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violadad · 02-10-2008, 07:41 PM

L.Fortissimo wrote:<A top tier conservatory will have scores of applicants for perhaps a few or even one opening at the graduate level. Many of those applicants will be of approximately equal ability. So is where or with whom someone studied previously not going to figure into the decision at all?>

At the top level programs with few openings, most schools will weed out grad, GPD, AD and doctoral applicants through a prescreen submission, as do most if not all the major and second tier orchestras in competition for chairs.

If you don't make the prescreen cut, it's highly unlikely you will get to the live audition phase. Yes, in certain instances, the "noted" teacher/instructor tree may aid in getting a prescreen reconsidered, and in rarer cases a favor may be called and an audition granted.

In even rarer cases, a student may be accepted into a particular program for reasons other than merit.

It can work in reverse as well, as Master Teacher A will never consider teaching a student of rival Master Teacher B, no matter the quality of the prescreen, audition, or undergrad background/resume.

Yes, it happens. But not in the vast majority of cases.

Again, the best way to avoid this is to do your homework and research thoroughly.

02-10-2008, 07:41 PM	#37
violadad Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 3,418	L.Fortissimo wrote:<A top tier conservatory will have scores of applicants for perhaps a few or even one opening at the graduate level. Many of those applicants will be of approximately equal ability. So is where or with whom someone studied previously not going to figure into the decision at all?> At the top level programs with few openings, most schools will weed out grad, GPD, AD and doctoral applicants through a prescreen submission, as do most if not all the major and second tier orchestras in competition for chairs. If you don't make the prescreen cut, it's highly unlikely you will get to the live audition phase. Yes, in certain instances, the "noted" teacher/instructor tree may aid in getting a prescreen reconsidered, and in rarer cases a favor may be called and an audition granted. In even rarer cases, a student may be accepted into a particular program for reasons other than merit. It can work in reverse as well, as Master Teacher A will never consider teaching a student of rival Master Teacher B, no matter the quality of the prescreen, audition, or undergrad background/resume. Yes, it happens. But not in the vast majority of cases. Again, the best way to avoid this is to do your homework and research thoroughly. Last edited by violadad; 02-10-2008 at 07:45 PM. Reason: dammit, crossposted wilth lorelei again :)
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