Making the Cut: Definitive Question and Answer Section

Below is the ultimate, uncut Q&A about everything you need to know and more about entrance auditions to a BMus program at the University level (including what NOT to wear!). Please find the question in bold with answers after the respective school that responded.

How important is the letter of recommendation?
UofT: They are read; we are looking to see if they are honest depictions of what we hear
Ottawa: We weigh them against what we hear - musicality, technical development, language skills - as this letter can cooberate what is display. Ultimately, they are not going to save a bad audition.
Western: The applied teacher that writes a letter can be biased so we look at what other people wrote letters.
Laurier: We give this the least weight in the portfolio. The Grade 12 makes and audition are the most important.

How important is the high school grade average? and what is the minimum you accept?
RCM: mid 70%'s; weighted less than the auditions
Brock: mid 70%'s
Ottawa: mid 70%'s; audition is the most important
Western: 83% was the cut-off last year
UfoT: No mark was given but it was stated that high marks receive a $5000 scholarship and a lower than "normal" average will be monitored in the first year under academic probation.
Cambrian: Grade not important, we will take anyone.

What are the RCM Grade levels for piano and theory?
RCM: Grade 3 Harmony but we will help you get there
Brock: Grade 8 voice, Grade 2 theory, Grade 6 piano (but Grade 4 accepted)
Western: Grade 8-ARCT Voice, Grade 3 theory to be comfortable, Grade 6 piano but will take courses to get you there
Ottawa: Grade 8 minimum voice, placement theory tests

What would you like sings to wear for auditions?
York: This is a job interview and somewhat formal, dress appropriately - NO jeans, flip flops, t-shirts
Ottawa: We won't mark you down if you are casual
RCM: Ladies, please wear skirts below the knees!

REMEMBER: before you are ever heard, you are seen!

How much do you weigh the interview portion?
Western: Heavily! This gives a sense of background; we see it as a two-way conversation and a way to observe communication ability
Laurier: This broadens the picture of who you are; ho you present as a person.
Ottawa: What is motivating you to study voice? Have you thought this through? Can you articulate this?
Brock: Weeds out the students who don't really want to study classical music
York: Go to concerts before you do an audition because we ask "what have you heard lately?" to check your level of interest and commitment.

Do you take the best singers or do you accept a balance of voice types and do you have a cap?
RCM: Try to balance but will take a voice we want
Ottawa: Male with pants will get in...:-)
Western: We guarantee residence space for all first years to our numbers need to be precise- this year we accepted 46 women and 8 men
Laurier: No set number; generally average around 18-21 incoming singers but this year they accepted 32 singers of which, 7 were men.

What is the Language requirement for entrance and how does the school handle it for the degree?
Laurier: 2 contrasting pieces, 1 in English; all first years take intro to International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
York: 2 contrasting pieces; first years take English and Italian diction and only have to sing in those 2 languages. In second year we add French and German diction
Western: Audition must demonstrate singing in English and 2 other languages; All first years take IPA (part of core curriculum) in Lyric Diction; first year jury must demonstrate 3 languages, second year must demonstrate 4 languages
Ottawa: sing 4 songs for the audition including baroque, German lied, french melody and own choice; We offer baroque classes, lieder, melody and 20th C with vocal skills covered in IPA for French German and English diction.; we are a bilingual university so french is very important.
Brock: 3 pieces with 1 in English
RCM: 7 pieces including French Melodie, English, Oratorio, Opera and German Lied; we offer diction in French and German each year and English and Italian in alternate years
UofT: weekly classes for Italian diction, German Lied and French Melodie in first and second year; optional 3rd and 4th levels for all languages.

How many singers auditions for your school?
Cambrian: 40 auditions, 15 accepted, 8 registered
UfoT: 200 auditions, 35-40 accepted into all programs (BMus, MM, DMA etc) for a total of 100 singers
York: 50 auditions, 18-20 accepted; 50 singers in the program
Laurier: 120-140 auditions, 18-21 accepted; 70 singers in the programs
Western: 200 auditions, 60 accepted; 200 singers in the program
Ottawa: 80-90 auditions; 20-25 accepted; 50 singers in the program
RCM: 40-50 auditions, 3-5 accepted

Are students required to take other non-music courses?
All programs require electives to complete the degree. Each program differs in what they can take.

