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What colleges/universities/conservatories would have the best programs for vocal music (specifically opera)?

By Dream5 (Dream5) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 03:09 pm: Edit

For performance, Julliard, Indiana, Worchester, and possibly even Yale.

By Shinji (Shinji) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 12:02 am: Edit

Well to comment on Dream5's post...I wouldn't really rate Worchester up there or Yale...Yale was good for their conducting and music composition (but ever since 1999, it's been going downhill (composition that is)). New England Conservatory is good for Opera...but to tell you the truth...when searching for Vocal schools you need to look at the total picture...Everyone's dreams is probably be part of the MET...but we know that is "ouchy..." So in turn you need to be diverse (be prepared to sing "differently")... By this I mean, you need to be good in theatre (sp?..sorry it's late)and dance too...Personally, I think it adds that extra touch to the performance (Hartt or Boston conservatory might be a good place...but Boston Conservatory is tough in acting etc but weak in voice)...Indiana is a real good school (mostly for music education I think)...But from what I've seen from my friends that go there(Indiana)...it's really "different" from other music schools... You have to realize...and most people don't...the MUSIC SCHOOL WILL NOT MAKE YOU...THE TEACHER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT....Just because you have Julliard or Curtis (also a good school for voice...but they aren't too liberal!!!) in your resume, doesn't mean you are good...yes the schools might have good teachers, but recently a lot of wonderful performers are coming from different schools...Plus don't forget that you can go to any undergrad school then go to top ones for grad...I had a friend that went to a community college then went to Curtis!!! (of course he practiced his butt off)...Remember hardwork pays off and that music school (in fact, any school) should be a place to learn...Yes you should train to be a musician...but people forget to live at Julliard and stuff and that's what makes you the "star" or the "trash." Sorry for all that...I'm just tired of seeing people (mostly my friends) drop out and freak out once they get up to Julliard and stuff.

By Momof2 (Momof2) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:56 am: Edit

Northwestern also has a very good vocal/opera department. Also, merit aid is a possibility there.

By Theasrhs (Theasrhs) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 10:52 am: Edit

Don't forget the Oberlin Conservatory. There is also a consortium of 5 schools/conservatories where you can use one application to apply to all 5. I can't remember the entire list, but Julliard is on it as is the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the Manhattan School of Music. If you are looking for choral music, St. Olaf's has an internationally recognized choir. A good way to find out where strong vocal programs are is by reading the bios of performers, actually. People come from all over.

Where you should go depends on whether you are male or female. Julliard is simply not going to give a female soprano many performance opportunities, nor will they offer any aid -- unlike a good, strong tenor. Boston University seems like a good place to start if you are looking for a performance career.

Another problem with going to some of the better known conservatories is, if you are good enough to get in, it is likely they will keep you singing art songs for the years you are there. Graduate students are going to get the performance opportunities because they should. Better to go to less well-known, regional undergraduate program, strong in music, and have more performance opportunities. Better to let your voice mature, too.

Your vocal coach/instructor should help with these issues.

By Shinji (Shinji) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:36 pm: Edit

I agree with Theasrhs that you need to talk with an instructor about your choices (if you don't have one...talk around and don't be scared...a lot of people will help you out...I had a friend who was really poor that he couldn't afford a teacher...but he made it into Julliard because he worked hard..so for all you kids that brag I got the best teacher, HA!)....This is one of the most (and first) important decisions you will ever make (it's different for musicians than regular kids)... Training is so important and you have to be the best to get anywhere... Oberlin is a more liberal place to go...I went there for a few lessons and boy are they strange...Bunch of hippies! (kidding) Open-minded though...Go there if you into the poetic side of music... Oh the Nine Premier that Theasrhs was talking about was

The Boston Conservatory (on list b/c of dance & acting)

Cleveland Institute of Music (well duh for music)

Curtis (oh my god don't go there unless you in love with opera or something...it's a free tuition if you can get in though...that's nice..They have kids that are like 8 yrs old that can out beat you any day...god my ego went down when I tried out there...sadness)

Julliard (ok if you don't know about this one...that is sad)

Manhattan School of Music (hey midori teaches here! (violin lady))

Mannes Collge of Music (I wouldn't go there if I were you...it's like the bottom of "ivy league" for music)

New England Conservatory (go here for jazz and cello)

Oberlin Conservatory (told you why)

San Francisco Conservatory (good for violin but not that great)

I don't if any of these schools are really good for voice except Julliard in my mind...This list is like the "ivy's." I personally think there some way better school than those on the list, and it depends on what you are going into... Like MIT is good for math and harvard is good at English...Some places are good for such and such
...For example...Indiana is good for music education...Peabody( part of John Hopkins) is good for composition...Hartt is good for musical stuff like broadway...acting is ok there too...Yale is good for conducting..Princton is good for composition...Berklee is good for "new" stuff...

But don't forget music festivals and stuff...you learn the most there in my mind...Thought about doing Tanglewood after graduation? It's hard (esp. for voice), but hey it's worth it...

