<p>Hello Everyone,
I will be graduating this May with a duel major of Vocal Performance and Music Education. (I only added the Music Education portion as a secondary major because I enjoy teaching and wanted to make sure I will always have a back up plan.)</p>
<p>So I am now graduating in less then fifty days and I would really appreciate any guidance given. I am a lyric soprano with a voice that lends itself to Mozart and Schubert. I have a 3.8 GPA. But, the college I attend has offered me practically no performance opportunities and I have no guidance other than applying to the standard greats such as NEC, Curtis and Yale....which are as we know extremely competitive or expensive (If not free for 1% of the world.)</p>
<p>I am also disappointed because I feel as though going into undergrad I was ahead of the game, I had studied Italian for 4 yrs. Won second place in the Junior NATs competition and been recorded several times
.now I feel like I have been buried at my current school and I need help
.</p>
<p>So I am looking for some guidance as to which schools offer quality MASTERS programs that are affordable or offer realistic scholarships and financial aid. </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Recently my D and I were visiting an undergrad school with a good but not top tier voice program. We met a senior lyric soprano who had won a full ride to Oklahoma City University for vocal performance. You might want to check it out.</p>
<p>While I can’t speak to the vocal disciplines, one of the best sources of info for Masters level programs are the peers, current masters and above students, faculty and mentors at your current undergrad school. These are the people that know your strengths and weaknesses, and are often in the best position to suggest potential programs for further development.</p>
<p>By saying you feel “buried” at your current institution, you are reluctant or unable to take advantage of what for many is the best source of advice. Utilizing your own network through other mentors, professional associations and peer experiences becomes the next logical step.</p>
<p>Grad funding is a tough nut, and scholarships/fellowships are typically awarded based on the strength of your audition within the applicant pool. Sometimes a sub discipline such as a strong knowledge of theory or in your case, potentially music ed may help sweeten the pot or if nothing else get you a TA or GA stipend even if no talent based award is forthcoming. Many of these are also contingent on the strength of the undergrad academic performance within the sub disciplines.</p>
<p>Nothing concrete, but some food for thought.</p>
<p>Good luck to to you.</p>
<p>My D is graduating from a state school w/BM in Voice Performance in May. Although her teachers here have been encouraging to her and she’s been fortunate with regard to performance opportunities, she has spent summers in pay-to-sings in order to expand her network and supplement her instruction. Two years ago she spent a month at NEC in their Summer Opera Studio doing scenes. It was a good experience and helped her realize that the instruction she was receiving at her second-tier school was solid, even if not cutting edge.</p>
<p>Last year she attended the Summer Voice Institute (this year it’s referred to as a Festival) at MSM. This was the best money she (ok, “we”) have ever invested! Everything about the program was stellar! The instruction, the masterclasses, Dona Vaughn’s “What NOT to wear” lectures. She returned for her senior year determined and well informed about what she needed to do this year to get to the next level, and put her energies towards finishing her degree and auditioning for grad school.</p>
<p>One of the students at last year’s MSM summer program had recently graduated from an UG program and had not been accepted to any of the grad programs she applied to. Even though she is a soprano, MSM found a spot for her and she just wrapped up her 1st year as a Grad student there. </p>
<p>You might want to look into the MSM Summer Festival – I think they take aps until April 10th or so. My D would be going again except she’ll be singing Despina in Milan this summer :)</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>