slovesviola, binx is right. As is thumper. I'll give you my impressions based on his experience, and my observations as a non-musical parent.
As for the comment regards facilities, I've stated it in a number of places before, most recently here
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...86-post14.html.
I've also stated that both he and (we as parents) were extremely happy with his overall experience, including but not limited to level of peers, orchestral experience, all music faculty, playing opportunities and exposure. His peers were non-competitive and cooperative, he made lasting friendships and professional associations.
He had one bad faculty experience, a dual performance conflict that took a department head to resolve, early in his tenure; it was based on miscommunication and the offending faculty member acknowledged in the end it was his, not my son's error.
The administration, faculty and support staff were always supportive.
As for string faculty in general, the names don't jump of the pages as at CIM, Juilliard or NEC. Robert Black on bass, Anton Miller on violin,Mihai Tetel and Terry King on cello, usually ring bells, as do Dick Shillea clarinet(now retired), Bert Lucarelli, oboe, and others. A Hartt grad student of King's won the Tchaikovsky competition within the last two years. I've commented elsewhere on his knowledge of the other violin faculty (perhaps within this thread).
His private instructor, Steve Larson, was the second place winner the year Kim Kashkashian won the Tertis competition (1972?). His credentials are in his faculty bio. He's an acclaimed chamber artist, and continues to perform extensively in the States and in Canada. He has been/ continues to be on faculty at Orford and a UK program which I believe is called Stamford.
Other viola faculty during my son's time were Melina Daetsch, a nationally noted Suzuki specialist, and Anthea Kreston. I believe Daetsch was his instructor in orchestra rep studio; he had some coachings with Kreston, whom he respected and admired. He had coachings witn Chauncey Patterson of the Miami SQ, who has subsequently retired for health reasons. My son had great respect for Patterson and felt lucky to have the opportunity. Yu Jin, who replaced Patterson joined the Miami afterwards, and she is a recent Tertis placer as well. Son never worked with her.
Larson was the perfect teacher for my son. He was always demanding, but easy to work with. The chamber emphasis is exactly what my son wanted. My son was and is a "technical perfectionist" and "artistic master" These are not my words, but gleaned from faculty recommendations. He grew immensely as both through the experience. He also held the principal or co-principal Hartt chair, from as early freshman year forward. It was a non-rotating chair.
I can't say enough about Hartt's 20/20 program. This chamber immersion was incredible, the level of peers, coaching extraordinary. Granted, it is a full scholarship program, but my son played his way into it because of the quality of the experiences he was involved in.
The chamber emphasis is what drew him to Hartt initially. He did not leave disappointed.
I will be honest and say there is an opening for a viola professor/assistant prof actively being advertised, start date is fall '09. I came across it in looking at the pro boards. Whether this is to supplement or replace existing faculty, I know not. I'm assuming an inquiry to Hartt admissions would clarify. I do know that the recent hires of Miller and Tetel added to faculty.
Is Hartt right for your son? I can't answer that.
Mine won a pro chair on his fourth audition. He is on faculty at a summer chamber program that includes NY and Philly pros. He will probably apply to grad programs at Yale, NEC, and has every confidence in his training and his abilities. As do we.
Would mine have grown as much (or more) at NEC, Juilliard, or CIM? I can't answer that. I honestly don't know.
From the results we've seen, I can only say that this school was right for my son. I cannot say if it is the right one for yours.
If this is your first visit, you will have more comparisons. There are excellent faculty everywhere: Oberlin, Juilliard, NEC, Mannes, MSM, CIM. You need to choose what is right (or feels right). Do not discount Hartt, but do not judge by our experience, nor judge by heresay. There are others in the admission/decisions master threads with string acceptances. If no one replies here, seek them out by email or pm.
![bbtitle]](/images/misc/cc_logo.gif){kind=logo}
