So sorry. Not an easy decision for them, I am sure.
@tableforsix - Aw, that stinks. I’m so sorry to hear it!
Oh how heartbreaking! That affects a few people on this thread- so terribly sorry 
Accepted to the university, but waitlisted at UNT Music school for us. Anyone know any details about UNT waitlisting?
My daughter is very sad about her Curtis MM VP audition being cancelled - she’s been working SO hard to prepare - and I’m afraid this is only the beginning of a strange end to her senior year at Eastman. I completely understand the difficult decision that was made, of course.
@BenniesMom1 Going to need some details on these master negotiation skills!!
@songbirdmama and @buoyant So sorry to hear that your Vocalists Curtis auditions were cancelled. And @tableforsix , for your Cellist.? I can’t even imagine having to put in THAT much work towards something to have it swept from under you and I’m old. That must be tough for these younguns no matter how resilient they are. My heart goes out to them and you moms. And to have it just plain cancelled?? Not rescheduled? WOW… HUGS to you all.
I was just telling my son about it and he said… “WOA… that sucks ! In a big way” I agree! Also realizing that it’s getting a bit too close to home. Bad enough that @raincat son’s activities got cancelled in WA… but Curtis is right down the road. Heard today that West Chester university is closing as well and my son is pretty bummed cause he was scheduled to attend a Master Class with Ricardo Morales, first clarinetist of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra next week. Now he’s like… having that cancelled is nothing compared to having an audition you worked years and years towards cancelled. He’s sending hugs to your daughters as well. (Touchless hugs, he said.? Always trying to lighten a situation… my kid)
I am so very sorry about the canceled Curtis auditions. I know how devastating it must be and just so so unfair, however justified by safety concerns That’s a very big disappointment to process after all their hard work and success in getting the audition.
A friend’s kid got an honorable mention in YoungArts this year and was headed to the LA Regional workshop in March. It just got canceled. This talented young woman also won a behind the scenes role at a local jazz fest and that was canceled as well. She is so far still going to Ellington because her organization isn’t bound by district rules, but with the New York eegion getting more impacted I fear that she will also lose that opportunity as well. Very sad for her.
This will be a year to remember for our kids.
You’ve got mail. ?
@BenniesMom1 - Hugs accepted! That is so very sweet of both of you. You have raised an empathetic young person - good job, Mom.
Curtis is a long-shot for anyone, but a soprano can dream, right? And it was going to be this Saturday - just hours away. (Bye bye econo plane ticket $$$.) So - big sigh. We are in uncharted waters and it’s a very big boat.
Wow, so sorry to hear about the cancellations! Trying to look at the bright side, I suppose one can be grateful that most of the audition season has already been completed, but the cancellations now really do hurt. And the school and event cancellations are really putting so many opportunities into limbo or worse. At the end of the day, health is the most important thing, but it’s very hard and I have great empathy.
My son was supposed to be on tour in Italy and Switzerland this month, which of course fell victim to what’s going on over there. And even some of his NYC gigs are being cancelled. He also has a major west coast tour scheduled for most of May and has no idea what will happen with that. It’s a tough time to be a performing artist. But he’s using the “found time” to catch up on lessons for his students, get in more practicing and composing for himself, and work on booking gigs and tours for 2021.
Hope all of yours find a way to weather the storm through the spring and settle on their new homes for the next four years. And that life will be somewhat back to normal by the fall.
@tableforsix I am so sorry to hear about Curtis. My D, Cellist, had that on her list, long ago, but dropped it because it was SO much extra prep (comparatively), and her teachers recommended against the extra stress. I understand that with the multi-round format they were not left with many options.
I hope your son can, eventually, feel that he gained experience from all that extra prep, and that it will pay off, in the end ?
Just wanted to add my condolences as well. That is just horrible! So unfair.
Things are just getting crazier by the day, aren’t they? My son is home for spring break and waiting to hear if he is to go back Saturday, or stay here and do his classes (all lessons!) online. My daughter is job searching in Seattle and a slew of interviews have been canceled. Even the local hospitals are sending people home except for emergencies.
With audition cancellations at Curtis and others, I guess they are not offering the option of sending in a recording. Still, I’d be tempted to send in a recording anyway, if it were a top target. Can’t hurt.
@vistajay Curtis would already have a recording from Pre-screens. That’s how they got one of those coveted auditions in the first place . Just awful to have passed the prescreens and get one of those live audition spots only to have it cancelled.
Uncharted territory indeed . ?? I’m usually a “look on the bright side “ kinda gal but finding it a challenge to find one in this situation . Here’s hoping that Curtis and other schools canceling find an amenable solution. This just makes the waiting period way worse . Virtual {{{{{{GROUP HUG}}}}} to all those affected.
@jazzpianodad - thank you SO much for shining some light on the impact to young artists out there in the real world. I know from your prior posts what a professional your son is and how hard he works to schedule those tours. I love his optimism about using his “found time.” Please let us know your thoughts about how we can support young artists in the months ahead.
