And the Decision is...

Indiana!

I just signed my acceptance letter to Indiana's Early Music Institute.

It's not New England Conservatory, which many of you thought I would do.  I thought so too. But I'm really confident that I made the right choice and I can't wait to go there!

On another note, I will officially be drunk the whole weekend.  Comps-free!

In Which the Obsessed Blogger Has a Decision to Make

I got in to New England Conservatory!!  I saw the big envelope in the mail today and freaked out big time! 

BUT now I had a decision to make between NEC and Indiana, both of which have pros and cons. Miss Todd has already recommended NEC, but I'm going to talk with Dr. Crabb because I feel he can give me a more honest opinion.

What should I do?

New England Conservatory, Jordan Hall

IU Jacobs School of Music, Auer Hall

Options Schmoptions

I got a new schmoption today: I got accepted to BU's Early Music Program.
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to go there, whether or not I get accepted into NEC. The reasons? a) they're not giving me any money; b) BU is not as prestigious as NEC or Indiana; c) BU doesn't really have any great early music ensembles--instead, they collaborate with Boston Baroque; d) they don't have any early music voice teachers.
BUT, it's another option. I'm not sure yet. Of course, I never visited BU when I went to Boston. Maybe I should have done that...

ps: Mark and I got accepted into the Tallis Scholar's summer program! I will FINALLY be working with Janet Coxwell, whom I have been stalking (to her knowledge) for at least a year.

Bed, Bahamas, Boston

I'm in a weird mood.
I thought I would be going to bed, but I'm not. It's three in the morning and I don't want to go to bed.
My vacation was weird. I liked it and had a really fun time, but it was stressful. One of the most amazing moments was when Mark and I were throwing our suitcases down to Ryan and Jen from the balcony of our crappy hotel because we were trying to escape without the timeshare people knowing. If you understand that, you get a gold star.
And I still haven't heard from NEC. What is taking them so long? When will I be able to make a decision about my life?
I get depressed late at night after I've been traveling...

I have a future!

Yesterday I got an acceptance letter from Indiana's Early Music Institute. I'm so happy! So now, no matter what happens, I WILL be attending graduate school--at one of the top early music schools in the nation!

Now that I at least have a future I'm working on summer music opportunities. I know this sounds dumb, but I'm going to try to do the Tallis Scholar's Summer School. It might be hokey, but Dr. Crabb suggested it and told me he can introduce me to Peter Phillips next Saturday at the T.S. concert in Kansas City. I mean, you never know... I'm also going to audition for the Bach festival in Eugene, OR. I probably won't make that because I think it will be too competitive. But if I DO happen to make it, they pay room and board and a stipend, I think, for three weeks... 

I'm acting like I'm the master of early music, which is in NO WAY true. I just feel like I should start planning my future now that I know I won't be teaching in a junior high in a town with "R-2" in the title.

Post Boston

I loved Boston like Charlene Archebeque loves hot toddies.  I think they really liked me at NEC. But only time will tell if I get admitted (or get any money...).  

Back in Columbia I have a new winter coat, a new duvet cover, and I'm incredibly lonely.

Womp womp womp.

Speaking of Charlene Archebeque, Dr. Crabb and I have been very buddy-buddy lately so I'm going to try to see if I can get out of all-collegiate choir in KC this week.

Pre Boston

I'm flying to Boston tomorrow for my audition at New England Conservatory. I'm fairly nervous, but I'm mostly excited.

I'm flying out of St. Louis tomorrow at six and my mom is driving me to the airport. That'll be a scary bitch of a ride. And then somehow, once I arrive in Boston at 10 pm, and I'm going to find Tara Curtis and sleep on her floor. I have all day Wednesday in the city, which I'm really looking forward to. It'll be nice to see Tara, and hopefully Tessa. I have a lot of gossip for the alums...I wish I wasn't REALLY like my character in "Old Maid and the Thief"...

I audition on Thursday at 11 am, and I'll probably explore the school, and then I fly back that afternoon. I conned Mark into picking me up at the airport that evening, and we're gonna try to paint St. Louis red...for an hour until we have to drive back.

I think it will be a great trip.  But I'm still worried about NEC's actual early music program. I don't think they actually have an early music vocal department. That's okay with me--I would love to just be a voice major and take a bunch of classes in early music, but perform all sorts of things. We'll see what happens. 

Indiana

I went to the University of Indiana for an audition with their Early Music program. Plans with every single one of my friends fell through for a road trip, so I had to go with my mom. Hmm...

But the school was WONDERFUL! I really want to go there. Imagine every practice room with a harpsichord. And everyone loves early music with a passion. They all understand it. It's bizzare and wonderful. 

In my audition I met another auditioner from Texas. Joel was social, normal, and cool. All three of those things are the opposite of what I think all early musicians are like. In fact, I met a lot of the singers from EMI (the Early Music Institute) and they all were like Joel--social, normal, and cool. Except for a few, but that's to be expected. 

I also met all of the faculty, and they were all laid back and fun, but serious musicians interested in making real music. They all reminded me of a different facet of Dr Crabb.

Joel asked me to lunch after our audition, so I took my mom along (which was painful) and we ate with him and his IU grad student friend. My mom was uncomfortable because she doesn't do well with people who are smart and talk about smart things. But I had a nice time.

The drive back from Indiana was not fun. My mother was a crazy and I couldn't do enough to drive home faster. But I made it back in one piece and I'm praying that I had a good enough audition.

I'll be really upset if I don't make it...