<p>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>From searching through past years’ discussions, it seems they notify the finalists around Nov. 20-22. The Honorable Mentions, etc get posted on the website sometime shortly after that and the “thanks for entering, better luck next time” folks get notified around December 3-5. But that’s just what they’ve done in the past. No guarantee it will be the same this year!</p>
<p>Thank you. Wasn’t sure how long it took for the judges to decide. Do you know if they e-mail or is it a letter? Just mailed in my audition DVD. The waiting begins…</p>
<p>Last year I was notified in November by phone that I was a YA Musical Theatre Finalist. I was in the car with my family and freaked out when they told me! He asked me a few questions to verify I was the same person, asked if I would accept, and then told me I would receive an e-mail with all of the information I would have to fill out next. YoungArts was such an incredible experience; I met so many wonderful people, and learned so much about myself as an artist and person. I would recommend anyone to at least apply; it is also helpful to get in the audition mode before you hit the main audition season!</p>
<p>Congratulations robbinsnest5! I have heard that YoungArts in Miami is an amazing experience. What was your typical day like? I submitted for MT, too, and am interested in finding out about your experience as a finalist.</p>
<p>Our days were very exciting and packed full of events! Our basic schedule was waking up around 7 and then heading down to a breakfast buffet with the rest of the finalists and also our panelists. Then we would take a bus to the theatre department at Miami University (or was it U of Miami? can’t remember lol). </p>
<p>Once we would arrive at the theatre building we would go through warm ups with our warmup coach (he was not a panelist, and was someone we could go to with any issues at all; some of his exercises impacted me the most out of everything we did!) After we warmed up we would move to the black box theatre where we would go through our pieces. We had to perform the song and monologue from the DVD as well as an additional song (or monologue for the spoken finalists). Our four panelists would each give feedback and walk us through exercises to help make new discoveries in our pieces. Around noon we would break for lunch and then we would continue with the work from earlier. </p>
<p>In the late afternoon we would return to the Marriott and have a nice dinner with the rest of the finalists and panelists, and then we would all leave for one of the many performances or exhibitions of the other disciplines. Our theatre showcase was one of the first, I believe we performed Tuesday. On Monday we showed the panelists our pieces so they could select one for us to perform. We were also given an opening number which was an arrangement of JRB’s “A New World” and Sondheim’s “Our Time.” We blocked this Tuesday morning, then left for the beautiful theatre downtown (I can’t remember the name), where we had a run-through then dress rehearsal. That night we performed our showcase which can be seen here:</p>
<p>[Blog</a> | YoungArts](<a href=“http://www.youngarts.org/blog/watch-youngarts-week-theater-performances-live-january-11th-8pm]Blog”>http://www.youngarts.org/blog/watch-youngarts-week-theater-performances-live-january-11th-8pm) </p>
<p>Every night after the showcases we would return to the hotel where we all had pool-side snacks which was so much fun! : )</p>
<p>Some of the highlights of the week were our different masterclasses. I was lucky enough to perform my shakespeare monologue for the legendary Liv Ullmann. She is such a warm and genuine person; a true artist, who really seemed to care about our growth. We also worked with a master of Alexander Technique and Ken Washington of the Guthrie. We also took a dance class from one of Fosse’s dancer’s who was in Pippin, and The Producers as well as many others on Broadway. Another highlight was when Kerry Washington came and gave us a masterclass on the business and what it takes to be successful. </p>
<p>Overall the experience was incredible; it definitely was a nice break from the stressful audition season!</p>
<p>Thanks for the explanation and the link. Sounds like an amazing week - especially the master classes. I was wondering about dance. For the audition DVD none was required. I didn’t know if YA just worked on voice and acting or if dance was offered as part of MT, too.</p>
<p>@ Robbinsnest5 -</p>
<p>Did the Theater Spoken and MT YoungArts finalists take some of the same classes or was it separate training?</p>
<p>All of the training was together. In fact, there was no separation between spoken and MT. The only difference is that at the showcase, the MTs got to perform one of their songs, and the spoken obviously did a monologue. : )</p>
