SUNY Purchase conservatory

<p>I just finished my final audition yesterday if anyone has any questions about that part.</p>

<p>How did you do with the sightsinging, Ryan?</p>

<p>I did alright, it wasn’t terrible considering the first 3 notes composed the C major chord.
They keep it relatively simple though its easy to lose your common sense a bit when reading it, so taking your time is important.</p>

<p>The adjudicators were very very friendly.</p>

<p>I found the sightsinging the least simple out of all of the schools, and I did very well on all the sightsinging EXCEPT for Purchase. I think everyone has expressed a worry over the level of sightsinging… so I was just wondering how it went for you. Glad it went well.</p>

<p>And I agree, the adjudicators were by far the most friendly! It was the best of my auditions in that sense.</p>

<p>Double-post… but I have heard a lot of rumours that you should recieve a call tomorrow (March 1st) if you are accepted. Can anyone verify this? Or could you get a call later in the week? Or will it be a letter?</p>

<p>I think it was in another thread that you will get a call first if you get in and a letter if you’re waitlisted or rejected. </p>

<p>Not sure if it’s today or not, though.</p>

<p>Sopranorose, my son got a call last week (Wednesday, I think) saying that he was waitlisted. I don’t know if this is helpful to you or not, as he is a jazz drummer and the jazz and classical departments are probably very different. They did say in the information session that all decisions from the auditions had to be in to the admissions dept by March 1st and notifications would go out this week.
Good luck to you! Let us know when you find out.</p>

<p>I did get accepted into the Vocal/Opera department at Purchase! Recieved a lovely call from Jacque Trussel. He’s very very nice. I want to commit to going so badly, but my parents are making me wait until I get the rest of my admission decisions from other schools-- it’s doesn’t really matter, because I am already convinced I am going to Purchase!</p>

<p>But now I want to hear absolutely as much as I can about the conservatory program.</p>

<p>Sopranorose, you are wise to find out all you can about every program. I have heard very mixed reviews of the program and of Trussel and his wife in particular. He is heralded as a great director but the vocal technique used by him and his wife is very controversial and seems to present a love it or hate it situation. I know that every program has its detractors and you have to lot of things with a grain of salt, but that program gets more than its share of criticism. You could well be one of the stars there, but it is wise to do your homework about every program. Have you read about Purchase on the Classical Singers Forum - the new one?</p>

<p>Listen to caretera, Rose, and do your homework. Transferring to another conservatory can be very difficult and if there are known problems with a teacher/program, that can make it even harder. Not to say that this may not be the perfect spot for you, but when considering the time and money involved, better to do your research up front. Good luck to you!</p>

<p>Everyone talks about how Purchase has such a ‘controversial’ program, but no one tells me why! Care to share, anyone? Or the link to the classical singer forum?</p>

<p>On a more serious note, Purchase did make the first cut of grad schools we were looking at, but quite frankly the reaction from my D’s NY-based teacher (“What in heaven’s name is Purchase doing on your list?”) resulted in our dropping it. In fairness, I have heard from others that it has a decent reputation for undergrad productions.</p>

<p>In the end, my D was accepted at Westminster out of HS, the only school she applied to b/c of an arrangement btwn her '06 teacher and one at WCC. The WCC teacher went on a sabbatical at the last minute (June) and when her teacher here at the local Univ heard that she wouldn’t be studying with “X” convinced her to stay here and continue studying with her. </p>

<p>Based on the results of her grad auditions, I’d say everything has worked out fine. We did, however, supplement w/summer programs and she’s been fortunate to have had a lot of performance opportunities at the state school she’s getting her undergraduate from. I’ve posted it often enough here on CC this past month, but I think MSM’s summer festival is a great program, particularly for the college student who is not at a tier 1 school for undergrad.</p>

<p>Bottom line: There are no perfect schools or perfect programs. Find the one that’s best for you and your circumstances and make the most of every opportunity that comes your way (or that you make for yourself).</p>

<p>Personal reputation is a very serious thing. A sight different than the self deprecating off handed remarks by parents joking about stress.</p>

<p>Just expressing my opinion, folks – you’re equally entitled to yours :)</p>

<p>I have two students at the end of their undergrad experience, both in the arts, so perhaps I’m a little jaded in my perspective which makes me more appreciative of the humor involved. (I concede that this site is geared more to the rising undergrad population, although it serves grad students well, too.) </p>

<p>I appreciate the sensitivity around the two named individuals, but given the things that I’ve seen at my daughters’ schools you could have put “X” and “Y” in place of their names – and even “Z” for the name of the program and it could have been written by any number of folks at any number of schools!</p>

<p>I don’t know if it is different for other instruments, but from what my D has experienced first-hand, and given the stories her school’s grad students (from all over the country, CA - NY) have shared in my living room, it would seem that the drama in VP is not limited to the stage.</p>

<p>I’ve always believed that rules should be enforced or they shouldn’t exist, so BassDad, thank you for pointing out the TOS (which I had actually read differently – more along the lines of people deriding others for their posts).</p>

<p>As far as I’m concerned, I intend this to be my final post on this particular thread and so I offer these final words on the subject: </p>

<p>As previously stated in my original reply, there are no perfect schools or programs. As an educator and a parent I believe you get out of something what you put into it. Selecting a college is the first step in taking responsibility for your future. If you look at retention and graduation rates of each school under consideration you’ll see that many people end up having second thoughts about their choices and end up making new ones. I wish Sopranorose and everyone else on this board the best of luck in making theirs.</p>

<p>Well, not to change the subject, but to get back on Purchase… I was just afraid that the ‘controversy’ would be something like they only allow you to sing in Swedish or something crazy like that… but if it’s just a lot of bitter reviews, I think you’re going to get that at every school.</p>

<p>And Purchase was by far the nicest school to me at my audition, and I found ALL of the teachers/administration that I encountered to be extremely nice and actually seemed like they cared about me, and I wasn’t just a random voice in the crowd. That is why i chose to go there, really – I felt wanted.</p>

<p>Congrats! Sorry that the thread was derailed. I am glad you are able to keep this stuff in perspective. Sing well! And work hard!</p>

<p>Sopranorose: You are absolutely right that all schools have their detractors. No single school is the right place for everyone and consequently even the most wonderful schools will have students that have negative experiences. If we crossed every school off our list that had a horror/negative story associated with it, we probably would not have had any schools left on the list. All the best in the future!</p>

<p>I completely agree rose.
I had such a positive experience with the administration and the students help running the process.</p>

<p>I walked in the audition room and was greeted with a joke, some laughs, and an overall great time. It was almost like I was singing for good company, rather than adjudicators deciding my fate!</p>

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<p>LOL sopranorose. I just got a $130 traffic ticket on the way home… and you still made me smile.</p>

<p>that certainly would be controversial!!! I wish you the best in your time there and hope that you learn all you can from the wonderful people who teach there.</p>