<p>Sorry, musicamusica, but I disagree. I believe when a person is performing a musical work, it is a performance, whether it be for an audition panel, a masterclass, or in concert. I have been on judging panels for auditions and competitions. I have even been the director of a competition. And, I have also been the one auditioning, so I have been on both sides. And, yes, you see all kinds of behavior by judging panels. But, this is a thread entitled “Tell Us About Audition Day”, which is what I was doing. Didn’t mean to start an argument. 
</p>
<p>the “agenda” is in no way hidden : <a href=“Lesley Gore - Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows - YouTube”>Lesley Gore - Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows - YouTube;
<p>OMG>>>>>> we can now post Leslie Gore in all her glory</p>
<p>Oh! Got it now, musicamusica. I guess I’ve never heard this song before. I have led a sheltered life I guess!</p>
<p>I agree completely Clarimom. Panelists SHOULD give the artists their full attention. I just would not want auditioners to read this thread and assume that you can read the minds of the panelists based on their behavior. Not an argument, just an observation based on my D’s experiences and the experiences of others who have posted here over the years. I skype my Europe based D at least once a week and we still parse auditions based on what was said, what the reactions were , etc. We still can’t read them correctly.</p>
<p>Best comment from an audition panel came last week. “You have beautiful blonde hair. For this reason, you should be a soprano”</p>
<p>Maybe we should start a collection of crazy audition panel quotes. </p>
<p>Not to change the subject, though, but ICE again in Houston!!! My son is flying there tomorrow for an audition at Rice and the weather forecast once again is looking terrible–schools closed, roads closed. Gearing up for another stressful day until I hear he has arrived safely.</p>
<p>ugh. really really bleck.
:-SS </p>
<p>
That’s incredibly demeaning. </p>
<p>Audition quote
aud “you know you are a mezzo, right?”
D “yes ??”
aud “form says soprano”
D “mezzo not a choice on the form”
aud “ah”</p>
<p>D tells me this story afterwards with eyes rolling :)</p>
<p>" Glassharmonica-- at the same audition, the woman before her was told: “We hate your voice. You will never sing professionally.”
Of course, this woman sings professionally all the time. </p>
<p>If I can, I am sending that video to my S this morning. Priceless. Hilarious. Thanks, musicamusica. Good luck to your S in Houston, Clarimom. What a winter.</p>
<p>So far, several flights to Houston have been cancelled, but S’s still shows ‘on time’. Will be on pins and needles all day. Schools here in my Midwest area are all closed today due to extreme cold!</p>
<p>Clarimom - I was just on line with colleagues in Houston. Our office there is closed today, but my coworkers said it was above freezing and the roads were good. So hopefully your son’s flight will be okay. Good luck to him! Meanwhile I’m here in the Midwest freezing with you. I don’t think our heater has paused yet today. </p>
<p>Much better news to report today–quite the opposite from last week! Weather in Houston–not so good as LA! Slight delay in flight, a few icy roads, but S made it there safely. He stayed at the Best Western Medical Center, and was able to get the hotel shuttle to drop him at Shepherd. Took a two-hour theory test in the a.m. and said wasn’t too bad. The audition itself was just with the professor in his studio. S said the professor was very nice, the audition went well, the school was great, the orchestra sounded wonderful, and most importantly…he was happy afterwards. It was so wonderful to hear the cheerfulness back in his voice. He was able to meet up with a former classmate now at Rice who showed him around and had lunch with him, and all in all, it was a very pleasant audition day! Can you all hear the sigh of relief emanating from this post? :)</p>
<p>Great news, Clarimom! His next trip should be easier because the weather is supposed to warm up.</p>
<p>For anyone venturing to CIM this weekend or to Chicago, snow is expected on Friday and Saturday in the former and Saturday in Chicago. If you’re driving in from east of here, allow plenty of additional time and be very careful.</p>
<p>Great to hear Clarimom! Congrats to your son. </p>
<p>wanted to update DDs Lawrence audition with something she did not share with me till last night…
The people (to remain unnamed) who accompanied her were awful. She showed me the video on her application profile from her audition and I have nothing positive to say other than DD did an awfully good job considering the accompaniment was all over the place both in terms of tempo and hitting the right notes/key. Her pieces are fairly standard rep so I am disappointed.</p>
<p>Just a note of encouragement—if it’s standard rep the panelists generally know when the accompanist has made errors. Your D probably got extra points for overcoming the challenge. =D> </p>
<p>They actually post a video of the audition itself, vivasolar?!! Wow, that is unusual, but I kind of like the idea. I’m sorry that your D had to go through that, but it’s something that she needs to get used to because the quality of accompanists varies widely from place to place (and school to school). Unlike MT auditions, where the singer is free to talk to the accompanist and express preferences, classical singers and accompanists each “stay in their own space”. Often, the kids have to submit their pieces in advance of the audition- was that they case for your D? Again, I don’t think that it’s unreasonable to expect that standard rep be played properly.</p>
<p>Expectations vs reality. Again. I wonder if this accompanist was a last minute sub. That does happen. And with the current weather chaos…anything is possible. But I do have to disagree with the “stay in their own space” idea. D frequently points out preferences to her audition accompanist. It’s usually a brief aside as she hands them the music, but it’s not out of line. I certainly don’t think vivasolars’ D could have asked the accompanist to “play the right notes”, but a request for a tempo preference is perfectly fine.Whether or not that instruction is followed is another story. I do wish more schools gave students a small block of time before their audition in order to communicate with the pianist. But then again,that in itself is an art frequently learned during the undergrad years.</p>