<p>sopranosmom did u ever find out who she studied with??</p>
<p>D's teacher was Venetia Stelliou (now she has a married name). She was a graduate student from McGill. She is now in Houston singing in the HGO chorus and her husband is in the young artists' studio at the HGO.</p>
<p>Hi everyone! I'm new to CC and thrilled to find my peer group of music parents. S is a high school junior brass player who attended Interlochen last summer and will go to Tanglewood this summer for a workshop and the Young Artists Orchestra. Any parents or kids with experience at both programs who can tell us what to expect?</p>
<p>While I'm not familiar with admissions stats to know whether acceptance to these programs is a big deal, I do know some very good musicians who have been wait-listed or rejected from some of the top tier programs: Tanglewood, Interlochen, Brevard, Eastern, and maybe more that I'm not aware of. But regardless of the prestige factor for acceptance, the summer music programs S has attended have been a major factor contributing to his success to date. Many, if not most, of the instrumentalists at these places are the big fish of their local, regional, and state music scenes. When an aspiring professional musician attends one of the big summer programs, they're swimming out of the ponds and lakes and into the ocean, with the opportunity to meet, play with, and hopefully be motivated to improve by the same kids they'll be competing with for college/conservatory admissions and jobs in the future.</p>
<p>As you can probably already tell, I'm a big proponent of summer music programs, and would highly recommend any parent to consider this opportunity as essential for kids interested in a college music major. There are many fine 1-4 week regional programs at colleges and universities for kids as young as elementary and middle school age, and they don't cost a fortune. If they're still serious about music when they reach high school, having had the minor league experience will make them less apprehensive about going to the big time 6-8 week programs. And, although the top tier programs are expensive, there most definitely is financial aid available, both merit and need-based. Brevard even has work study, with substantial awards for musician-friendly tasks such as working in the music library and ushering at concerts they would attend anyway. Apply to several programs, clearly state your financial need, and convincingly explain why your child will benefit from the experience. We are not poor, and S is not the top high school player of his instrument in the country, but he has had the amazing good fortune to get a full scholarship to Interlochen last year and a monetarily comparable, almost full scholarship to Tanglewood this year.</p>
<p>I will second the endorsement for summer programs. It is important for musicians to continue using their instruments (including voice) over the summer. They simply cannot afford NOT to play and expect to be competitive in a wildly competitive field. DS spent three years at a rigorous music camp, two years at Tanglewood, and he will be heading to Eastern Music Festival for the second summer at the end of June. Being able to add to orchestral repertoire is important, as well as the perspective gained by playing with folks from other regions of the country. DS has made some lifelong friends...and YES he ran into someone he knew (at least one someone) at EVERY audition he went to. He also met people at out of state festivals, competitions, and conferences.</p>
<p>sopranosinger -- My D studied with Mara Bonde - <a href="http://www.marabonde.com/pages/687187/index.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.marabonde.com/pages/687187/index.htm</a> -- she was a grad student at BU at the time. She also did masterclasses with Phyllis Curtin and Penelope Bitzas.</p>
<p>Hi all, </p>
<p>I haven't been on CC for several days and was delighted to receive all this wonderful information and support on a post I submitted a month ago! Very unexpected and so helpful! Thank you all so much. D will IM as suggested early next week (madly finishing a paper at the moment) and I'll email as well for more specific info as it gets closer. And here's a dopey question since we haven't received much info from Tanglewood yet: Is there a specific outfit that singers need for the chorus and for individual performance? All black? Long dress? White blouse, black skirt?</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>Hm...I don't know about the chorus, but the dress for the women instrumentalists was all white dresses (floor length).</p>
<p>Nester: Thanks to operamom's tip, I located the Tanglewood handbook, housing, and medical forms on their website</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/tanglewood/%5B/url%5D">http://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/tanglewood/</a></p>
<p>I've been waiting for information in the mail. Wonder if they expect everyone to just find it on the web?</p>
<p>Anyway, performance dress requirements should be listed in the handbook. And congratulations to your daughter!</p>
<p>Go to the website and download the Lifebook for Summer 2005. There is information regarding concert dress for participants in each program. Also notice the housing application which is due May 31. I do not think we are supposed to wait for BUTI to send us these materials. I do, however, think they will send us financial statements so we can pay before we go:) Those of you who have gone before...will there be mailed packets?</p>
