Penny for your thoughts on these two schools for a soprano MM in VP. ? I have listed a few questions, but please feel free to comment on any aspect that we should be considering.
Right now NEC is quite a bit more expensive than BU.
My student said the NEC facilities were “not great” and said building at BU was “under construction.” Details? What are the best performance halls in both places?
She knows the studio assignment at NEC and the teacher she’d like to work with at BU. (PM please!)
There’s an Opera Studio at BU, how does that impact performance opportunities for grad students?
Third choice is Eastman and cost is equivalent to BU.
Thanks so much!
Congrats on such great acceptances! You should be very proud.
I wish that I had some insights on those schools…but I really don’t. So sorry there.
But one thing did cross my mind as an MM passes really fast. You spend a year getting to know the program and the next year leaving…prepping for the real world…maybe YAPs or networking or figuring out how to support yourself. It is a really fast experience. At both my D’s schools, auditions for the fall opera(s) principal roles happened in April. Have you got any notice about how schools will handle that? Often principals take a significant amount of prep that can require an early return to college. Any mentions on these auditions for principal roles?
And any idea of the season for next year and good roles for your D? Now that she’s older she’s probs got a good sense of what roles she would be competitive for. My D, being a lyric mezzo, always had a shot for maids and britches a la Mozart. Mezzo roles for witches and bitches would not work…her voice is not heavy or deep enough.
My D did share that she just got an email from a theater company this week for a video audition request for some of their productions next season. I wonder if schools will do that?? Just curious f anyone has heard anything. Bc MM goes so quickly and building your resume becomes more critical…looking at the season could be insightful…maybe?
Hello @bridgenail and thank you so much for your thoughtful response. As always!
ESM was on that schedule… April/May auditions for fall operas. I don’t think seasons have been announced yet at any of the schools she is looking at, but I’ll pass that suggestion along. I’ve often wondered if grad students at most schools are invited to “audition” once they’ve committed to a school.
She’s getting a sense of her voice and roles - not coloratura, not soubrette (in the long run), probably heading toward lyric soprano or possibly spinto. Still a work in progress. ESM HAS cancelled this year’s “concerto contest,” usually held in late April. She was one of last year’s two winners and was to perform Knoxville on 4/15. (She has an awesome dress and I know I’ll see her wear it in the future!) She won the soprano cover for Britten’s War Requiem, all soloists were ESM alums and stepped in with 2 performances Eleonora in a Salieri opera.
We didn’t work with her on her list of grad schools to apply to, other than to ask her to cast a wider net, BUT there is a huge difference in grad school tuition at some of the schools. CIM and NEC have tuition which is close to equal for undergrad and grad. BU and ESM, because they charge per credit, have lower tuition for grad school. At ESM, if you get a role in the opera as a grad student you don’t have to add a 3-credit Opera Workshop class to perform the role. You still need certain credits to receive your degree, of course.
Old news, but my student is on her 3rd undergrad voice teacher (due to a teacher’s illness ) and has been making good progress with him. So, if she thinks it’s better to stay at ESM we support her in that decision. Cost of living is less than in Boston and it’s still too early to know now what life will be like in the fall and whether performance opportunities will be impacted.