<p>I asked my friend's parents (two professional and successful musicians) if they had heard of the Mannes College of Music. Coincidentally, they both went there an recieved their B.M.s there for instrumental performance. I asked them if I should consider applying there for my Voice and Opera undergrad, and their answer was "We graduated from there 20 years ago, back then we would HIGHLY recommend it, however we are unsure about it today because its been so long." </p>
<p>What do you know about Mannes? Is it worth applying to for undergrad voice and opera? How strong is the program and music school as a whole? How is it viewed on a resume and how competative is it? </p>
<p>Also, this is a question I have recieved unsure answers about, does the school supply housing? Obviously you have to pay room and board, but do they actually give you your own dorm or do you have to pay rent and find your own place?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure that if you go to the Mannes website you will find that the dorms are somewhere across town with the other New School students (I looked it up last year.)</p>
<p>Mannes is a strong conservatory with very high admissions standards in voice. They limit enrollment so that students who attend have performance opportunities, unlike certain other conservatories in NYC. Additionally, studies in music theory and literature are demanding, more so than other conservatories. Dorms are in another part of town, use of subways is required. There is no food service, but this is no worse of a situation than the situations offered at other NYC conservatories where the in-house food service options is so limited.</p>
<p>DS and girlfriend both attended Mannes for grad school (instrumental). GF lived in dorms downtown first year, then got sick of schlepping her cello on the subway to get to class. Finding their own housing nearby was surprisingly easy and actually less expensive; there is a network of music students flowing into and out of the city constantly, and it seemed like someone always knew someone else who knew someone who had a sublet…It’s a very different experience living on your own than living in a dorm…especially in NY.</p>
<p>If you are near the tristate area, Mannes typically puts on an opera production at Hunter College around Mother’s Day. It’s open to the general public, tickets are inexpensive. There’s nothing like seeing/hearing for yourself.</p>