I don’t think there’s a competition, in this regard. All these young musicians are under immense stress. Impossible to compare.
I think this emotionally charged debate proves that the parents of any type of serious musician are also under a lot of stress.
Lalo, right you are. All of our kids have worked so incredibly hard to get to this point – and it all comes down to a few recordings and, if they’re lucky, a 15- to 20-minute performance. We’re all under intense pressure.
Don’t forget all the money the parent’s have spent to assure their child’s success in their preferred career, a career that altogether isn’t a certain career, for example a doctor. So of course, that also puts an added pressure on the parent. So shoutout to all the parents because wow.
I don’t think that we’re having a “competition” glassharmonica! I shudder to think what the prize would be!
May I ask a question of the instrumentalists and/or their parents, please? Do those kids have to submit a picture or head shot with their applications for schools? VP applicants are usually required to do so, which gives rise to the supposition that schools may be “typing out” candidates by looks. That’s routine practice for higher level programs and YAPS.
Have we not heard from any string players this season? What’s up with that?
With the exception of NEC, they submit video recordings, so they definitely know what they look like. Some also require photos (can’t recall which off-hand). That is deeply troubling that they require vocalists to submit photos. Physical appearance should be entirely irrelevant.
Omg. Wow. It’s like my daughter’s school all over again but with adults! It’s a discussion frankly that is about as worthless as violinists and pianists arguing about which instrument is harder (and, no, I’m not proposing it as another discussion topic). Whatever you use to make music, stress level is an individual thing. For singers, their voice is them; for violinists, the violin is an extremely personal extension of themselves – and it doesn’t feel like a buffer. If it does, you’re not doing it right. Performing music at a high level is about being vulnerable and exposed – and it has nothing to do with the instrument (including the voice). It’s highly personal and stressful, criticism feels personal, and it’s just plain silly to claim that it’s more personal, more stressful and more difficult for your particular instrument. It’s needlessly divisive, wrong, and serves no purpose. Singers aren’t ever going to convince instrumentalists that they’re right, and I was going to say vice versa, but I’ve never heard instrumentalists making the argument.
Lol, Mezzo’sMama. I will try to think of a suitable prize for this reluctant competition. One night in Philadelphia? Three in Cleveland? [That’s a lame W.C. Fields reference.]
Anyway, the sad fact is that for theater types (including opera, MT, and actors), in the end you often get cast according to many physical attributes including looks. (Turn on the TV and you will see plenty of attractive, terrible actors.)
I doubt classical VP programs take looks into consideration at the undergrad level, but even if they do, it’s a just another variable that you have to deal with. (One of my kids is an acting major and “type” (i.e., what you look like) is considered by adjudicators because they are basically casting a company. If a girl is not not 5’7", thin, and a blue-eyed blonde, she will likely bump up against discrimination based on her looks. You just need to glance over the senior showcase photos of any big acting program to see what I mean. (I remember grousing that acting programs were the last place on earth where this kind of discrimination was carried on in the open by academic institutions.)
Anyway, forgive the digression. It’s stressful, but you need to have a high resistance to stress in order to survive in this business.
Can’t believe it!! 1/28/2015 jackfrerer, Juilliard, Composition, UG
Congrats, jackfrerer, I was wondering if we’d have any more notifications this week!
I’m feeling a little like Ferris Bueller’s economics teacher, “String players? String players?” “Anyone?”. We usually have so many yet this year, nary a violinist or violist has made an appearance. 'Tis a puzzlement…
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
1/28/2015 jackfrerer, Juilliard, Composition, UG
Congrats Jack, listened to your music, you deserved it. My son on the other hand, got a NO. Oh well, 5 conservatory interviews and 2 college ones, like everyone says, all it takes is to get in the right one!
waiting result from Julliard still. -_-
I sit here on the sidelines, hoping that twelve months from now I will be even half as under control as most of you seem to be . . . .
I’m already a wreck and we’re just working on visits!
What does your son or daughter play/sing?
@StringPop- In my experience, any hardworking teen- whether they are a vocalist, musician, or elite athlete feels that they are working just as hard if not harder than the next guy. Hopefully they will all hone their empathy skills as they mature.
I totally agree, Oscar. I think all of our wonderful, talented kids are working just as hard as they can. And judging by my son, I think they actually appreciate and respect how hard their peers are working as well – across areas of focus. We parents could probably learn a thing or two from our kids.
Oberlin asks for a photo of the musician with instrument. My son brought his guitar to his senior photo shoot
Thanks @bluemeringue 
I think that there are ug programs that will type cast singers. Last year at the parent meeting for suny purchase, Jacque very clearly stated that one of the reasons why a vocal performer may not be selected is because they are too large, he called it “the reality of the business”. He stated that part of it was believe-ability in portraying a role and part was in regards to costuming. Seems silly but good costumes can be a huge expense. A lot of universities perform the same shows year after year and reuse the same costumes.
Now I realize that this is probably a tie breaker and not a primary graded category, but when small numbers are selected and the “variance” in any type of performer has many subjective qualities it could factor.
Of course this doesn’t apply to a really good tenor. They have it the easiest of everyone and get all the scholarship money and no one would care if they had to sing seated (sometimes it’s fun to stir the pot…but seriously I’m just kidding about the tenors!)
Sorry to say, and I don’t mean to snap, but if anyone thinks physicality isnt a HUGE part of being a vocalist- you’re just wrong.