<p>Thanks to all for the information so very much. My D is probably going to apply for multiple categories, mt, classical voice and jazz voice (although mt is by far her love). My D has already applied to cmu I think she emailed her app the first day! Understand the odds are so against her and I understand the audition process is more towards dance and her voice is her strongest talent. To that point she is applying to 11 schools— We live near Univ of Hartford where Haart is and she has already pretty much being assured of placement there but it is actually her last choice because it is practically in our backyard. </p>
<p>I think tomorrow is the final day to complete your on-line YoungArts application. As I recall, filling out the on-line ap is a breeze, so you could do it tonight. You have until the 29th to submit the audition. </p>
<p>Couple of YoungArts questions for those of you who’ve done it. </p>
<p>D is submitting in Popular Voice as well as MT.<br>
First question: the instructions are a little vague for Popular Voice. It says, “Announce your audition in the following manner: ‘My YoungArts ID number is xxxxxxx…’ Also include the names and composers of the pieces as well as the DVD chapter/track numbers…on the content card inside the DVD case” That sounds to me like you’re NOT supposed to slate the names of the pieces in your introduction. Correct? We have the DVD all ready to mail but I started having doubts when I was putting the DVD together. Especially since the MT one specifically says to announce the names and composers of the pieces in your introduction. </p>
<p>Second question: (I know this is simply a matter of opinion but I’ll ask anyway.) She recorded 2 options for her MT song. The first choice we discovered late in the game was used by one of last year’s finalists. We thought that perhaps they wouldn’t want to select the same song 2 years in a row, so she recorded a different song but it’s not as good because it was last minute and she was a little frazzled. It’s also one of the dreaded “overdone” songs. (well, you could argue that the first one is, too, but that didn’t stop them from choosing it last year!) Anyway, we’re quite torn as to which one to submit. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Unfortunately I don’t really know the answer to either question. </p>
<p>My gut opinion on the second question, though, is that it’s probably best to send in whichever recording you think shows your D’s talents to best advantage. I’m guessing most years they see multiple performances of the same songs, and are able to see past the material to the qualities of a particular performer. I know last year four MT finalists did (different) songs from the same shows - two from Aida and two from The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, and I’m also pretty sure I remember D saying that people arrived with overlapping second songs as well. They had some kids perform songs other than the ones from their initial recordings for the final Miami performance.</p>
<p>As to the first question, I’m again guessing it won’t be make or break either way. I know D’s recording that she sent violated a couple of guidelines (clean background with no horizontal lines) as she’d made a last-minute extra recording offstage in her band room and it turned out the acoustics there were better on the tape so she sent that one. </p>
<p>We did find the folks we reached by phone at YoungArts last year to be extremely friendly and helpful, so you could call and ask them as well.</p>
<p>Thanks, MomCares for the kind reply. We did call and they said that they prefer the songs to be slated on the DVD so we went back and recorded a new into. It’s got a really annoying buzz all through it but it’s just the intro so we’re going to leave it be. There’s no buzz on her actual songs/monologue.</p>
<p>AND she decided to change the MT song entirely! Her monologue was a bit too long, but there was nothing she felt she could cut out and have it have the same impact so she opted for a song she could cut to a minute and a half and still stay within the 4 minute limit. Problem solved! </p>
<p>Tomorrow I’ll get them mailed off and be so glad to wash my hands of this. I will counsel my friends next year to tape these things in JULY so that when you find all sort of technical challenges, etc you have PLENTY of time to go back and re-tape (and re-tape) as necessary. We’re now so up against the clock that we’re going to have to send it in even with a couple of sound issues that we’re not happy with.</p>
<p>Isn’t it funny how it happens at the last minute in spite of knowing about it far in advance? To be fair, though all of these MT rising Seniors are insanely busy so it’s totally understandable!</p>
<p>The good news is that last year everyone we knew, and I think D said virtually all of the Miami Finalists, sent in their DVDs at the last possible moment (at great shipping expense, I might add). D actually did a recording in the summer, but technical issues torpedoed it (too much backlight and the live piano was WAY too loud) so even the best laid plans resulted in last-minute shipping.</p>
<p>Same topic but different question…does anyone know when/how students will be notified of the 2011 YoungArts winners? I do not see it mentioned on the website.</p>
<p>Last year D got a phone call just before Thanksgiving. I think everyone except the Finalists are notified of awards by mail, though I’m not as sure of that part.</p>