<p>@ Robbinsnest5 - Do you think attending YoungArts helped you during college auditions? What is the best piece of advice/training they gave you?</p>
<p>For me, YoungArts was a breath of fresh air during a super stressful year of auditions… It gave me more confidence, sort of confirming that I can do this, and it was a good chance to work material without a lot on the line. </p>
<p>What I learned, which stuck with me the most, came from an exercise our warm up guy, Marcus. He had us partner up and stand in front of our partner. They then rested their hands on our hips and we leaned forward to that point where you are just off balance. It felt like that moment you trip, and you realize you are going to fall, but haven’t actually fallen yet. It’s crazy uncomfortable, but wildly liberating. He told us this is how you should feel about your art, you should never feel “comfortable.” That really resonated with me.</p>
<p>YoungArts didn’t really really help me as far as my pieces for auditions, but it definitely helped boost my confidence which was really nice heading in to unifieds in Chicago!</p>
<p>@luvzthe8r - Not robbinsnest5, but I’ll add D’s experience in case it’s useful. </p>
<p>YoungArts wasn’t relevant to D’s auditions, since she was admitted to her top choice school ED, but YoungArts does send all Finalists a letter to send to admissions, which we’ve heard may have made a difference for many Finalists. I think D also said that at least one Finalist was admitted to a programs where she didn’t even have to audition as a direct result of YoungArts, and I also think D said that several others were given automatic callbacks to one of the top programs, where at least two kids matriculated.</p>
<p>I know firsthand that her check from YoungArts is helping with tuition this year. ;-D</p>
<p>As far as useful exercises, I know D has said she’s often used an exercise related to different types of breath associated with different emotions – maybe robbinsnest5 can fill in some details about that if he remembers it.</p>
<p>@MomCares</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your D’s experience, too, and explaining about the letter YoungArts provides for finalists. It sounds like it was helpful to some of the finalists in getting into their ideal colleges. Congrats to your D, too! Getting into your dream school ED would be awesome. The majority of my dream schools are far from where I live, so I will be auditioning for most at Unifieds and have to wait until spring for a decision. </p>
<p>We do an exercise in my Theatre class like the breathing/emotion technique you described, so I think I know what that is. </p>
<p>I would love to have an opportunity like your D. and Robbinsnest5 to participate in YoungArts. This was my first time applying, so if I don’t make it this year, I will try again next year, but I was wondering…what would happen if you were an honorable mention or merit winner this year…can you submit again next year or does that disqualify you from a second chance?</p>
<p>You should check the YoungArts website to be sure, but I think I remember that only Miami Finalists are disqualified from re-applying a second year (assuming you still make the age cutoff).</p>
<p>Just for the record, some of the most talented kids D knows submitted and were not Finalists last year but were still admitted to top programs, so those who aren’t Finalist should in no way lose heart! It’s just yet another audition on a road paved with auditions. ;-D</p>
<p>Here is the question from the YoungArts website:</p>
<p>I am going to be 18 on December 1, 2011 and I won a YoungArts award when I was 17. Can I register again?</p>
<p>If you participated in a YoungArts Week in Miami, you are not eligible to register for the YoungArts program a second time. This is to allow another qualified participant a chance for a YoungArts Week experience. However, YoungArts Honorable Mention or Merit award winners are eligible to register again if they are 17 or 18 on December 1, 2011.</p>
<p>I’ll still be 18 next December, so I can try again if I am not a finalist this time. Thanks for answering my questions, MomCares, robbinsnest5, and tracyvp.</p>
<p>Has anyone heard?</p>
<p>Wondering about this myself…applied for creative writing, haven’t heard anything yet.</p>
<p>Here’s hoping the fact that no one from CC seems to have heard yet means they’re making the calls on a different day this year. </p>
<p>Our fingers are crossed for all of you who applied!</p>
<p>I also applied, but not for theater, I have not heard back yet either… maybe this week before the holiday…</p>
<p>Have not heard anything either. I thought last year people got phone calls either Tuesday or Wednesday of this week?</p>