<p>I have been reading about the ARTs Awards-does anybody have any experience with this program-it looked pretty good-just $25 to send in the tape and the trip to Miami is all expenses paid....</p>
<p>Yes, we do. I am posting in order to help someone else because it is time to pay it back. You see, the way I even heard of NFAA ARTS AWARDS was from parents on THIS forum! Otherwise, I would have had no idea. </p>
<p>My daughter participated this year. Yes, she sent in a tape this past fall for Musical Theater and she won a Merit Award. She had wanted to enter some other categories but it was too hard to get together even more material when she was also preparing for college auditions, doing college visits, in a show far from home, etc. etc. So, she entered for just this category. It was not much extra work because she used one song and one monologue that she was going to prepare for college auditions anyway and she just had to get those two things ready sooner than she may have done otherwise (which was a good thing because she still prepared three more songs and three more monologues total for all the college auditions that came soon afterwards). While she did not go to Miami or any of that (very few get to that level), it did not matter because it was a nice national level recognition which was helpful in some ways. When you sit in your own little corner of the world (in our case, rural Vermont), sometimes it is hard to know just how "competitive" you are amongst the broader number of kids in the country who will be auditioning for the college programs and such. I would say the only thing we had to go by before that was winning state awards, plus doing summer programs away from home where talented kids from all over the country attended. So, it is good to get "out there" and flex your audition muscles nationally. You have nothing to lose. As well, I believe the list of award winners (finalists, honorable mentions and merit ones) gets sent to the college programs in the respective fields. While much of getting into the colleges are your actual audition, it can't hurt to have a resume include any awards at this level. So, my feeling is, GO for it! </p>
<p>TheaterMom's daughter, a freshman at UMich in MT, won Honorable Mention the previous year in Vocal Performance. I think she may have even been the one to suggest it to me on this forum. My turn now to pass it on!</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Hi all,
Here is the page that shows this year's winners with their headshots, and the various disciplines. There are some huge financial awards here, it looks like a great program.</p>
<p>If anyone wants info email me a PM. My son was a Level One winner, (attended ARTS WEEK in Florida) and a Presidential Scholar in the arts in 2003.</p>
<p>Yes, I am so sorry to have left out WCT who was also instrumental in informing me about NFAA. Her son had a phenomenal outcome with this process. </p>
<p>PS...to anyone I owe email too, please be aware that I have read all your lovely notes and I am very very very backlogged from the past three week given my child's accident and recovery process. I have posted here before doing all the emails as I can reach more folks that way but I will get back to you all and thank you all so very much.</p>
<p>I looked at the artsawards website since I will be a senior next year who is elligable to qualify. Can someone explain the "levels?" I realize that you make more if you are in a higher level, but who chooses which level you are in?</p>
<p>Thanks so much! :-D</p>
<p>Soozievt- Is your PM Box still full? </p>
<p>Dani</p>
<p>Dani, yes it is, forgive me. It would be easier for me if you (or anyone) just emailed me to my regular email so it is all in one place. That is SoozieVT which is at aol.com. Please be aware that I am SO backlogged on email at the moment due to being away from writing emails for four weeks (one wk. in Idaho and ten days in the hospital and ten days caring for my child in bed) and that due to her ordeal, I have received TONS of email from friends and from internet friends as well. I am not nearly out from under. I have resumed some posting here when there are lulls at home (ie., like right now when boyfriend is over and hubby drove older one back to Brown today and is gone) partly cause I can reach more people in a post than each e mail. Also, given that I have shared each one's experiences here all year on the college process and the climax is now, I can't keep from wanting to read about everyone's news. </p>
<p>I will be trying to get to the emails as soon as I can go through the list. I am obviously home a lot but we also have to return to doctors tomorrow which is out of town for me. So, send it along and I will get back to you soon, I hope. The phone keeps ringing a LOT and we are ever so grateful for the outpouring of love and care during this terrible experience. </p>
<p>By the way your mutual friend of my D's, has called lots ;-).<br>
Susan</p>
<p>My son was a Level II winner this year for MT and it was an incredible experience for him. I'd be happy to share info with anyone who might be interested.</p>
<p>BroadwayWannabe-</p>
<p>NFAA Finalists find out their placement after the week of workshops/performing in Florida. A letter is sent to your home with all the info. If you are nominated for Presidential Scholar you will get a letter about that too. If that happens there is a lot of essays/paperwork for you to fill out as well as your school having to do the same, (a definate team effort).</p>
<p>Placement and recomendation for Presidential Scholars is done by the team of judges who are with you all week in Florida.</p>
<p>You are judged against a standard, not against your peers. That is the best thing about it. There is no sense of competition. Everyone is very supportive of each other. </p>
<p>I can not tell you how amazing this program is! It was a life changeing event for my son.</p>
<p>My D was awarded the Honorable Mention in Voice/Soprano for 2005. I also found out about this opportunity through this site. Thanks to all who mentioned it. I've passed on info to many others, as well.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the information about ARTS. Is it just money given? It sounds like a great program. Do they take quite a few students to the week in Miami? </p>
<p>Thanks- Amy</p>
<p>amy oconnell-</p>
<p>When you have a chance go to the NFAA site and have a look around.
