<p>Hey there,
So I decided to do this after all of my auditions were finished as I know it would have been helpful to me before I went into my auditions. I thought maybe we could start an Audition Reflection thread - the process of each audition day, how long it took to hear back, what the people were like, some friendly advice, that kind of thing. That way, someone could search Juilliard, for instance, and all the posts where people had auditioned at Juilliard would come up. Anyway, here goes:</p>
<p>I auditioned for vocal performance at the following schools:</p>
<p>Illinois Wesleyan:
Short flight into Chicago and then 3 hr drive from there to Bloomington, IL.
The campus is beautiful. It was an open house day, so we got to learn all about the school and then learned all about the music school. I was taken into someone's office where I could warm up and then surprisingly, my audition was in there. I had not expected auditions to be held in offices. But, there was a piano in there and after I was done warming up, my accompanist came into the room and played through the pieces I was singing. Then, all of the judges (around 5 I think) came into the room. It was very close and personal which I thought was good. After two selections, they had me do sight-reading and then they asked a lot of questions. The voice faculty was very very nice and warm and friendly. I auditioned in October and found out by the end of December. </p>
<p>Duquesne (Mary Pappert):
6 hour drive to Pittsburgh in the snow, but it's a really beautiful city. I auditioned in November, so not a lot of people were there. There was an info meeting at the beginning and then you receive your schedule - you need to take a piano placement test (if you play piano, make sure you have a song memorized that you can play) a music theory written test and an audition. Before the audition, you get 10 minutes with your accompanist. I believe you have to bring a check for your accompanist. Then, we go into the audition room in front of three judges (who are sitting on couches) and you sing your songs. They audio record it so that they can re-listen for scholarships in March. Then there is some sight-reading and you are on your way. It was a very stress-free day - food was there while you were waiting and there were lots of students to talk to about what the program was like because they do most auditions on Fridays. I auditioned in November and had word by the close of December. Scholarships come in around the end of March.</p>
<p>University of Hartford (Hartt):
I auditioned Quick Response for this one. What this means is that if you send in a Quick Response application before November 1st, you can audition on December 1st and know by the end of December. The audition day was great. There were a lot of people, so get there on time if you want to get out of there early. You have to do an audition and a music theory test during that day. The people are very friendly. You get on a line and sign up for an audition and a test (the earlier you get there, the earlier time you get). There is plenty of food and water and Q&A sessions for parents while auditions are going on. Then, you get taken up to a floor for warm-ups and they assign you a room to warm-up in. I had problems as my audition room wasn't open, but they opened it eventually and I had about 15 minutes to warm up. But, normally you have 30. For voice, you have your audition in front of maybe 5 or 6 people. It's a big room with a stage - you give your music to your accompanist once you get in there, go over tempos for about 10 seconds and then you are off. You choose first piece, they choose the second. Once you are done, you have an interview with the head of the music school who asks you questions about your high school career in music and your possible music future. Then, you do a bit of sight-reading and if you have taken piano, you play something for him. Then, you take your music theory test/music comprehension test which is quite simple if you have ever taken music before. That's about it, and then you are home free. By January, you'll know about admission. Apparently, it is possible for them to defer you the way they do with early decision, but you don't have to do any extra work, they just put you back into the pile with all the other applicants and you'll know when they know by April 1st. </p>
<p>Syracuse:
You arrive and they already have a schedule for your audition, ranging anywhere from 11 to 4 pm. It goes in alphabetical order, so be prepared to be there when everyone else has gone home if you are at the end of the alphabet. There is food while you wait and a small information session in their beautiful performance space. Everyone is very friendly. There is also department meetings which are very very informative as well. You have to take a music theory test which is simple if you have taken theory before - be sure to brush up on it though. Then, a student takes you to a warm-up room and comes and gets you when its time to go to your audition. And then, you audition in front of three people. They have 6 people auditioning to make it go faster for voice, so you are in front of one of two groups of three people. You meet your accompanist outside, who is usually a senior student there. You go over rhythms and such and then you go in. You sing two songs and then you do some sight-reading. They also ask you some questions and such, but very brief. They work on rhythms with you as well as harmony/different types of chords. When you are finished, you are free to go and you find out by April 1st.</p>
<p>Northwestern:
I did a regional audition for Northwestern so I can't speak for the actual audition experience there. But, it was done in NYC at a studio in Midtown. You need to bring a form that they will have e-mailed to you asking you a couple questions about your music background and your academic background. The guy downstairs tells you what floor and when you get up there, there is a list of who is going when. It's really helpful because you can see if you are before or after a lot of people who play your instrument and how many other people are there today. You have to bring your own accompanist but you get a rehearsal room for 30 minutes before your audition, so you can use some of that to practice with them. You go in and you audition in front of a camera when they are ready, announcing yourself and such and then they ask you a couple of questions. You choose your first song, they choose your second and then you are done. It's very simple and very consise. They let you know by April 1st - usually ON April 1st. But, be sure to watch the website because it will say your acceptance status once they have SENT the letter - even if you haven't gotten it yet.</p>
<p>New York University (Steinhardt):
Nice experience - I live in NYC so it was easy. Sent in pre-screening in December and found out 3 days later by e-mail so that you can schedule an audition time. They give you all the info on the address and floor and directions in a couple e-mails before your audition. You fill out a basic form - make sure you have your resume, headshot and repertoire list with you - and then they call you in when they are ready. It's a small room with a stage and a piano and maybe 4 judges. You choose your first song, they choose the next. They ask you a couple of questions and then have you do some sight-reading along with some pitch matching. The people are very neutral, it's very nice. But, once you are done, you can leave. It's really simple. They usually send word by April 1st, sometimes a bit before. </p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon University:
This audition was very nice. It was a full audition day, so there was a lot of food to eat while you waited, and lots of students floating around to answer questions. There was also a Q&A with the head of the admissions department which was very helpful and usually a music performance every audition weekend. The audition is in this wonderful room with great acoustics. You wait outside and have a little chat with your accompanist (remember to send your music before the audition) who will have already gone over the music and then you go in and audition - you choose first, they choose second. There are three auditioners and they ask you a couple questions about your music background and music future and then you leave. You have to take a sightreading placement test afterwards but that is individual and takes about 5 minutes or less. The university lets students know if they have been selected for the music school by the end of March - this year they were late because they "didn't make it a priority" but they usually are on time. Then, the university has to accept you, and that comes by April 1st.</p>
<p>I also sent in a CD as my audition for Indiana (Jacobs) instead of sending in a pre-screening and then auditioning. Once the first set of auditions happened (beginning of January) I heard back two weeks later. Very prompt and very happy as I heard it's harder to get in on a CD than in person.</p>
<p>That's all.
Hope to keep this thread alive, as I know I would have really really found it useful before I went out there.
Stacey</p>