I just found this site tonight, and am soo sorry I didn't know about it when my son (tenor) was still in High School. He was required to have a pre-screen cd for the schools he wanted to go to. Actually, he only had one on his list..lol, we had to convince him to choose at least one more school to audition for. His first choice was Oberlin, his second was Eastman. The live auditions were @ Eastman on a Thursday at 6pm, then at Oberlin at 9:30 am the next morning!! We had to drive for I think it was 5 or 6 hours from Rochester to Oberlin, and he had to audition the next morning. We were blown away when Eastman offered him a place at his audition...and eventually a full ride. It took longer to hear from Oberlin...but he did, with a dean merit scholarship, which for Oberlin was pretty hefty.
Since he's been at school there, I have come to see how much easier it is generally for males pursuing this "way of life" then it is for the women. I think that being a tenor is a huge plus for my son, vs. his female soprano freinds. They just don't get the same help the guys do.
He's been very happy at Oberlin, and we are really pleased with his progress.
The school has been everything he hoped for as an undergrad. Music is his passion...time will tell us where it all leads to.
Good luck to anyone going thru this with their HS age child right now..I think there is a great school out there for everyone. If finances are an issue, and aren't they always......keep looking until you find the school that appreciates the talent your child has, and will be able to foster it as an undergrad to the fullest potential. As the mother of a son, he's got years to go before his voice is fully developed, so we know that his grad school is going to be maybe even more important then undergrad is........thats assuming of course that he's getting the right vocal coaching now (and I am confident that he is).
Anyway, thanks for letting my fingers babble