I’m so very sorry to all of your kids who are missing out on these auditions and performances. The YoungArts regional cancelation is painful too. That was one of my D’s most cherished performances. Hang in there everyone. I hope the worst of this passes soon and we are on the road to recovery as a nation. Crazy times.
It sounds like there are very few individuals (music world or otherwise) not impacted by the spread of COVID-19. We are all sharing the burden. This board, as usual, is full of remarkably empathetic and supportive individuals who rush to hold each other up.
@buoyant pointed out in another thread that the approach Curtis has taken is uniformly fair - if they had chosen to hold auditions, some international applicants would not have been able to travel in. An excellent point that hadn’t even occured to me.
For us personally, my son has several other schools that he’s plenty excited about. He chose to only apply to places where he could see himself happily attending - no schools thrown in solely for the sake of “safeties” or a backup plan. Now we join the ranks of those who wait!
@cellistamadre, particular thanks for the kind words from a fellow cello family! You’re quite right that the material studied is rewarding in its own right. Now he can turn his attention to the material for Aspen this summer!
Hi everyone.
I’ve been on the sidelines, utilizing all the amazing advice from parents and students here and on previous years’ threads. Eventually, it seems that people get their calling to post, so here I am.
I applied my state’s university for Music Education, truly leading in the state and nation. I am a clarinet player; not the best in any means, but consistent top chairs All-County, Superior Solos, Principal Chair, Drum Major of a 250+ band - the whole nine yards. I was accepted into the University, as well as the Honors College with a full ride, with me being a first generation college student and a high academician. I have never been more passionate about music education and the pedagogy that accompanies it. And though I thought I had a solid audition, unfortunately, I did not make it into the studio. I am definitely hurt in the moment, but life moves on, and quickly too. I have to make some professional decisions, but with my parents being unaware to the process, it seems that I might get some advice here.
I have a couple of options:
Currently, I am thinking of attending the University undeclared, auditioning and transferring later. The financial aid package given is more than my cost of attendance, and I could take lessons from a grad student and get my foot in the door. With almost all of my gen eds finished through doing dual enrollment with our local college, I could enroll in some open major music theory classes. All of the ensembles are open to any student, regardless of major.
The problem is the risk involved; what if I don’t get into the program again? (Though I won’t let that happen with my work ethic.)
The other two options revolve around the other University I was accepted into; Not as prestigious, but satisfactory nonetheless. My package is not as good, but still is a full ride. I could attend there for 4 years, or I could attend for a year and transfer to my University of choice. The risk lies in not being able to utilize my package, and the inability to make any sort of connection with my intended university.
It all hurts very badly. I applied with varied majors to many universities, but I auditioned to two partly due to: a.) with an EFC of 0, one doesn’t have the money to travel everywhere, and student loans are not an option whatsoever (restricting me to the best universities in state) lending over to b.) I crazily thought that would be sufficient. Thank you for reading this, or going above and beyond to put in your two cents; it is well appreciated. My band directors were utterly surprised when I didn’t get in. While I heed their condolences , it is hard to not feel alone. Perhaps there is another aspiring student out there who can relate to a story like mine. Regardless of it all, I will continue forth in my strides to one day step on a podium in front of a classroom, equipped with the training to truly make a difference. As I take it day by day, I start to uncover that the dream doesn’t change - but the exact pathway might alter, just a liiiiiiitle bit from intention.
In the midst of an emotionally turbulent season, as well as a frenzied health scare, I extend kind and safe regards to all the parents and students.
@Heyduggee Welcome another clarinet player !!! Just wanted to say hi. I wish I had some advice for you but my kid is just the opposite… definitely NOT an academician and got 0 FA on academics (and didn’t get into some schools based on academics) but got into ALL the music schools/studios he auditioned for. As he candidly said in all his interviews " I can play. I suck at Math". Maybe you two should combine and make one formidable applicant. ? Seriously, though, sorry you didn’t get into any of the studios. Were you taking private lessons outside of school or just from the band directors? I have found that what band directors consider good in their circles is not good enough for an instrumental BM degree in college. Personal opinion.
Have you reached out to the instructor at the university to see if you can take private lessons with them during your first year? It’ll cost you a pretty penny but since you have more $$$ than you need in FA, you could use the extra $$ for that. In my opinion, studying with a grad assistant probably won’t get your skills to the level needed to pass the auditions with the same instructor who adjudicated your audition and you didn’t get in. Did you get feedback on what you needed to work on? That’s my feedback I have… (though I said I didn’t have any… ) This way you stay at the university you want AND the instructor can get you ready to re-audition next year.
Oh one other piece of advice… Does the university have an option for a BA in Music Theory or something like that where you wouldn’t have to use audition results to get in? This way you can get some music classes out of the way before you audition. Just some things to think about. I’m sure the experienced and helpful folks on here will have some better pointers for you. Oh and one more thing… You know you can send in a video audition, right? Not sure what state you’re in, but I know a lot of the unis in PA have that option almost up til May 1st AND have rolling admissions, so not late to put in an application and send a video. Just another thought.
Whatever you decide, Break a Leg. You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders and determined to make it. Wish you the best.