I am a conservatory-level musician with a professional-level repertoire who is currently a rising senior looking to get some advice. I have extremely competitive grades and take the most rigorous courseload in my decently large school. My entire high school career (and life) has been focused on my instrument, and I do not participate in other extracurriculars except for a working at a retail pharmacy, volunteering at a food pantry occasionally, and holding a staff position for a well-recognized computer forum online (don’t laugh!).
Most would expect me to have garnered all sorts of awards and positions by now, especially since I’ve playing my instrument since six, but my instrument is incredibly unusual and there are simply no competitions or awards for it out there. (I am not revealing what instrument I play, as that could easily leak out my identity, but it is historically very important, and you could probably guess it.) I am certain that I am the best player my age of my instrument in my whole state (and likely the whole country, although I hate praising myself). However, I have not received any recognition of my talent because a) nearly no one has one, b) very few people are interested in it, and c) it is incredibly hard and expensive to secure one for public performance. I’ve had a few masterclasses with some very “renowned” players of my instrument (they were quite impressed) and just an annual private recital at my former teacher’s home here or there. I was planning to have my first major, very public recital after getting a sponsor, but of course it got cancelled due to COVID-19. I know that people will say that I should have created my own opportunities, but I simply never had the basic resources, aka money. (My own instrument is not in great shape.)
All wealthy colleges SHOULD have one copy of my instrument, probably in disrepair though because no one plays it. I am not seeking to go to conservatory, but there are a small handful of decent schools with a nice music minor program in my instrument.
Should I even bother applying to top schools, or would it be a waste of my time? Seeking to major in applied maths. I will definitely convey my talent in my instrument in my essays, as well as submit recordings of my playing, but I am wondering if anyone would even be interested in admitting me with my not very impressive extracurriculars? I am certain my playing will impress everyone, including the nearly nonexistent faculty specializing in my instrument, I am really not fooling around. You might find this hard to believe, but I am a 100% certain. If I moved out of the US, I would certainly get more attention for my talent.
Sincerely,
emperorpenguin