The Colburn School - Page 3

violadad · 01-21-2008, 09:30 PM

You will get no argument from me as to the quality of the string faculty at Colburn.

Vieuxtemps5 · 01-21-2008, 09:32 PM

.... or the quality of the students.

Did your son or daughter ever go to Encore? Lots of Colburn and Curtis kids there. With the exception of a few students, the Colburn kids are running rings around the Curtis people. And funny enough, the best Curtis kids were studying with Lipsett at Encore, not one of the Curtis people (which usually doesn't happen).

Vieuxtemps5 · 01-21-2008, 09:35 PM

I should just say it now that because of personal experiences and the experiences of friends... I hate Curtis... if it wouldn't give people's identities away (I wouldn't want to talk about someone without their permission, even if they think like me), I could write a lot about how can be a very destructive place and people end up going back to where they came from. Lets just say that the retention rate for the very top talent is not very high at Curtis anymore. It's getting a reputation as a place you get recruited, go there for a year, then leave in disgust.

BassDad · 01-21-2008, 10:32 PM

Well, it has become obvious that you have a bone to pick with Curtis. I must take issue with the notion that they have become as bad as you say across the board because I know that they are still turning out some pretty good bassists. My daughter took lessons on double bass there for a couple of years while she was in high school. Hal Robinson is not only an incredible performer but is also an inspired pedagogue who has placed a lot of students into orchestral and college teaching jobs. Edgar Meyer is there on occasion to bring the perspective of the international soloist to the mix. There is absolutely no rancor between studios because everyone studies with both teachers and the two of them are a pair of the nicest people that you would care to meet.

I grew up in Philly and if you think the Rittenhouse Square scene is dead now, you should have seen it back in the day. It is not hard to get from there over to South Street if you are looking for night life.

Cosmos · 01-21-2008, 10:39 PM

Yeah, agreed. Curtis has produced a lot of excellent bassists. A few of the bassists in the Met went to Curtis - like my old teacher who's principal! It seems that you run into a lot of Curtis bassists in all the major orchestras. I really don't know a lot of kids who are there now, but I do know a number of great bassists who are playing in major orchestras who studied there with Roger Scott when he was teaching there before Hal. All great players - he was one of teachers in the great generation of bass teachers - David Walter, Roger Scott, Homer Mensch (who I also studied with! I miss him), Stuart Sankey...

Curtis does great with bassists. I wouldn't want to go there personally. Too small for me, but they do have great bass faculty right now.

Vieuxtemps5 · 01-21-2008, 10:50 PM

Curtis produces great everything. I'm just saying it's not a very good place to go to school. I just think you make quite a sacrifice by going there for 4 years. Sure you'll get good at the bass but you can do that in less oppressive environments.

I actually love Philly (was there for the holidays). I really love Kimmel and I hung out with my friends in the orchestra (curtis grads all) who all agree, they'd rather have done it differently.

violadad · 01-22-2008, 07:37 AM

binx, the Colburn link (from the original post) **** The Colburn School **** is working as of this morning. Point of interest, of the anticipated 41 openings for academic year '08, 11 were violin. Not much space for anyone else. Here's the list from the "Applying" menu there

<Openings for Fall 2008
11 violin
2-3 viola
3 violoncello
4 double bass
1 harp (AD and PSC applicants only)
3 piano
2 flute
1 oboe
1 clarinet
2 bassoon
3 horn
2 trumpet
2 trombone (tenor)
0 trombone (bass)
0 or 1 tuba
1 percussion/timpani >

ariamom · 01-22-2008, 09:08 AM

Vieuxtemps5--
As the authority here on CC for Colburn . . . do you have any insight as to whether Colburn might one day include a vocal deparment? There aren't many conservatory options for voice study on the west coast . . . Thornton, SF and some very good university departments in the northwest, but that's not many given the population. Thanks.

Vieuxtemps5 · 01-22-2008, 10:50 AM

Hey aria,

Every quarter they have some sort of patron meeting and I'm told that's in the works, and they'd like to make it work with LA opera.

ariamom · 01-22-2008, 11:18 AM

That's good to know as there are some schools of thought that prefer not to stress undergraduate voice concentrations (ie Bard). Kind of exciting!

Vieuxtemps5 · 01-22-2008, 12:24 PM

Aria,

I think there would be an age minimum though, which I guess would make it like Curtis?

ariamom · 01-22-2008, 02:15 PM

Vieux--Bard does not offer a BMus for Vocal Performance. Their vocal program is graduate only. The thinking behind this is that the voice is still too immature to risk damage with the demands of a conservatory experience. If Colburn adds a voice department, and if the model is Curtis, then my guess is that they would extend their program to undergraduates as well.

Vieuxtemps5 · 01-22-2008, 04:21 PM

What I meant is that I think it would only be available to 22 and up.