<p>My daughter is a graduating high school senior. She wants to major in vocal performance (soprano), but also receive a strong liberal arts education. She has been accepted to the vocal performance programs at several schools. She has narrowed her choice to 3 schools: Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin), University of Miami (Coral Gables, Florida), and Vanderbilt (Nashville, Tennessee). I would appreciate any advice from experienced CC subscribers regarding the advantages or disadvantages; strengths or weaknesses; or first-hand knowledge or experience of any of the programs or voice faculty at these three schools.</p>
<p>Lawrence is the only one of the three that I am familiar with, but I don't know much about the vocal program, as my son plays trumpet. He was accepted at Lawrence last year, but decided not to attend. He really liked the people he met when he visited, and the staff there was SO helpful whenever we had questions. It seems to be a place that really cares about its students. The academic program is excellent, as well.</p>
<p>The main drawback for my son was the size. At the time he applied, he thought he would like a small liberal arts college. After visiting several colleges, however, he found he liked bigger schools better, because they had more going on, including more opportunities to hear good music, as well as be a part of making music. So he ended up at Indiana.</p>
<p>However, Lawrence is a great little college, and I admit to being a bit sad when my son turned them down.</p>
<p>I think Lawrence probably is the best choice for voice. My D also looked at Lawrence and had a lesson there with a teacher she liked (she is a mezzo). She felt that Lawrence was not for her, but it IS a wonderful school. She did not even consider Vanderbilt or Miami, but that doesn't mean there aren't good teachers there. I just don't know about them!</p>
<p>I don't know much about the Vanderbilt music program, but it has to be somewhat successful, as they were chosen to participate in a college fair of selective arts schools at BU. I know their academics are quite good, however - they seem to be a very selective school.</p>
<p>Is she satisfied with the location of each school? They sound very different.</p>
<p>School location is not a big issue. We live near St Louis, MO, (5 hrs from Vanderbilt) and I work in Chicago during the week (3 hrs from Lawrence). We also have very close relatives in South Florida. Quality of the vocal program and faculty is our primary concern.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your replies so far. Please keep them coming.</p>
<p>While I don't have any knowledge of the three Voice programs you are considering, my daughter is a VP freshman at U of Michigan currently. Her voice teacher came to UM from Lawrence. He is excellent. D loves working with him. He cultivates a positive environment in his studio that D loves and one in which she thrives. I can't help but believe the quality of his current work also reflects on the quality of his previous school: Lawrence.</p>
<p>My daughter was also accepted to the Blair School of Music in vocal music. When she spoke with the professors she was told that if she had a strong interest in liberal arts classes she should not choose the performance major.</p>
<p>If you have not already done so - visit each of the colleges you listed. Try to schedule a voice lesson with a professor. Your daughter should also do an overnight in a dorm. My daughter has discovered quite a bit from her overnight visits - in all cases positive information that made her consider the schools more likely choices for her.</p>
<p>Lawrence has produced several outstanding vocalists that I know and having been on the campus a number of times I would say it is a nice facility. </p>
<p>Their philosphy in general is to truly develop the talent of a given student and they encourage their students to stretch and grow toward all their aspirations rather than some schools (don't know about the other two mentioned or not) that try more to "mold" students into something specific. For example, a student I know who is an accomplished composer already, was interviewing at another school and without even looking at his accomplishments the admissions officer told him they (this OTHER SCHOOL NOT Lawrence) would NEVER allow a student to write an opera because "No one performs any new operas." The kid had already written and had a local symphony perform an opera. At Lawrence they told the same student their goal was to help him get whatever he wrote performed.</p>
<p>My D is a sophomore 5 year double-degree major (voice - soprano)/Art History at Lawrence. She absolutely loves it there. Lawrence is obviously very different than UMiami and Vanderbilt by virtue of size and location. Certainly these two criteria should factor in your D's decision if size/location are very important to her. My D was interested in Blair but did not apply. She liked the sample lesson with a teacher there but found the curriculum restrictive when it came to liberal arts choices. She has found balance in both music and liberal arts at Lawrence. The double-degree program is very well supported by an advisory system in both the college and conservatory. She loves her voice teacher and speaks highly of all the voice faculty. She has participated in opera scenes for two years and sang a great part in the opera this year. The overall environment has been very supportive. Appleton is not a metropolis by any means but there is enough to do there and she has been off campus a few times for choir concerts and roadtrips (Chicago, Madison, etc.). We are from a cold weather city so the weather is a non-issue. If your D has not had a sample lesson, I would recommend one and an overnight visit to see how she feels about the overall fit. Admitted student weekend is a bit overwhelming -- maybe choose another timeframe. Email me privately if you need more info. BTW, my D was admitted to Oberlin, CMU, Ithaca, McGill but chose Lawrence. A bonus was a large merit/performance scholarship. She did not want to go the conservatory route.</p>
