<p>I’m a 26 year old lyric soprano that has graduated with my master’s and bachelor’s from relatively small, but nurturing schools of music. This year, I applied to a few bigger schools: Northwestern, University of Maryland, and Cincinnati Conservatory. I wasn’t granted an audition at either University of Maryland or Cincinnati, but was granted one at Northwestern. I auditioned there a few weeks ago, and while I haven’t received my acceptance letter yet, I’m starting to have my doubts about whether to go to Northwestern or just audition again for other DMA schools. I consider myself as having some great potential and I really want to go to a big name school with the right voice teacher and not alot of people talk about Northwestern, like they talk about Indiana, Cincinnati, Maryland, Manhattan, University of North Texas, etc. So I would like to know what schools would be great for me to audition or should I stay with Northwestern?</p>
<p>Northwestern is one of the best music schools in the country. Its music department is excellent is far better known than the University of Maryland. What gives you the impression that the other two schools you applied to have better programs than Northwestern?</p>
<p>ChrisP - I don’t like to bicker about what music school is better known than others, but the University of Maryland has a very competitive voice program - particularly the advanced degree programs. I know 2 students who were rejected there, undergrad, and one went to Northwestern and the other to Oberlin. Admission can be very subjective and vary from year to year, but the DMA program at University of Maryland ranks with the best.</p>
<p>Edited to add - Northwestern has a great program too - didn’t mean in any way to disparage it. I think trying to rank these schools in any given year, with regard to an admit, is impossible.</p>
<p>Cartera,</p>
<p>I agree with you. The point that I was attempting to make (at 2 AM) was that Northwestern is a top tier music school on the same level or above the others mentioned by lyricallyjones. I could have been more articulate in my reply.</p>
<p>ChrisP, it is not so much that they have better programs, as I think Northwestern has a good program. The thing that gets me is when I look at the Young Artist profiles of different programs such as Sarasota, Glimmerglass, Seattle, Merola, etc. I don’t see Northwestern being represented as much as Indiana, CCM, Manhattan, Maryland. The young artists may have gone to Northwestern for undergrad, but when it came to graduate schools, I saw very few singers go to NU for it. But hey, I got my rejection letter from NU today, so I really don’t have to worry about it now. I can start anew.</p>
<p>NU has a good relationship with Chautauqua because of Jay Lesenger, the Director of Opera. I have heard wonderful things about him. NU is very fortunate to have him.</p>