<p>Hey all! I've finally heard back from all of my schools, and wanted to know you're imput. I am going for Vocal Performance/Opera (Soprano) Wanting a strong liberal arts core that is easily accessible even in a serious B.M. program, I'm leaning towards Ithaca at the moment, it seems really great and the people were so nice at the audition and on visits!</p>
<p>Ithaca College -School of Music (Got Flora Brown award)
Rutgers - Mason Gross (Even though states school, they gave me basically NO financial aid...grr)
Westminster Choir College ($14,000 a year)
The College of NJ
Mercyhurst (Full ride...not going there though)</p>
<p>I'm definitely NOT going to TCNJ and Mercyhurst, I just was NOT impressed with their programs. I also got into Mount Holyoke College ---a great school, but I really want to study music seriously, so I'm afraid I'll have to turn them down...</p>
<p>Rutgers is a great education for a fraction of the cost of Ithaca, but it is a different kind of college experience. You should not go into debt for an undergraduate music degree…so if Ithaca can be a debt free education, great. Otherwise, your state university is a good option. The choral fellow there is terrific, and you will have opera performance opportunities if you are a strong singer. Generally, sopranos are not first in line for merit $$…too many waiting in line. Good luck.</p>
<p>Ithaca is great, my voice teacher went there and she had nothing but great things to say about it. How did you like the area and/or are you familiar with it? I have a brother that goes to Cornell, if you have any questions I’d be glad to help. I also considered Ithaca and Mason Gross, I’m a flute player, but, again, I’m happy to help if I can! Good luck!!!</p>
<p>When we visited Ithaca, I remember thinking what a great school it would be for someone in the performing arts. Apparently their program is quite strong. My son was offered a v. nice scholarship there, but chose TCNJ instead. Smaller scholarship, but smaller tuition as well. (He’s a bio major though, not music).</p>
<p>My daughter got into Elon’s music program as a vocal performance major. She also was accepted to muhlenberg and geneseo. Does anyone know which is the better music program and better school. She is also interested in accounting as well and would love to double major in case the music doesn’t work out</p>
<p>The issue with Elon is that the vocal performance major seems to take a real back seat to the much better known musical theater program. My D visited and the school didn’t really appeal to her, but her concern was the lack of emphasis on classical music. There were perhaps 5 vocal performance majors there and I’m not sure a couple of those weren’t hoping to move into musical theater. The facilities are not great but that was not a significant issue for her. The performance hall is nice. Neither she nor I were impressed with the rehearsal of the chorus that we heard. There was a general lack of discipline and focus. Now that she is in a selective chorus at her school, she looks back and says that her choral director would have their heads (in a good way) if they gave him a rehearsal like that. The kids do very well in MT in NATS. I recommend that she take a sample lesson there if possible.</p>