| My son is a graduate performance major at NCSA. I have to say, we just spent a few days down there. The facilities are terrific...well maintained, and really quite nice. The faculty is very approachable and helpful. Everyone is friendly and collegial. It's a great environment. In addition to a fine music program, there is a lot of interdeparmental collaboration, something that my son says is not happening at a lot of other places. The dance, drama, music, theater design departments often collaborate on performances. There is a new chancellor who started last spring who is a musician, and there is also a new orchestra director. It seems that they are working to make NCSA a household conservatory name. While it's not as well known in the northeast, it IS quite well known in the southeast.
In addition, Winston-Salem is a great area and very supportive of the arts in general. I read that this city has the number one donations per capita for the arts of any city in the country. There are many opportunities for the artists at this school that simply would not be available to them in larger urban areas. My son is getting more playing opportunities than he had in Boston, simply because there just aren't as many musicians jockeying for jobs. AND everyone is very appreciative.
NCSA also owns the Stevens Center, their downtown performance space. Watson Hall is about three years old and is a state of the art facility.
I'm sure you have visited already, but if you haven't...you really should. I would suggest that you go when the students are there, and when you will have the opportunity to speak to them.
My son recently did a recital and involved seven other musicians in his program. This is the type of thing that is encouraged at NCSA. I'll bet the composition students could find a number of musicians to play their pieces!!
I will say...my son went there for his fabulous teacher. He has not been disappointed. |