<p>I do agree, though, that Mr. Wagner came across kind of extreme about Universities versus Conservatories, as well as schools with cut programs, and the 16 bar cuts. UMich was my top school before the audition, but I was turned off by his extremity, although I agree with most of what he said (that’s why it was my top school). My audition seemed to go well, my songs were only 16 bars and he asked me to sing both. He was perfectly nice, but I can definitely see how he may have rubbed some people the wrong way.</p>
<p>Just wanted to express my concern about the fact that Mr. Wagner is somehow being looked at in a less than favorable light.
I’m currently a junior in the University of Michigan’s MT department and have never felt anything but support from him and the other members of the faculty. He’s stern and strict, but in a way that pushes all of us to be our best. And isn’t that what we all want to be?
I recently sat in on the morning talk he gives to the auditionees and he, while firm, is very careful about what he says regarding other schools and departments and sites like CC. I’ve only ever heard him say that you need to look at these websites “with caution” and really think long and hard about whether or not a conservatory is good for you. It is the right match for some people, but not for others. But he IS very passionate about the notion that even musical theatre majors need academics. He reminds us that we are actors, after all. We need to be able to read with a critical eye, be informed about our history and the different kinds of people in the world, etc. Taking academics can only make you a better actor. But he also realizes that not everyone needs academics, nor cares about taking them. </p>
<p>Every Thursday he sends out an email to the students helping with auditions on Friday about what to wear, what we’ll be helping with, etc. I often help with auditions and have read that email many times. He says over and over how important it is to never say anything negative about other schools or their audition process. He wants us to be honest, but not negative. But really, none of us would be anyway. This is very important to us. We are all positive and loving people (truly!) and wants to make sure we all come off that way. </p>
<p>Perhaps it was a bad morning for Mr. Wagner, but I just think everyone should know that he is one of the most passionate men I’ve known. He truly cares about all of his students and every single person that auditions for him. Cliche, I know, but very true. </p>
<p>Also, the woman who played for the auditions in Chicago is as professional and talented as they get. I’ve been in two shows that she’s music directed and she is one of the best MDs/piano players in the business. In a chorus of 35+ people in last year’s production of 42ND STREET, she could hear if ONE person was out of tune. She knew what part they were singing and she would always find the person and fix the problem! It was pretty… remarkable. </p>
<p>Our faculty at U of M is truly outstanding. I trust them completely with my education (and all that money!). All of them brilliant and compassionate. </p>
<p>I’m sorry that your audition experience was a negative one. I think that’s fairly unusual… It’s actually the first time I’ve heard anything other than positive feedback about auditioning for U of M. People are shocked at how easy their day was and how at ease and comfortable they felt throughout the day! </p>
<p>Good luck to everyone and I hope these last few weeks of this process go by quickly!</p>
<p>Concerning those 16 bars - at this school would a long last note held as a fermata be counted as additional bars?</p>
<p>I gotta agree about the pianist in Chicago. Everyone that day I spoke to had problems…and my music was REALLY REALLY well prepped. I spent hours copy and pasting and writing in notes and copying again to make sure it was perfect!! And I had advice from about 2 of my teachers on how to prepare the music…during the audition, I could not for the life of me figure out if I was correctly singing with the accompaniment, but after a few seconds I began singing without trying to listen to or think about it, so it was fine. </p>
<p>BUT everyone saying such negative things about Mr. Wagner and UMich is surprising me. I think the things he said about the conservatory setting vs. university setting was just his way of telling students that they had to think long and hard about where they wanted to end up! Many kids out there have no idea that there is such a big difference between the two…one example is a transfer I met at UCLA. Two years ago, she got accepted to Boco on the spot…she cancelled the rest of the auditions and committed to the school just because she new the school was very “good”. She didn’t do much research and within a month at the school, found herself hating the conservatory training she was getting. She realized she wanted a broader education. I think this is what Mr. Wagner was trying to tell kids.</p>
<p>His talk about what students should avoid in other programs obviously was showing that UMich was a program that didn’t do anything that the other schools did that he thought was unprofessional. BUT it made really good sense and it was also his way of him giving students advice. He knows he will not be able to offer spots to all the talented kids he meets, so I think it was just his way of helping us with future research in schools. I don’t think he was in any way putting down other programs. He never once mentioned that UMich was the best program or anything like one other school I went to that I won’t mention on the board. I mean it’s true about what he said about schools who cut…it’s a scary thing. And according to his teaching philosophy is not good. I know it isn’t for me…but I guess it doesn’t scare other kids. Everything he said had a truth to it. And he wasn’t rude or anything…I found him one of the most professional. And it seemed like to me that he understood that there are many great programs out there for all of us.</p>
<p>I think the only thing that should really rub people the wrong way is when a school outright claims that they are the best. Because that is when they have no right to be doing that. Mr. Wagner never once said that when I auditioned, so I never once was turned off by the school. Yes, he may not have been warm as Barbara and the rest of the CMU faculty, but he was very professional and polite…I believe it’s just one of his traits to be hard to read!</p>
<p>classicalbk,</p>
<p>I can only speak to the MPulse (high school summer) audition process, but Mr. Wagner was present for these auditions, and the regs seemed pretty much the same. Daughter’s 16 bars ended with a fermata to be held over several measures with a lot of piano flouish. She spoke w/the pianist before she started, and they agreed he would just sound the last chord as she hit the note, and she could hold it as long/short as she needed. That seemed to work. I don’t know who the accompaniest was for the MPulse auditions, but kiddo said he was fabulous.</p>
<p>What a smart idea- with the pianist and the fermata. The pianist could even do a fermata tremelo under the held out vocal note! Somebody please remind me in about 10 months.</p>