<a href="http://www.artsalumni.net/awardee05/ByState/%5B/url%5D">http://www.artsalumni.net/awardee05/ByState/</a></p>
<p>You can see how many kids go to Florida. The names and pictures of the kids who go are on the site. There are usually 20 that go for theater, which includes spoken only, (acting) and musical theater. There are many other categories including voice, dance, etc. Actually there are 9 categories in all.</p>
<p>It isn't just the money. The training you get and the connections you make that week is priceless. Once my son got home he got calls from colleges he had not thought of applying to calling him, (recruiting) and asking him to audition. Of the three programs that called him, that he had not thought of applying prior to Arts Week, 2 of those programs accepted him, (Cal Arts and University of Minnesota Guthrie Theater Program) and one waitlisted him (Rutgers). This happened because they saw him perform as well as watched his work ethic and abilities during the week of workshops and performances. So this opportunity opened a lot of doors.</p>
<p>You can watch several performances of last years' Presidential Scholars in the Arts on the web site. You can also order VHS copies of the Arts Week performances for 2003 and 2004.</p>
<p>The benefits of being an ARTS awardee continue beyond the initial competition. My D received an Honorable Mention for spoken and musical theatre in 2002 and was eligible to apply for an internship with a prestigious professional theatre company the following year. That turned out to be the opportunity and experience of a life time. She was asked by the company to audition the next season and will be performing with them again this summer. So even if awarded one of the levels that doesn't provide "big bucks", the possibilities for future opportunities remain! By all means, go for it!</p>
<p>Wct--Can you provide the link to find the performances on the website? I can't find it. Also, are the VHS copies available from the website or do I need to call? I've called them with some questions, but they didn't call me back with answers as they said they would. Can you post info or email me? Thanks!</p>
<p>mtmommy-</p>
<p>Click on the 2004 Presidential Scholars link:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.artsalumni.net/awardee04/psa/%5B/url%5D">http://www.artsalumni.net/awardee04/psa/</a></p>
<p>Once there you can click on the students name and their bio will come up. At the bottom of the bio it will tell you to click on a web link to watch that particular student's performance at the Kennedy Center. There are two MT's and one Actor as well as other artists. I have watched the 3 performances by the MT singers and the actor. It takes awhile to download so be patient.</p>
<p>You can order videos online at this site for $20.00 each. They have video's from 2004/2005. The ones from previous years are no longer available I guess:</p>
<p>Wct--Thanks so much for that info.</p>
<p>I was just looking at the site and under eligability requirements it said you either had to be graduating or be 17 or 18 by December 1st. Does this mean that college freshmen can enter if they will still be 18 by that date? I didn't really find out about these awards until it was too late and it would be great if i till had a chance. Thanks</p>
<p>mtfan: Yes, you can participate if you will be 18 on Dec 1, even if you are a college freshman or even sophomore! Good luck!</p>
<p>Wow, thats good news! Are you allowed to enter in more than one category? I'd like to enter in Photography along with MT too.</p>