My son is applying to several schools - all with pre-screens and/or auditions for a BM in vocal performance. He is not a star and is still working on technique, but his diction, sight-reading, and musicality are really good and he is passionate and hard-working. I know he isn’t likely to get into top schools or conservatories, but can veterans name some places that would like a kid like this.
Here are a couple of links to old CC threads from December 2024 & 2025 covering similar topics.
Hi everyone,
I’m currently searching for colleges where I can earn a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. I have already done a few auditions/prescreens, but I am looking to grow my list due to unforeseen circumstances. My main goal is to focus on classical and opera training, and I’d love to find a program with lots of performance opportunities, because i know a lot of bigger programs tend to reserve performance opportunities for masters students.
I am looking for a program with less competitive admissions. I’ve done mostly MT stuff, so i’m looking for a school that might be more willing to take a chance on someone with less classical experience.
in a similar vein, a Smaller or Lesser-Known Program might be a better fit because I know i’m not getting into Indiana, CCM, Rice, Etc.
I really want to get Performance Opportunities. weather that’s choirs, recitals, opera scenes, etc.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I cannot travel to auditions so i’m looking for schools that accept…
My daughter is applying to double-degree programs (BM in Voice/BA) at various schools with performance opportunities at undergrad level (Northwestern, Oberlin, USC, Vanderbilt, CIM/CSRU, CMU). She has strong academic achievements, but not stellar, so some of these schools may be a reach academically regardless of her music audition. As such, she is applying to several state schools with the same BM/BA and undergrad performance opportunities as her academic safeties. We understand that there is no such thing as safeties in music schools, but academic safeties they are for her.
So far, she applied to:
Indiana University
UT Austin
UNC Chapel Hill
Ohio State
Penn State
SUNY Binghamton (we’re in NYC)
U Connecticut (don’t know why)
Michigan State (don’t know why)
She looked at decided against:
UMich (they made it clear there is almost no perf opportunities for undergrad; the school also has a snobbish feel)
UNT (far and not strong academically)
U Miami (far, not strong academically and…