Oh and as said before St. Olaf is good..but it's a religious place (so your pick)..and more "free" with their classes..you don't "train" as hard as other musicians...and you have to take core classes in other subjects I think...if you undecided about music might be a good place...

Even though this sounds weird...go to Indiana...that's your best place for voice...it's CHEAP too! Oh to let me remind you of music schools, they give bad Fin aid!!!!! God, the top scholarship at julliard is so sad...I only got like 15,000....and it's like 30,000!!! The best scholarship(full tuition) at Julliard is extremely hard to get and you got to be famous(basically)...It gets worst with other schools...NEC(new england conservatory) only gave me 13,000 (about 35,000 to go there)...Hartt 16,000 (30,000 to go there)..Curtis is free but you have no room and board...you have to do that on your own and that's kinda tough your first year.

If you are a Junior this year, you better start cracking down for auditions now and I mean now!!!! for those 10th graders...learn about schools and start ahead....don't forget that international students BEAT THE (@#@ in auditions...it's ouchy in the audition places...don't be discouraged though...show em whose boss!!! You got to be tough and worry about your self (don't forget that!!!) (violinists at auditions try to psyc each other out sometimes)

Anyhow, good luck with you...remember practice like there is no tomorrow...but it's quality not the number of hrs!!! Practice right not wrong..

sorry for mistakes and typos up there..got class soon!

By Shennie (Shennie) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:51 pm: Edit

One more school that is missing from your "Ivy" list is Eastman. Don't know how it is for vocal, though.

By Shinji (Shinji) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 08:52 pm: Edit

oh my god I can't believe I forgot eastman (oh what's nice about eastman is you just apply there and you don't have to apply to the whole university...That's what cool about the best music places...you don't have to apply to the university directly. Peabody does this as well...Hartt doesn't (but Hartt's reqs are easy (GPA and SAT wise))...Well anyhow, Eastman for voice=no...instrumental=yes...But hey any music school is better than none...so if that is the only place that you get into for voice go there...but you'll be wasting your money if you go there for undergrad voice though...Actually, last I check the "top" aren't really good for voices (I still go with Julliard though..)... After talking to my voice friend at Indiana, he gave me a list. Here it is

Barnard(NY)(Women)-S

Boston University(MA)-VL

College of Wooster(OH)-S

Curtis Institute of Music(PA)-VS

Illinois, Wesleyan(IL)-S

Louisiana State University(LA)-VL

Manhattan School of Music(NY)-VS

Northwestern University(IL)-M

Sarah Lawrence(NY)-S

Smith(MA)(Women)-S

Univ. of Mass, Amherst(MA)-VL

Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor(MI)-VL

University of Southern California(CA)-VL

Westminister Choir College(NJ)-VS

Those are NOT IN ORDER OF BEST...just the best programs...It was kinda weird barely any of the "top" were on there...but I can see why (because isn't strong at those schools).. UM(Ann Arbor) and USC (if you like film music go to USC) are greatly known for their music programs...Shockingly, the SUNY schools are acutally pretty good for music too...If you live in Flordia...Flordia State is known for its program..University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign(IL)-VL is pretty good...a lot of MET audition winners practice there I think..not sure (last I heard...which was like 5 years ago..I'm a violin/composition person so me a little fuzzy)...

By Shinji (Shinji) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:06 pm: Edit

Oh forgot to say...Eastman is not part of the "nine"....the Nine are put together by the Walnut Hill School (it's a boarding school for the arts)...The Nine were listed in one of my posts up there

By Thecurelover (Thecurelover) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 05:35 pm: Edit

I need some major advice (this may sound a bit repetetive to the first question asked)-
When searching for colleges/universities/conservatories which would be the best for a female operatic singer:
Indiana
Julliard
Curtis Inst. of Music
Hartt
Barnard NY
Smith Massachusettes
Sarah Lawrence
Michigan Univ.
Boston Univ.
Manhattan School of Music
or........
Univ. of Mass, Amherst
Well, i've checked every single one of these schools homepages and i've even checked out the campuses but there's too many! They all sound great-all opinions greatly appreciated!

By Carmen (Carmen) on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 01:30 pm: Edit

I also need voice major advice, but honestly is univ. of mass, amherst that great for voice? i don't mean to sound like a snob, but it's not exactly ivy league. Also, is the westminster choir college really just for those interested in choral work (this sounds like a rhetorical question)?

By Asdf190514428 (Asdf190514428) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 11:47 am: Edit

Cleveland Institute of Music is an amazing school for a prospective Opera Singer, both undergrad and grad. I cant believe it hasnt been mentioned more. Read the bios of the faculty, especially ms. Beverley Rinaldi, who, incidentally, taught at Oberlin and Cincinnati. Its a small school, who's only accepting about 5 voice majors this year. The training you recieve there is unrivaled, both undergrad and grad programs are absolutely top tier. Theyre a good consideration for someone who can consider Julliard (<~sp?) their fallback school.