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My son is viola performance BM '07 Hartt grad in the process of applying for grad schools with a viola/chamber performance concentration. He began his Hartt undergrad work in Sept '02, and was admitted as a 5 year dual degree (performance/music ed) candidate. He chose not to finish the remaining ed requirements, which would have required an additional semester beyond the original to concentrate on performance, his first love.
He/we can't say anything negative about his experience at Hartt (other than the food quality/meal plans). He was at home the minute he saw the school, and worked with fantatic peers and faculty. He described it as a cooperative, non competitive environment. During his last two years, he was a full scholarship recipient in Hartt's Performance 20/20 program, and was fully engaged in an extremely high level of chamber groupings and musicianship. There is an on-site magnet school, with both a String Project and Band Project; participation is required for music ed majors, optional but recommended for performance majors.
Admission to the Hartt program is highly competitive, and requires admission to both U/Hartford and Hartt. John Wion recently retired as the primary flute
instructor. Janet Arms, a former student of Wion's with impressive credentials has taken over Wion's studio. Greig Shearer is the other flute instructor.
The music building is dated and could use an update, but it is by no means substandard. Ground has been broken on a slightly off-site facility to house the theater and dance programs, as well as the Community Division. Freshman dorms were redone a year ago, and a new upperclassmen door opened this past September. The two suite complexes are serviceable, but nothing spectacular. The campus is fairly compact, in a residential section of West Hartford, but borders (within 2 miles) a less than stellar section of Hartford proper.
Talent aid is auditioned based, and is a direct function of your audition. It can range from paltry to full scholarship; my son was initially offered 1/2 tuition, but based on his growth he ended up on a full scholarship his last two years. U/Hartford's policy had been to NOT allow a combination of a Hartt performance award with a university academic scholarship.
You can use the "search this forum" for other Hartt posts, as I've commented on the program in numerous threads. Feel free to ask me any general or specific points if you want additional info.
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