Does anyone have info on Belmont or any experience there? I read that they have a great crossover program between VP and MT, but there’s not a separate board here for it or much discussion about it.
TIA!
My D auditioned for the BFA MT on 1/14. It was our second time visiting campus-we did a tour during September of her Junior year. The BFA MT is run out of the Music Department (as opposed to out of a Dept of Drama, like at many schools), and it does indeed have exceptional vocal training and expectations. My D said that the kids were told that they train in classical style for the first two years. An Art song and a music-theory-type test were part of the audition.
Heading there the 11th with D for an audition. Oh the Art song the bain of my D’s exsistance!
We know a current student there who is in their commercial music program (though she has been doing MT forever- she chose to do commercial music as she is INSANELY talented in that market). Take this with a grain of salt, but the current student said musically Belmont is awesome, but that their MT program is not good.
Same, @brightstaral, same.
@stagedoormama we have heard the same from students at Belmont. My D, who loves MT, chose to not audition for the MT department and instead auditioned for their BFA Drama/Acting. When we went for the audition, there were many questions from the students auditioning about opportunities to still perform vocally and the administration said that there are definitely still vocal opportunities (and they can take voice classes) and there is also lots of dance within the theatre department. Most of the people we know who are singers first, audition for MT, the people who are actors/dancers first, audition for the theatre BFA. @TXMTMama it’s a wonderful school and a beautiful campus! Hardly any scholarship money for theatre though. There is scholarship money for MT and there is merit based money available for kids with higher ACT/SAT scores. Another note for anyone who likes to eat-their cafeteria is AMAZING!
I would say my D is a dancer first, vocalist second and working on her acting intensely this next year. It’s good to hear they have a good drama/dance program too.
Any other suggestions for strong dancers?
@TXMTMama - has she considered the dance performance major at Oklahoma City University? They do take some voice and acting as part of their degree. They have a very good track record of producing working performers. And it is considered one of the top dance programs in the country. It is a separate audition from the MT audition.
Funny you should ask, but it’s probably her top school choice right now. She found out yesterday that she got into their 3 week MT camp this summer. I’m excited for her to get to see campus and meet the staff.
She will probably audition for MT, VP and dance there.
Anyone who thinks that Belmont isn’t one of the 15 or 20 best MT schools in the country is crazy.
This school might have the best Pop-Belters PERIOD. The alumni I know are working consistently.
Singing is definitely their strength…but its a rock solid program.
@TXMTMama - that’s wonderful! Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the camp or the school! (D attended camp in high school, has been a counselor for the camp, and is a current MT there).
Belmont is also a small, private christian university. Absolutely nothing wrong with that but it is worth considering as well. When we had to cut, that was one my D chose to cut based not on program – but fit. If that is a good fit, go for it!
At auditions, they very quickly addressed the “Christian University” stigma/label. I won’t paraphrase (because I won’t do the statement justice), but in both of our visits to Belmont, we haven’t felt this overwhelming religious vibe. Also-7800 enrollment (and growing rapidly), D1 athletics: I wouldn’t classify it as a small school.
Belmont’s mission statement: “Our Mission: Belmont University is a student-centered Christian community providing an academically challenging education that empowers men and women of diverse backgrounds to engage and transform the world with disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage and faith.” They are a top music school, and I know several there who love it.
Belmont is definitely a wonderful college as I said in my previous comment. I hope no one took my comments to mean anything else. My D has been accepted into their BFA theatre program and it is one of her top choices.
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@CMB625 Congratulations to your D! When was her audition and when did you hear? My D auditioned for MT on 1/4 and we are still waiting~
@Mtmomkbh Thank you! She auditioned for the theatre program in November and heard within a few days. I know the MT program is very competitive so probably a different time frame on communication. Did you audition on campus?
@CMB625 yes, she auditioned on campus. They said that most would hear within 2 weeks but MT would be later
and she auditioned on 1/14 not 1/4…that was a typo