<p>These are some great possibilities. She had heard about Oberlin from a few choir friends as a good possibility. I just looked at the LU site and that looks like it might be good, too. I’d never heard of St Olafs and just looked at their site, which looks great. You guys have some great leads.</p>
<p>If you like the idea of a smaller, LAC scene – you can also search through the website, “Colleges That Change Lives.” I believe Lawrence is included in that bunch. (The website is based on a book)</p>
<p>You should realize that the top choir at St. Olaf is a very big time commitment and rather difficult to get into. The director has a huge following among cognoscenti and draws interested kids from all over. They rehearse five days a week and go on tours, both domestic and international, pretty frequently. It is about as good as it gets for hardcore choristers (now there’s a phrase you don’t hear every day.) If choir was a sport, St. Olaf would be one of the ones at or near the top of the Division 1 rankings every year. Of course, the other choirs there would easily qualify as the top vocal group at many schools but if it has to be the top group, the competition is going to be rough.</p>
<p>I will put two cents in for what I have heard produced at LU: the music is fantastic and the write up on them at the Choral Director’s meeting is one for the books. I wish I could have heard it. I am sad in a funny way that my son is graduating. I hope they have a nice music concert when I am there in June. My son got out of the conservatory two years ago but he played with the groups until this past term. He is currently too involved with law and computers and has found his path at least for now and he is off to grad school. But I would recommend that school to anyone who loves music even if they don’t want to pursue it or if they do. What a great place.</p>
<p>If anybody is in the DC/Nova area next weekend, the James Madison University Chorale and Madison Singers are singing at the Kennedy Center on March 29. The chamber orchestra will be there as well as dancers from the school.</p>
<p>As an aside, Singermama, I am a Californian by birth, Bay Area, also. I had never heard of the Midwest schools before my son started researching schools and he met someone online who told him about LU. He grew up in heat and outside of the US so I wasn’t sure about the cold winters and the culture. Anyway, one year his roommate was from the Peninsula. I was surprised at the many Californians that I met at his college when I visited. My son was involved with Mock T. as well.</p>
<p>I’ll echo the posters who have encouraged you and your D to look at the science/law aspect of the university first, then check out the music opportunities. My son’s first love is music, but he didn’t want to pursue it as a vocation. He found the university he wanted (it’s UW-Madison) and then learned about the world of collegiate a cappella. </p>
<p>He’s enjoyed his association with his a cappella group as much as he’s enjoyed any other aspect of his college experience. The musicality of this bunch of students is astounding, and his group isn’t even at the top of the heap when it comes to this type of music. Check out which schools have done well in the ICCA contest at [Varsity</a> Vocals Online](<a href=“http://www.varsityvocals.com%5DVarsity”>http://www.varsityvocals.com) to get a look into which schools have top-performing programs. Just another avenue to explore.</p>
<p>Thanks for the leads. I love the “hard-core chorister” line and may borrow that one in the future.<br>
I looked and the Varsity vocals site and was surprised by the broad array of schools that had winning groups. This included RPI (my alma mater) which I never, ever, would have thought had a choral group. </p>
<p>I can’t tell you all how exciting these leads are.</p>
<p>singermama - you’re an RPI alumna? You on lily? You wouldn’t be the only Bay Area RPI person there… (I am not RPI but many friends are and I am (or used to be) Bay Area).</p>
<p>Need to second what’s been said about St. Olaf’s world class choir program. Among those who enjoy choral singing, it is not just a Name, but a Big Name. </p>
<p>I hear what overseas says about the flyover - er, Midwestern - schools and the relative lack of publicity about them on the coasts. This board is terrific at remedying that lack, and for this transplanted-to-the-Midwest Californian, has introdced me to some of the treasures in my own new back yard.</p>
<p>(j/k about the “flyover” comment - it was intended to show how much that is special inland gets ignored by the coasts sometimes)</p>
<p>I’m going to pick my d up from interlochen and drive her to see a few schools. We would be looking for good academics and good choral program. I was thinking pick up, Uof Mich ann Arbor, then some school in chicago(?) then U of wisconsin Madison, then St Olafs then fly back to California from Minn StP. Any thoughts on schools to throw in on this loop. I plan on 4 days. My daughter and I both looked at the St Olaf’s web site and were impressed. She is a little concerned about the weather in Northern states. </p>
<p>A lot of her friends are looking into Pomona, in So Cal. Any thoughts on Pomona choral program would also be appreciated.</p>
<p>Lawrence U is in Appleton, Wisconsin.</p>