SingingLover11

Hello, I just started voice lessons about a month ago, with a teacher who has their Graduate Degree in voice from Illinois University. I have asked her about college, because my dream is to major in voice, and she said that if we worked hard enough, I could get there. That being said, I don't think that I am even close to ready enough to apply to big schools, so I was wondering what small voice programs there are out there (I was thinking places like Miami University in Ohio and Salisbury in Maryland). After going to this school I would either transfer to another, bigger school or go on to get my graduate degree. Or, should I go to a bigger school, undeclared, and then audition for their voice program after 1-2 years in their program? Thanks so much! (Also, if anyone lives in and around the D.C./Maryland area, do they know of any choirs/camps that are available for me this summer/next year? Thanks so much!)

dlbarber

What grade are you in right now? What do you want to ultimately do with your vocal degree - do you want to be performance, education, etc? Many state schools have "smaller" music programs, but it depends on what you want to ultimately do with it. There is a smaller college in Illinois (North Central in Naperville) that my D applied to. They have a nice program, give vocal scholarships (by audition, but you don't have to be a music major), give some nice merit aid. The tuition was not outrageous for a private school. There are many other smaller places out there. Good luck with your search.

stringfollies

If you're in Washington, you might want to look into Catholic University. I think they have a pretty strong voice/choral program, but would be less competitive than, e.g., U. of Maryland. Also Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia is a small school known for good voice training. I've recently heard very good things about Towson State in Maryland which is building its music school. I don't know about the relative strength of its voice/choral program. Also St. Mary's has some good music and it's in a lovely river town in Maryland. If you like in Washington, you could visit these schools easily to see for yourself. If you know it's what you want to do, it might be a good idea to plunge right in and use the time you will have in your college years to develop your voice and get the other training you will need (ear training, theory, languages, diction, etc) all of which take a lot of time. Lorelei might want to weight in on this thread - she knows a lot about voice training, schools, etc.

The Washington Opera has a summer program, but it might be hard to get into. I've heard mixed reports about it, honestly. If you like religious music, the Royal College of Church Musicians, I believe, does a summer session in Washington. You could look on the web for these.

Good luck to you!

cartera45

Towson University has a very well established music program and the voice program is strong. They have beautiful new facilities. They have a very strong voice faculty. One of their teachers also teaches at Peabody and another teaches at the University of Maryland. Frostburg has a smaller program with a good faculty. I have good things about their program. Definitely continue your private lessons through the summer.

jazzzmomm

If you are interested in musical theatre there are wonderful summer programs in Montgomery County attached to the Roundhouse Theatre in Bethesda.

SingingLover11

Sorry, I am a junior that would LOVE to do light opera/lyrical musical theatre...I just want a school that isn't TOO hard to start out at as a Voice Performance major, so I can build up my voice and then transfer/go to graduate school etc...

Hindoo

I have an interesting, off-the-wall suggestion for you. The College of Wooster in northern Ohio might be worth considering. They have a voice performance major embedded in their music program. (See link below.) Also, the campus is home to the very respected Ohio Light Opera, a professional company that does summer performances. ... Wooster is a wonderful academic school, second-tier US News & World Report and featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives." Give it a look--and good luck to you!

Bachelor of Music in Performance (Voice)

The Ohio Light Opera - Wooster, Ohio - Home

Hindoo

Also, Belmont University in Nashville has a musical theater major.

B.Mus., Major in Musical Theatre - Belmont University

SingingLover11

Wow, that acutally sounds great! Thank you so much! That was definetly the type of school that I was looking for! Any other ideas?

SingingLover11

BUMP! (anywhere else, not nesscarily in ohio or maryland, but around there? Opera is a must (though, like I said, a small program!))

jazzzmomm

I recently heard that McDaniel College in western Maryland (Westminster, to be precise) has a very good small vocal program. It is a nurturing college in a small town that our music director was talking about.

lostinthemusic

Shenandoah Conservatory has a summer program called Shenandoah Performs that you might enjoy. I went there for two summers and loved it. The campers often get to go to summer music theatre or opera performances by the conservatory, which is a lot of fun.

Hindoo

SingingLover11--Did you have a chance to look at the Wooster website?

binx

My D goes to Miami Ohio, and I know they have an opera program, because she plays in the orchestra for it. She felt they did a great job when she played for "The Magic Flute". Beyond that, I don't know much about the program. Seems like it might be a viable place for a relatively inexperienced singer.

lamiller2008

here here! i second Wooster!

i will be attending in the fall. i've been actively involved in their music program ever since my 8th grade year. excellent department overall. i've went to a few voice recitals and have seen one of the vocal groups (Wooster Singers) perform, and i was very impressed. if you're interested in Wooster, send me a PM and i can try and answer more specific questions.

-Laura