmh3515’s D, Curtis, VP GR
1/13/15 heintzman’s D Yale, piano peformance,GR
1/14/15 bam7piano, Juilliard, Collaborative Piano GR
1/15/15 obsessivecollege’s D, Bard , VP. GR
1/15/15 mceejay’s S, NEC, Composition, UG
1/16/15, Anon D, Julliard, Flute Performance, UG
1/21/15, missflutist, CCM, Flute Performance, UG
1/21/15 mezzomiss,Juilliard, VP, UG
1/21/15 Holberg, Juilliard, VP,UG
1/21/15 hmh3515’s D, Juilliard, VP, GR
1/21/15 jhk1365. Juilliard, VP, UG,
1/21/2015 bigbro96’s S, Bard, Piano Performance, UG
1/21/15 Anon, Yale, Oboe Performance, GR
1/21/15 OperaAdri Juilliard VP UG
1/23/2015 lisnel23’s D, NEC, Jazz vocal, UG
1/26/2015 plrsd888’s D, Juilliard, Piano Perf, UG
1/26/2015 lisnel23’s D, UNT, Jazz vocal, UG
1/26/2015 bam7piano, Juilliard, Piano Performance, GR
@Jeeper52 I agree with mezzo mama- the kids need to have a realistic idea of their chances- but I am wondering when in the process the teacher told the student and how the student did during prescreens - assuming it was this year.
Slightly off topic but mezzo mama’s insightful comments made me remember a conversation I had with my daughter last semester about a brief flare up at her music school between instrumentalists and singers. I can’t remember how it started – something about practice room etiquette and a singer kicking an instrumentalist out of a practice room to warm up before her lesson (more meaningless and complicated idiosyncratic details of no particular interest) but it spawned a huge argument that made its way through the school – and it basically touched on some of the same points mezzo mama made in passing…the notion that singing is more personal expression and more difficult for singers somehow because their instrument is them…but now I realize it must be a thing singers think and accept as a given, this notion that singers have to be more resilient than instrumentalists because they’re exposing themselves personally in their performances and must endure rejection…two things instrumentalists never have to deal with, obviously. After all, it’s not at all personal for them; they just play the notes, you know, and criticism and rejection never happen. And in those rare instances when it does, it never feels personal. It’s not like they have to audition for years and years with varying rates of success! It’s just a straight and easy path upward. Yup, instrumentalists have it downright easy. Performances are never deeply personal (it’s not like they spend 7 hours a day in the practice room or anything, fighting with everything they’ve got to make vision into reality). And illness and injuries don’t impact performances, and weather doesn’t affect instruments, either. Yup, it’s downright cushy.
Ps. Internet being what it is, feel I have to clarify that the above is totally tongue in cheek, and I value mezzo moms posts enormously, including the one above…just found it amusing to see what I thought was something peculiar to my daughter’s school may actually have been getting at a more pervasive view…a glimpse into what singers secretly (and not so) think of instrumentalists.
Lol, Stringpop!
Uh oh, StringPop, I didn’t mean it quite like that, and as an instrumentalist myself, I’d certainly never disparage the countless hours that are put in practicing!
What I was trying to convey was that singers tend to take criticism of their “art” more personally because it’s “Their” voice, without the buffer of an instrument between them and the sound being produced. It’s “lift your soft palete”, or “relax your tongue”- the body is being manipulated internally to get that sound. They can’t buy a better instrument, the raw materials have to be there but they can only take one so far.
Singers also take a lot of ribbing from their instrumentalist peers, being called the “dumb bunnies” of conservatories because they are often far behind in music theory, solfege, etc when classes begin (and sometimes longer!). The average singer starting conservatory is like an elementary school string player- they start later and mature more slowly.
Eventually, things sort themselves out and they all learn to appreciate what they bring to the mix but it can be interesting to stand in a doorway in a practice room hallway and listen to some of the conversations!
Interesting discussion above. Very astute comment particularly Mezzo’s Mama. As the parent of a soprano who happens to be a violinist as well, I can tell you that singing is the more stressful with regard to auditions. Nobody has ever said that that a tall blond can’t play the Brahms violin concerto because you don’t look the part! Illness and injuries, subtle ones play a role for the singer.
Thanks, Stringpop. Illness and injuries certainly impact instrumentalists. They are playing insanely complicated pieces, and a single misplayed note can destroy an otherwise strong performance. I also believe they take the rejections just as personally. They are playing their own interpretations of pieces, which are very real and visceral personal expressions of the music. Of course, they take it personally.
I don’t believe Juilliard or Eastman would turn down a vocalist based on physical appearance. I think professional appearance impacts all candidates, to the extent it impacts any.
Oh good grief. Do we really need to have a competition about who is under the most stress?