<p>They did mail the lifebook last year, but we did not receive it until a day or two after at least one of the forms was supposedly due. They did indeed send the tuition bill on time, but it took quite a while for them to get out the bills for private lessons.</p>
<p>When DS went to Tanglewood, we got everything in the mail. They are dealing with the mail room at Boston University and sometimes things are not sent out in as timely a fashion as even BUTI would like. The second year DS went, none of the trumpet players received their acceptance info on time. It was not a problem and the dates were extended.</p>
<p>Tanglewood packet made it to CA today :). No bill, though.</p>
<p>Sheesh...we had to pay the $1000 deposit to Interlochen 3 weeks after the acceptance came (Apr 15), or forfeit the spot! Tanglewood sounds much nicer! And no enrollment packet until the $$ was paid.</p>
<p>Nester -- The handbook all the other posters mention is the 'bible' for the Tanglewood summer programs. I believe singers are required to wear all WHITE for the chorus -- long or mid-calf white dress and matching shoes -- obviously this is very different from the usual BLACK concert dress (which can be worn for recitals there). Finding an appropriate white dress was difficult -- I believe sleeveless or spaghetti straps were OK (which is usually not the case!) -- can't remember about strapless. I remember checking out the female singers when we attended the last concert -- many of the dresses/outfits were very inappropriate -- recycled prom dresses come to mind! Now that my daughter has gone through college auditions and recitals, I shouldn't have been too surprised - I have seen so much inappropriate clothing on young singers. In the 'old' days it may not have mattered -- just the voice -- it does matter now!!!! -- appearance (good grooming, hairstyle, etc.) and dress as well as voice are part of the whole 'package.' I don't think I'm over the top on this issue -- too tight and too short just don't make common sense!</p>
<p>Hi all- </p>
<p>Finally, our "bible" has arrived filled with answers to any number of dopey questions, so I can stop bugging all of you. (Your help continues to be much appreciated.) </p>
<p>Actually, I have what might be helpful info for lodging around Lenox. I haven't gotten very far for weekends (The suggested inn sounds wonderful, but was still on the expensive side for us.), but for weekdays, go to entertainment.com and punch in Lenox or its zip as your location. Then write "hotel" into the search window. We came up with what sounds like a very nice inn for around $85 a night at the entertainment rate. (Sadly, it rises to above $225 on nights when the rate is not available.) Still, worth a try for budget-conscious parents. The entertainment book itself is very reasonable, and around here is sold to support local charities.</p>
<p>eeee i am soooo loooking forward to tanglewood. my voice teacher here is a voice teacher at tanglewood and she keeps telling me how much fun i will have!! :) :) :)</p>
<p>S is coming from San Diego to the Young Artists Vocal Program. Where have you found the best airline ticket prices ? Do any of you who have been there before have advice on getting a teen there and back? Also, where is the best and least expensive place to look for hotels? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give us!</p>
<p>Also try hotels.com. Lenox itself is gorgeous and pricey. On that list you should find some more affordable places. Lee tends to be cheaper, and it isn't far by car. The Best Western Black Swann Inn is in a gorgeous setting on a lake, amazingly enough, and has an excellent Indian restaurant onsite.</p>
<p>Operamom....Southwest Airlines flies from San Diego to Bradley International Airport (between hartford and springfield). Check them out.</p>
<p>Operamom -- Tanglewood is about halfway between Bradley International in Hartford and Albany, NY's airport. Southwest flies into both -- it's worth checking. When my D went, somehow I remember that there was some kind of arranged transportation from either or both of these airports. I agree with the above posters -- Lenox is very, very pricey for lodging. Lee is just south of Lenox and would be cheaper -- Pittsfield is just north and would be cheaper, too. Cheapest would probably be around West Springfield -- loads of chains, etc., where the Mass Pike and I-91 intersect (on the route from Bradley to Tanglewood) -- however, a ways (40') from Lenox - other cheapest would be around the Albany airport (I-287 to Route 2 to Route 7 to Lenox). Williamstown, MA (where Williams College is located ) is about 45' north of Lenox -- that's where I usually stayed as my S went to college there and I liked going hiking and attending the Williamstown Theater Festival. I stayed there when I dropped my D off and for a few days more when the choral concert, solo recitals, and opera scenes at the end of the program were happening. Two fantastic motels -- Maple Terrace my favorite (<a href="http://www.mapleterrace.com%5B/url%5D">www.mapleterrace.com</a>) and The Willows (<a href="http://www.willowsmotel.com%5B/url%5D">www.willowsmotel.com</a>) are in Williamstown. Good luck!</p>