<p>My D is thinking of adding to her audition list and these two names keep coming up, but with warnings that they are very MT oriented. Any thoughts here on majoring on vocal performance at these schools - have the VP students been given stepchild status? I have read particularly tough criticizm about Shenandoah on boards frequented by opera singers because emphasis on opera performance seems to have been continually reduced there over the years. As an aside, she found the same criticizm of Hartt - that so much emphasis is being put on MT to the detriment of VP. Now there is concern that the growing MT program at Westminster will impact the classical program. Thoughts?</p>
<p>My d is attending Sheandoah for MT/opera. They put on an opera each year-a quite incredible opera, if I may say so!! Yes, MT is big there, but my d's vocal coach is incredible...and he is an opera singer. D's vocal background is classical, but she loves MT. I highly suggest you contact these schools and ask questions. Margie is in charge of conservatory admissions at Shenandoah, and she will answer any questions you may have honestly. Have you visited these schools? Also, both of these schools have their own thread on the MT forum. You may be able to get direct, honest answers from there.
I think it will take some time for Westminster's program to be impacted by their new MT program. I truly think it would be hard to take away from such a strong program!<br>
Have you looked into Temple or Maryland? I ask only because I know of students attending both of those schools for voice/opera....and they LOVE it.<br>
Best wishes!</p>
<p>I'm doing my research for my daughter, and both these colleges are on our long list. Ironically, we are looking at it from the other point of view -- we want a VP program that offers more than classical/opera, and incorporates more MT or jazz (or, preferably, both).</p>
<p>If you take a look at faculty credentials:</p>
<p>Baldwin-Wallace Voice Department faculty is about 50-50 classical/opera to Musical Theater.</p>
<p>Shenadoah faculty Voice Department faculty is almost all from classical/opera, with two from MT, and a few more from "voice protection" (?).</p>
<p>Lorelei who posts here quite a lot, has said good things about the Shenandoah voice department, and I believe she is an opera voice coach. To the best of my memory, I don't think I've ever seen her comment on B-W, one way or another. </p>
<p>I think you have been at your search much longer than we have. But some VP programs we are either dismissing, or considering dismissing, because their VP program is TOO geared toward strictly classical/opera:</p>
<p>Oberlin
UMichigan
Ohio State U
Indiana U</p>
<p>So you might want to look at those again. I know Lorelei has said good things in the past about UMich and OSU for undergrad VP.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick response - I actually intended to PM you because it was your posts that caught my D's attention when she started researching Shenandoah. She hasn't visited yet will do so in October if she decides to apply. The website barely mentions opera and there does not appear to be an opera ensemble so it is difficult to judge what kinds of performance opps are available to the VP majors. I think much of the harsh criticizm came prior to the new dean so perhaps changes are in the works. Her private voice teacher has not recommended Temple for her and Maryland does have a great program and is in state for us, but none of the local teachers recommend it for undergrad. It could be a great choice for grad studies though.</p>
<p>VicAria - we crossposted, but my concern with Shenandoah is how much the performance opps are geared towards MT. One opera a year that is open to audition to both MT and VP kids may not be enough - unless there are opera scenes or an opera ensemble that puts on its own performances. That is what I am trying to find out about with regard to Shenandoah. There seems to be a wealth of performance opps for the MT majors there through larger productions and the MT ensemble.</p>
<p>Shenandoah does put on only one opera a year, but it is incredible. I know that the performance opps for mt are numerous. My d is involved in productions both on and off campus. She has rehearsals every night, until late into the night.<br>
I will once again mention Temple. Some of our states top vocal performers...classical...have attended, or is attending Temple. They do love it, and it seems like they are performing frequently. I thought of Maryland because one of my d's good friends is going there. She is incredibly talented...
Please feel free to contact me anytime!</p>
<p>I went to a performance of a few voice students from BW perform and there was a lot of jaw wobbling when they sang which is part of the reason that I didn't apply there. But I also have a friend who is majoring in voice there who loves it. I'm currently at Oberlin and it is an amazing school.</p>
<p>cartera45,</p>
<p>Thank you for your concern about Hartts Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance program. Please understand that Hartts Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance majors are in completely different divisions and in no way compete.</p>
<p>Students in Hartts Vocal Performance program have numerous opera, choral, and recital performance opportunities in addition to Hartts core curriculum and pedagogy (voice teaching) courses. A unique aspect of Hartts program is that we offer both graduate and undergraduate opera productions. Each spring undergraduates perform in a fully-staged opera selected specifically for the undergraduate voice. The 2008 undergraduate opera is Offenbachs Orpheus and the Underworld and in 2007 students performed Lehars A Merry Widow. Each fall students also perform opera scenes. Vocal Performance majors are required to be in at least one of Hartts five choral performing organizations each semester of the four year program, and our Touring Ensemble is set to debut in China and Taiwan in 2008. Choir concerts are held four times each year and undergraduate soloists are always represented. The choirs often combine to perform masterworks; students will perform Brahms Requiem this year. In addition, students perform at least one recital in their first and second year, and multiple recitals in their junior and senior year as part of Undergraduate Recital Series.</p>
<p>If you have any questions about our programs please feel encouraged to contact me at 860.768.4148.</p>
<p>Bachelor of Music curriculums which are accredited by NASM require 8 semester of ensemble performance. For voice majors (vocal performance and music education) at most schools this is satisfied with choral ensemble, and usually it is a requirement as a service for scholarship. Higher echelon conservatories are less likely to require standard choral work, more likely to use opera chorus as a start, opera workshop as the voices mature.</p>