I have learned so much from reading these boards over the past few years, but posts with audition day schedules have been some of my favorites.
My d auditioned at OCU this weekend, so I’ll add that one soon.
OCU MT on campus. It was a full day.
Arrived on campus around 8:00 and checked in at the Wanda L Bass Music Center. Current students greeted us and directed the students through their appointments. The auditioners received a packet of info that listed their audition times - monologue was in one location (black box) and songs were in another room (theatre). It seemed like the appointments were about an hour and a half apart. We checked in early and there was a Q and A session with current students in one of the theatres (can’t remember the name). At 9:00, we were greeted by The Dean of the School of Music, Mark Parker and the Director of Opera and Musical Theatre, Dr. David Herendeen. It was great to hear from them and to see the passion they have for the arts and for their students.
At 10:00, the students went to the dance call and were finished by 10:45 or so. We were free to go until our d’s first appointment, so we grabbed lunch. The students sat outside the audition rooms and chatted with one another and with current students until they were called in for their appointments. Mine had her monologue first. In the room it was a casual fun vibe and the auditors tried to help the students relax a bit before doing their monologues. Then my d waited maybe an hour or hour and a half for her song audition. She enjoyed talking to the other current students and auditioners - so it didn’t seem too long. She went into the theatre and spoke with the pianist and was able to chose the song she wanted to sing first, then the auditors chose. They visited for a few minutes, then she was finished! All in all a good day!
Also, there were tours/booths all day for the parents and kids if they weren’t actively auditioning.
@mom2MTgal Ooooo, I like this thread! Thank you for posting! What great insight for others.
I love these threads! Mod- can this one get pinned?
We attended Baldwin Wallace auditions this past weekend. From the parent perspective it was very informative. Admissions presentation, Q and A with current students, lunch, optional tour or financial aid workshop, Q and A with current parents, and an opportunity to watch a master class. Very intensive AND impressive program.
From the student perspective–after the welcomes, the students went to their audition rooms where they pretty much stayed. They were given materials with their audition times (alphabetical). They did theory test, then monolgue and then songs (maybe an hour apart?) Students were told what two songs to sing as soon as the audition started. They ran ahead of schedule so finished earlier than their specific time (which I assume is why they kept all of the auditioning students together as times were a little in flux). Students did get to watch some of the master class and then headed to dance call (which also ran ahead of schedule). After the dance call they had a Q and A with the head of the program, Victoria Bussert (she also did a Q and A with parents).
The negative–while the students got fed, they never left the conservatory except for the dance call. So if you want to also “visit” BW, i’d stay an extra day or come in a day early. I wish we had at least wandered campus the day before–we didn’t because we figured that would be a part of the student day too. But kids make the best of it–and current MT students popped in and out of the rooms which was nice. Hope this helps for those visiting on future days!
Love reading these reports also. As audition season starts good luck to everyone! BAL
Was at Wright State with D this past weekend. Friday was Master Classes and included the dance audition. Check in was at 9:30, then the first class had 3 professors (one the director of the program, another acting and the third the music director) along with 10 of the MT junior class. They did a group warmup exercises and parents on the main stage and parents were allowed to observe (only about 4 of us did). About a half dozen were chosen to do a monologue or song they wanted to work on but weren’t using for auditions. Instructors gave feedback and had them re-do their pieces. Next was a walk to The Hangar for lunch (student cafeteria), followed by a return to the “D Lab” black box for Q&A about the program. Then students went to group dance class where they were also evaluated and parents were asked to come back around 4 pm. After dance, students had a voice/acting class. My D really enjoyed all of the classes. Finally, we came back at 8pm for the student production of Crazy For You. It was a huge production and very well done - best dancing I’ve seen in a student show and the performances were great overall.
Monologue/song auditions were Saturday morning starting at 10am. Again professors and students were in the D Lab early to answer questions. About 40 kids were there to audition - half from Ohio and half from out of state. They had the kids who in theory had the furthest to travel audition first and they were free to leave when they were done. My D went first, but we hung out for another hour plus visiting with current students and asking more questions.
It was very well organized and a great couple of days. My D really loved Wright State and they are definitely high on her list - just hope the love is reciprocated.
@MTJourney19 Thank you for the BW insight! We were lucky enough to be able to visit BW last year during spring break, so S got a feel for the campus then.
@afterp89 Thank you for the WSU audition info. S is hoping to get on the audition schedule for the tail end of auditions at WSU, (trying for same weekend as BW audition). I have a feeling this school is going to be moving up on S’s list once we visit there. (it got onto his list later than the others, otherwise we probably would’ve visited it).
Anyone have insight into the Dayton area? I don’t know anything about it…Thanks!
@lithpool Dayton is a typical small metro to me. Some flights into there, but it was more convenient and cheaper for us to fly into Cincy (an hour south). Columbus also about an hour away. Cleveland (BW) is a little more than 2 hours. Decent hotels in Beavercreek near campus. There are some historic sites for the Wright Brothers and the National Museum for the US Air Force with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base nearby. Eat chili (on spaghetti with tons of cheese on top) at Skyline and Graeter’s Ice Cream is one of the best I’ve had anywhere.
Belmont Univ -
Check in was early - 7:30am. The first meeting wasn’t until 9, so I’m assuming they were expecting people to be running late. They kept everyone (parents and students) together for an information session, and then they had the students broken up in audition groups. My daughter’s audition time was 10:20, and it was right on time. She went straight from there to a music theory and sight singing test. She said the music theory test was fine, but she struggled with the sight singing. They told her it didn’t hurt her audition and it was more of a check to see where she was at with it. She finished that and ran over to a general Q&A session just for students that included current students and the department leads. She loved what they had to say!
Once the meeting was over, she had a 1:00 (ish - I can’t remember) dance call. They were broken down by ability based on your resume. My D was in line 2, and she felt like she did fine. They asked if anyone wanted to demonstrate tap, and she quickly got off stage. Ha! After the dance call, we were done! All during the day they were offering campus tours, but the weather was terrible so we didn’t take them up on the offers.
We were able to go explore Nashville and really enjoy the rest of the day! Overall impression: Wow! Belmont is BEAUTIFUL! It is right next to Vanderbilt, and the whole area is super trendy and cute. It is a Christian school, but for us, that is a bonus.
@carriemc95 Thank you! Sounds like your D had a great day/experience!
Thanks to all - this is a super helpful thread!!
Son auditioned at Ohio Northern this past weekend. Check-in started at 9:30 and we were there well in advance of that so he had time to stretch a bit before the dance call which was first up at 10:00. He said that went well and appreciated the fact that they asked after the ballet/jazz segment if anyone was experienced in tap (which is his forte). So maybe a half-dozen of them got to also do another 10-15 minutes of tap. He was then one of the first called for monologue and song and said that went very well and the faculty was very friendly. They did a Q&A session with all parents at the close of auditions (around noon) and many of the questions were repeats of when we did a campus visit back in the summer. I was impressed with not only the current faculty but also the current students who talked about the program and what attracted them to it. The entire process took around 4 hours and was all very positive. And now we wait . . .
@Mark80 Thank you for sharing! Good luck to your S & keep us posted!
Aww the Ohio Northern people are SO nice. We had very positive interactions w/ them 2 audition seasons ago.