Page 114 - Classical Singer magazine 2019 Fall University Issue

Nailing Your University Scholarship Audition
BY ROBERTO MANCUSI
Don’t forget the seemingly small details when preparing for university auditions. They can make a big difference in whether or not you are successful.
College tuition has become a
hot topic across the country. The truth of the matter is that it has always been a hot topic in the homes of families everywhere. For many, the cost of tuition can mean the di erence between going to college or not, so it comes as no surprise that a premium is placed on those precious, performance-based scholarships available to incoming freshmen.
Colleges and universities work hard to provide scholarship money for their promising incoming students.
At the same time, upperclassmen
are busy trying to put their best foot forward to secure the highest amount of scholarship money possible to reduce or eliminate tuition costs. With a little organization and preparation, you can make sure
that you are considered for as much scholarship money as possible.
You see, colleges and universities are looking for students who are going to come into their music programs with a certain level of preparation and musical development. Unfortunately, not all high school programs are created equally. With that in mind, the suggestions listed here will help you identify and strengthen any de ciencies that you may have.
Preparation
Preparation can begin as early in your high school career as you would like it to start. In fact, the earlier your interest is noticed by a college/ university, the more the faculty
can get to know you prior to your audition to the program. Additionally, most voice faculty will be happy to work with you in selecting the right repertoire for your audition and perhaps even bring you into their private studio to get your voice in the best shape possible during the time you have.
By knowing what schools you are interested in, you can then proceed to determine what their unique audition requirements are. Auditions are
quite similar from school to school, but there are things that make each school di erent—and you do not want to be unprepared for those. For example, schools A, B, and C all ask for three songs of contrasting styles preferably in two di erent languages, but school C also says they have a sight-singing component to their audition. That is something that requires some work and practice in order to be prepared.
The good news is that all this information can be found at each music department’s website. Colleges
and universities work hard to make it easy for prospective students to nd out all the pertinent information they need. If all else fails, do not be afraid to contact the chair or a voice faculty member with your questions.
The Audition Day
If you have not already started developing a performance day routine, now is the time to begin. This is a set of things you do to make sure you are ready mentally and physically for your performance or audition. This routine should include some simple but necessary items to make sure you have everything ready to go. These should consist of getting plenty of rest the night before, having your music ready for your accompanist, and making sure you are on track to arrive early.
The last one is of special importance. When it comes to auditions, it is best to adopt the motto “Early is on time and on time is late.” The last thing you want is for the listeners to be waiting on you for your scheduled time. Remember, they are listening to many students, and you want to impress them.
Also, you will want to make sure that you look nice for your audition. Do not wear anything torn or stained and nothing casual. Choose clothes
114 Classical Singer | September/October 2019