<p>I tried sending you a private e-mail yesterday, but apparently it did not go through (send a private message does not appear as an option when I click on your name). I have read many of your postings, was aware that your D attends Lawrence as a double-degree major, and appreciate that you replied to my posting. In the e-mail I tried to send you, I indicated that, if possible, I'd like to arrange for my D to correspond with your D. Please send me a private message with your D's e-mail address. If you are not comfortable doing that, please provide an e-mail address to which I can send my D's e-mail address.</p>
<p>My son is a double degree piano major at Lawrence. As an accompanist he has had many opportunities to work with voice majors and voice faculty. He has great respect for all of the voice teachers and choral directors. He also feels that the Lawrence Conservatory faculty are very supportive of the double degree students.</p>
<p>I have heard it said (and read in some threads on CC) that Lawrence has more of a regional reputation than a national reputation - both academically and as a conservatory. What has been your (and your son's) experience? Does the music program have more national draw than the liberal arts college.</p>
<p>firstimer - this is tough for me to answer because I live only a few hours away from Lawrence. Musicians in our area have always been aware of Lawrence's excellent music and academics. The students that are drawn to Lawrence tend to be those who want a conservatory experience but still want a strong liberal arts education. The double degree students love this because even the single BMus. degree students must complete 60 units (which have Distribution, Diversity and Competency requirements) outside of music. The double degree is very common and unlike some schools, it would be unlikely that a student would be encouraged by professors to drop one of the two degrees. If a student is looking for strictly professional music training, they might feel that Lawrence is not "competive" or "intense" enough. However, I believe one's experience depends on the department. </p>
<p>After all that, the short answer is no, Lawrence does not have the same name recognition or national/international reputation as Julliard, Eastman, Peabody, or Oberlin. However, there are National Merit finalists, Downbeat Award winners, MTNA winners, at least one NFAA finalist, and both the college and the conservatory draw students from over 40 other countries and nearly all 50 states. Lawrence provides an exceptional environment to grow both artistically and intellectually for the student who feels it is a fit.</p>
<p>Why would you not look at University of Cincinnati ( Cincinnati Conservatory of Music)? It is not only one of the best in the country but it is cheaper than the schools that you mentioned.</p>
<p>Firsttime, my son is in the conservatory at LU and doing a double degree in Government. I have posted before and you have probably read those so I will only add a little more. I am thrilled that my son chose this school and he had many other offers. After he visited, it was from the start his first choice: he never bothered to tell me. From my perspective, he is getting the type of college education that you dream about for your child. It is personalized. It has all the accoutrements of college life: the sports, the clubs, lectures, music, town life, dorms etc. But most important, the college has a sense of values that it is imparting to its students. Academics is major. Honor system is major. I am 8000 miles away and I never worry about him unless he is traveling to see family in CA. So, to be honest, I was very sad when he chose this school because I didn't know any better; he did know. Visit.</p>
<p>CCM is undoubtedly a great conservatory. University of Cincinnati simply did not meet some of the other criteria that we considered important in selecting a school, most importantly, size, academic strength, liberal arts/dual degree opportunities.</p>
<p>I have read a number of your posts, and we have visited Lawrence -- 3 times. It's a great campus in a beautiful location on the Fox River. I hope you have an opportunity to visit. Where are you and your son from?</p>
<p>taxguy -- CCM is strictly a conservatory -- i.e. it is narrowly directed to music only. As an undergrad there, only a couple of very basic liberals arts courses are required -- i.e. English -- but, other than that, the primary focus is music performance -- which is the primary mission of conservatories in general. My impression is that firstimer's D is looking for a place where there is a strong vocal performance program as well as strong (and just the possibility of) a liberal arts education. CCM is not the place for that. IMO it's not the best choice, either, for undergraduate vocal performance. The graduate voice program there is very strong and undergrads are overshadowed by it -- i.e. teacher choices limited -- in fact, some grad students teach undergrads -- performance opportunities limited, etc..</p>