<p>Just discovered that the current Christine in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, Jennifer Hope Wills, went to a school that I've never seen discussed on CC and got a BA in music ed. She then went to I.U. and got a MM in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy and a concentration in Theatre. It looks like she tried to cover all of her bases educationally and so far she has a great MT resume.</p>
<p>This is so important that we remember once again that it is the student more than the program that makes the difference! Sure, it helps to have the contacts, and great training (you can get that a lot of places) but in the end–it is what you make of your educational situation that will determine where you go and what you do.<br>
classicalbk–Thanks for posting this!</p>
<p>Definitely food for thought! I will pass this on to my daughter.
Totally agree with you CalMTMom…it’s the performer not the pedigree that makes things happen.
Thanks for posting this!</p>
<p>Go Salisbury! It’s funny, this is one of my daughter’s safety schools.</p>
<p>I decided that the super competative schools are like brand names… they are expensive and what people look for— and they can be pretty wonderful… the lesser known schools are’nt the name brands… they aren’t as well known and people look past them because they THINK they aren’t good enough… but truth is, the non-name brands can be just as good if not BETTER than the name brands… it’s all what you make of it 
</p>
<p>corny, I know… but I just wanted to bring some light to the situation.</p>
<p>You are so incredibley right Maranda. Thanks for all these posts! They are definitely helpful in this season of rejection and great for upcoming auditionees.</p>
<p>Did she go to Salisbury State?</p>
<p>NMR, yes, Jennifer did attend Salisbury State. Although I agree that there are many paths to a career in theatre, and I’ve stated that many times here on CC, I think that the big picture has to be studied. Jennifer comes from a theatre family and was probably onstage as a baby. Although she has had some success, certainly, she has, like all actors, also had some very lean years and some jobs that she’d probably rather forget. :)</p>
<p>I asked because a friend has a performing kid who is looking at SSU as a possibility in a few years, based on its affordability and its proximity to relatives, etc. Alwaysamom, what do you know about their MT program?</p>
<p>NMR, I don’t know anything about their MT program. I don’t even know if they have one, to be honest. Jennifer was an eventual music major, after starting as, I believe, an Educ. major.</p>