Boston Conservatory

razorback1 · 11-30-2005, 07:01 PM

I don't see a thread on Boston Conservatory. I know there are some random postings and several plan to audition there. Anyone have any real insight into their program and its quality as a musical theatre program?

sorry about this same post on the ocu thread, thought I was starting a new one.

razorback1 · 11-30-2005, 07:03 PM

Maybe if any of you happen to remember a particular post about this school, you could copy it here? I did a search, but they just give you the entire thread that a topic might be in and that's pretty broad with a ton of material to filter through. So, if anyone can help........

Sporti2005 · 11-30-2005, 07:09 PM

i'm auditioning for BoCo this year, so i would also appreciate a thread to be bumped if it were there!!

thanks!
maggie

Mary Anna · 11-30-2005, 07:28 PM

razorback,

BoCo is always at the North Texas Drama Auditions and they are a wonderful group.

Here is my honest opinion. I think back in the 1970-1980s they were really terrific. It is likely that these days they have more competition to get the best MT students and faculty.

I have had students get accepted there and a couple already this year, but none have chosen to attend for various reasons after visiting.

Well, that gives you at least one person's opinion/feedback

xxx,Mary Anna

razorback1 · 11-30-2005, 07:57 PM

are those reasons just personal or are there things about the school that make it less desirable than others?

chrism · 11-30-2005, 09:36 PM

Contacts for students at Boston Conservatory:

Accepted and GOING to BoCo??

rossji · 11-30-2005, 10:42 PM

I know someone who has the same voice teacher as my d who goes there. He has an amazing voice and can play ANYTHING on the piano (he played at their recital and didn't miss a note when sightreading everything for the first time). He told me he wasn't a good student, so he didn't get into some of the other MT programs academically. But he loves BOCO except that they DO have a cut program; many of his friends were cut.

sillyBOCOmonster · 12-01-2005, 12:27 AM

If anyone has any questions about BoCo I'll be happy to try and answer them! I'm a freshman musical theatre major there and just went through all this stuff you guys are going through a year ago.. i understand the craziness of the college application/audition crap! feel free to im me: kimsus123 or email: kimsus123@******** with anything!

Break a Leg everyone!!

Kimberly

believersmom · 12-01-2005, 10:31 AM

Kimberly-
I always find it helpful to hear what you as a student like/don't like best/most. How the reality differs or reinforces the expectations, etc.

Obviously, don't list anything personal, generalities are fine. I find there are pros and cons to every option and I would ask the same thing of an admissions person, but from a student makes more sense as many on this site are trying to narrow their search to 8-10 schools.

Thank you for your generous offer.

NOCCAMom · 12-01-2005, 03:43 PM

Hello! Thanks for offering your insight. My d is auditioning for BOCO and is very interested. I am curious why you chose BOCO over other options. What is the city like? I heard that the facilities there were very old and run down, is that true?

believersmom · 12-01-2005, 04:57 PM

"...they DO have a cut program; many of his friends were cut. "

"Many" as in half the class? Or what percentage would you say? Just curious. And is that the routine each year or does it depend upon the talent?

Thanks!

sillyBOCOmonster · 12-01-2005, 09:26 PM

Well, I can try, but really I have mostly good things to say! Of course these are all personal opinions..

Pros:
-Outstanding faculty (most are working extremely talented performers)
-Classes are extremely informative and you learn a ton
-Great dorms!
-Big, beautiful city
-Small classes; individualized attention
-Overall, students are extremely supportive of one another
-Upperclassmen are generally very supportive of underclassmen
-Practice rooms and most classrooms are extremely close to the dorms
-NO MATH OR SCIENCE!
-Small Close-knit School
-A lot of performance/audition oppertunities even for freshmen!

Cons:
-Sometimes the work load is just too much; you would think some of the teachers would realize how many classes we have
-This is not a normal college schedule, we have 23 classes a week and 13 different classes. If you are expecting to have a day off here and there, don't count on it!

-The days are generally from about 9am-6:30 plus homework
-Strict amount of absenses allowed
-Some of the other students are judgemental, which is kind of inevitable with any musical theater program. It's hard going from being one of the best in their town, to being the bottom of the food chain.
-We don't have our own cafeteria/gym; we use Northeastern's
-Small close-knit school is definitly a con for some people

That's all I can think of for now! But if I think of others (which I'm sure I will) I'll post them.

The school IS older, but I wouldn't say the facilities are at all run-down. The theater is smaller but it puts on some amazing shows. The dorms are older brownstones, which I think are BEAUTIFUL! All the classrooms and practice rooms may not be state of the art; but I think the buildings have a lot of character and they work well for their intended use. I would suggest coming to visit if you're worried about that. Of course my opinion is a little swayed since I love it here!!!

As for the cutting thing. For musical theater majors at least, there is a thing called a promotional at the end of first semester in your sophomore year. You sing and act in front a panel and they decide if you have improved and worked hard enough to stay. This is really just a way of weeding out the people who are not serious about pursuing musical theater. Really if you have shown progression and have worked hard, you aren't going to get kicked out. Plus, if they think you are slacking somewhere they give you the second semester of your sophomore year to redeem yourself in that area.

Hope all this helps!!
~Kim

kirstensofie · 12-01-2005, 09:33 PM

Thanks, Kim, that was really informative.
A question: what would you say BoCo's "focus" is? Music, dance, or acting? Would you say that its lacking in any area? And do you take any academic classes (since you mentioned no math and science (which sounds wonderful right now, I have the most awful physics teacher you can imagine))?
Thanks!

sillyBOCOmonster · 12-01-2005, 09:36 PM

No problem!
It's really hard to answer the question of main focus.. hmm.. well to get in I know they are mostly looking for voices. As far as classes it's pretty evenly distributed. There are extremely strong faculty members in all divisions. Strictly academically we take one liberal arts class. Which is plenty, believe me

! But we also have classes such as Introduction to theater and history of musical theater but those aren't bad because they are theater related!

soozievt · 12-01-2005, 10:18 PM

Kirsten, there is very little liberal arts at BOCO. What they have is one humanities type course each semester. The course is not where you pick from an array but it is a set course. My daughter happened to really like the topics of those courses but clearly the pickings in liberal arts are not there. Besides those 8 semesters of the required humanities course, they have just a few more course offerings for the entire college. This is truly a conservatory with a little bit of humanities but that part is very "set". There is no math or science.

It is pretty much a triple threat program balanced between singing, dance, and acting. Seniors have to pick a FOCUS in one area. There is a senior showcase. Freshmen are allowed to audition for shows. Dance classes have levels/placement.