lorelei2702

I do agree that having the best teacher to advance your technique, inspire you, and develp a mature musical and performance style are crucially important. However, it is what the musician does in that audition when all by her/himself that will cause acceptance or rejection.

"So is where or with whom someone studied previously not going to figure into the decision at all?" No, it is not. I know a student who was denied a Juilliard audition based on prescreen, and several reknown teachers (including a Juilliard graduate and a teacher who joined the Juilliard faculty the next year) who had worked with and taught this musician called and wrote letters. A reconsideration was granted, a new CD was submitted, and the inperson audition was still denied. These important teachers could not even affect the prescreen, much less the admission.

My advice remains, find the best teacher no matter where they teach, get experience in ensembles (if you are an instrumentalist) with superior players, develop your "stage legs" (if you are a singer), get comfortable by doing lots of well prepared performing, and be the best YOU can be, and you will succeed appropriately. Good luck! Lorelei