Has anyone here had recent experience of the voice studies program at Carleton? We’re looking at LACs for our daughter, who will be a HS junior this fall and who has an equal love of studying English/literature and studying classical/operatic voice - she would like to do both in college. Carleton looks like just the kind of LAC that she would thrive at - the more I learn about the school, the more I like it! - but I’m wondering how the voice studies program would be. I’ve downloaded their brochure and it looks like there are several faculty members in voice with strong backgrounds in opera/classical - does anyone here know more about the program than what’s in the brochure?
I graduated quite a long time ago (2001), but I was an English major and a private voice student, and very involved with singing life on campus, including Choir and Singers, Pro Musica, Student Musical Theater, an 80s cover band, and an a cappella group. I was a lifetime singer with over a decade of classical/choral music training going into Carleton, including stints in the MN Opera children’s chorus, and I really felt I improved over my years at Carleton due to the quality and attentiveness of the faculty. Because the school and the program are fairly small, it enables them to be more personally responsive, especially for students with a serious professional interest. The school also benefits by being across the river from St. Olaf and their very robust music program, which draws a lot of great people down to Northfield to teach at both colleges. By way of a “success story,” my classmate David McFerrin went to on pursue advanced training at CCM and Juilliard and now has a very active career as an operatic baritone: https://www.davidmcferrin.com/david-mcferrin/.
I was mainly a serious hobbyist, but it was a good fit for me. I am still in the arts as a career, though on the administrative side now, running a non-profit theater in New York City. And I married a composer!
Thank you so much, @inthewings - I am so happy to hear that! I’ve been delighted with everything I’ve learned about Carleton so far - it sounds like the epitome of a great LAC - and what you’ve just told me definitely moves it onto the list of schools that will be Must Applies for our daughter! It’s a small world, by the way - I am married to a composer, too!
Way back in “the middle ages” (class of 1978), my classmate Sylvia Rhyne graduated from Carleton with a music major. She then when on to international acclaim and Broadway musical theater as a soprano. Early in her career, Sylvia recorded with Dennis Russell Davies and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. She then internationally starred in the role of Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera” and on Broadway as Joanna in “Sweeny Todd.” She performed with the New York City Opera Company. She and Eric Redlinger have won awards as the duo “Asteria,” performing Medieval and Renaissance music.
I remember walking across campus between classes and, out of nowhere along a sidewalk, hearing Sylvia’s soprano voice singing some aria she was learning. Such was – and is – the wonderful diversity of characters you will find at Carleton. She has returned to campus at times as a guest artist to perform and also to teach master classes. At our 40th reunion in June, we '78ers had the luxury of her singing just for just us following a class dinner. Does that mean she now can make claims to performing at dinner theaters? Thanks, Sylvia!
That is so cool, @MinnesotaDadof3!
Many students interested in Midwest colleges and music/voice would consider st. Olaf before Carleton as it’s the gold standard for non conservatory voice training.
The ‘vibe’ however is quite different (Carleton is quirkier and more intellectual; St Olaf is more social justice and musical, although by and large not preprofessional.)
Because Carleton is on trimesters and St Olaf semesters it can make difficult to arrange classes on the other campus but it can be done.
I’d recommend you visit both and apply to both, after enquiring more about each.
Thanks, @MYOS1634 - yes, we’ve been looking into St. Olaf too (our church’s choir director is an alum, and we hear great things from him - and we just had a long conversation with one of their admissions people at a college fair last weekend). It does sound like a two-campus trip to Northfield may be in our family’s future :-)!