<p>My daughter auditioned at IU this past weekend. What a fabulous experience! From the facility, to the wonderful faculty and staff and the welcoming current students, it couldn’t have been better. We were invited to attend a rehearsal of “A Little Night Music” and got to see, first hand, the brilliance of George Pinney, the director of the program. The calibre of the students in the scene study was outstanding. The next day brought the best parent meeting I have attended in 10 auditions…parents were allowed to ask questions of both Mr. Pinney and the wonderful and recently stolen from CCM Musical Director, Mr. LaBolt as well as of four MT students. Their honesty and transparency was refreshing. A great quote: “We realize that people come in all shapes and sizes. We are not just looking for size 4 dresses in t-straps.” I wanted to jump out of my chair with a fist pump. I refrained. I have never seen a more beautiful campus or been treated better. She got to do a group acting experience as well as dance call before the formal audition. The relationship with the world renowned Jacobs School of music is a collegial one…MT students even appear in their musical…and BA Theatre students appear in musicals and straight theatre. You could feel the love…the students for the faculty and likewise…and the students for one another. And now, for the waiting…</p>
<p>I’m trying to decide how I feel about IU MT majors competing with VP majors for parts in musicals. Those IU voice major singers are astounding…I haven’t yet heard (live) IU MT students to compare. It would be very much like going up against Julliard voice majors. The MT folks would have to pray hard that the VP folks don’t transition well from Pucinni to Sondheim, I guess. But it would be so like a real world audition, having all types of majors all after the same parts? So maybe it’s better to get used to that.
We are looking closely at this school- it’s great to hear of your wonderful experience. Best wishes for your daughter’s sucess!</p>
<p>Classicalbk, I don’t have a kid at Indiana, but mine attends Northwestern, where the Theatre majors and Bienen School of Music Vocal Performance majors compete. You may be right about what it’s like going head to head with just singing (although there are several MT kids I know at NU that could easily have gone the VP route if they chose to), but auditioning for musical theatre roles usually also includes acting and dancing…something in which the MT kids would usually have a decided edge (although, conversely, some of the voice majors also act and dance quite well). </p>
<p>I guess I am just saying to not write off a school because performance opportunities are open across the board. As you point out, that’s what life in the real world will be like for our kids once they graduate. No one is going to care what they majored in at school or if they have a BA, BFA or BS degree.</p>
<p>My D is a MT major at IU and is now in rehearsals for West Side Story - her first musical through Jacobs School of Music (she has been in other musicals through the Theatre and Drama Department). It is my understanding that the parts for Maria (double-cast) went to graduate level voice majors and the parts for Anita (also double-cast) went to MT majors. My D is part of the ensemble (there are 10 girls and 10 guys, I believe). 4 of the girls are MT majors, there are 3 dance majors, 1 theatre major, and 2 voice doctorate candidates. Bernardo and Chino are both MT majors (not double-cast) as well as the parts for Riff (double-cast). There is one MT guy in the ensemble and my D believes the remaining guys are about 1/2 dance and 1/2 voice majors.</p>
<p>That was the best reply! Thanks for all those juicy details! :)</p>