Seeking Summer Program Advice: Westminster Solo Vocal vs Michigan Vocal

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Hi everyone, I have been lurking on this board for the past few days. I'm very impressed by all of the discussions and by the helpful attitude and courtesy that everyone seems to show towards each other.</p>

<p>My S is a HS freshman and is interested in majoring in vocal performance in college, at least at this point. He really enjoys solo singing and wants to develop his talents in this department. He also likes musical theater but he prefers classical signing more.</p>

<p>S has been accepted into the Solo Vocal Artist summer program at Westminster and the Vocal Institute at Michigan.</p>

<p>Link to Solo Vocal Artist: Solo</a> Vocal Artist | Rider University</p>

<p>Link to Michigan Program: UM</a> School of Music, Theatre & Dance - Youth Programs - MPulse Vocal Arts Institute - Summer Performing Arts Camp</p>

<p>These programs run at the same time so we have to pick one or the other.</p>

<p>The Solo program at Westminster looks great considering his interests. I think S will get more in the way of solo lessons in this program.</p>

<p>OTOH, and this may be lack of knowledge on our part, but we have the impression that Michigan is a better school and so it may be more beneficial for S to attend the Michigan camp in case he wants to apply there when the time comes.</p>

<p>OTOH, S can also attend a Musical Theater Workshop at Westminster for the two weeks prior to the Solo Artist program for about the same cost to attend Michigan when we factor in time and travel costs. We live in VA, which is much closer to Westminster than Michigan.</p>

<p>Can anyone give us advice on choosing where to send S?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>AllegroDad,</p>

<p>My D attended MPulse VAI last summer and will be attending again this summer. It was a wonderful program and I highly recommend it. You are right though - no private lessons. I believe she had 3 in her group. If you want to PM me, I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.</p>

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<p>My S’s voice teacher is highly recommending Westminster to all of his advanced students after spending some time there working on voice pedagogy. He is impressed with many of the voice teachers. S (HS junior) is going to the Solo Artist program this summer (he chose it over Oberlin) because of the daily private voice lessons with WCC faculty. But you probably can’t go wrong with Michigan or Westminster.</p>

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<p>Thank you both for your feedback!</p>

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<p>My D did the CoOperative program at WCC last summer and took lessons with several of the teachers listed on the Solo Vocal curriculum. They are excellent. The master classes were great too and I see the Solo Vocal attendees can attend them also.</p>

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<p>I would definitely go with WCC. My D went to MPulse last summer and loved it, but your S will get much more individual attention at Westminster. My D chose Oberlin over WCC for the summer, but we felt both programs were great. Oberlin is turning out more professional opera singers (I’m in the business and work closely with them) who cannot say enough about their training-all rave reviews.</p>