As always, make sure you check with each school to confirm the information shared above.

Making the Cut: University of Toronto

Dr. Darryl Edwards from the University of Toronto was on hand to discuss the Uof T program. Here are the points of interest as presented:

1. The Faculty of Music provides a diverse program second to none in this country.


2. There are courses dedicated to Italian song (1st and 2nd year), Oratorio (3rd and 4th year), French Melodie (3rd and 4th year), Lieder (2nd, 3rd, and 4th year) and Piano Vocal collaborative issues.


3. There are over 30 recitals open to student participation


4. The opera school produces 4 shows per year with this year seeing Haydn's World on the the Moon in the fall and Bernstein's Candide in the spring wit small productions of Carmen and Eugene Onegin.


5. There are 8-10 performance classes per year in addition to studio classes


6. The Faculty has been around for a long time so they have continued to renew, inspect and upgrade the program.


7. The Faculty if close to the Canadian Opera Company and the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre


8. UofT boasts wonderful teachers who are also great artists.


9. The level of graduates from UofT who are performing on the world's stages speaks volumes for the program!

Making the Cut: York University

"If you are a man, I will pay you to come to York!"

So stated Canadian mezzo extraordinaire Catherine Robbin, director of classical vocal studies at York University. Here is a list of what makes York different as presented:

1. As a musician you are part of the Faculty of Fine arts which boasts six departments (dance, design, film, theatre, visual arts and music). This is one of the largest departments in North America and the only one in Ontario!
2. They offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or and Honours BFA and can tailor your degree to meet your interests. As part of the program, you are required to take other classes from the different departments and thus, receive a broad perspective of the role of arts and culture.
3. There are many performance opportunities for those specializing in classical voice including recitals, studio classes and master classes with guest artists. This year the guests include Colin Ainsworth, Daniel Lichti, Suzie LeBlanc, Bruce Ubekata and Brett Polegatto.
4. There are 6 voice teachers, brand new facilities for music with large studios, a recital hall and rehearsal space - this is all part of a warm and supportive environment.
5. York offers a concurrent education program (BFA & BEd in music) but you apply during your first year and start in second year. Once part of this stream, your third year is strictly music and your fourth and fifth year are both music and education.

Making the Cut: Wilfrid Laurier University

Wilfrid Laurier Faculty of Music Voice Coordinator Kimberly Barber is on sabbatical this year so we had the pleasure of hearing from Daniel Lichti, acting coordinator, offer the following highlights:

1. Wilfrid Laurier has been experiencing modest growth in the past few years with approximately 75 singers. Of those 75 singers, most of them are in the undergraduate program.
2. Laurier offers a BMus and a one year Opera Diploma. This opera program performs excerpts in the fall and a full production in the spring.
3. Along with the opportunities presented with the opera program, singers are able to perform at least twice a semester in the Noon Recital series as well as in weekly master classes with Daniel Lichti and in guest master classes.
4. Laurier is unique in that it offers professional accompanists for studio and lessons - no other university pays for this feature!
5. The Kitchener-Waterloo community hosts a number of professional music groups including the K-W Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Series and semi-professional choirs.
6. The ultimate showcase for the Faculty is their Laurier Day (this year it will be held on Friday November 6) where all voice studios are open, there will be open Master Classes, open regular classes, an opportunity to meet current students, hang out in the building and get a sense of the community and finally, for any potential incoming singer, a mock Master Class and trial lessons with teachers of your choice. This is a FANTASTIC opportunity to see a music program in action and Laurier was the only school present to offer this in a formal way!

Making the Cut: University of Western Ontario

The Don Wright Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario was represented by Vocal Coordinator and the President of the Ontario Chapter of NATS, tenor Torin Chiles. Torin is an eloquent speaker and outlined the following features of the Western program:

1. There are over 200 singers at Western; 40 of which are graduate students. This number will increase in 2010-11 when they roll out their new Doctorate program (DMA). This makes them the largest Faculty of Music in Ontario (and in the country I believe).


2. The undergraduate experience aims to nurture and challenge their singers in a safe environment. Students are encouraged to discover and evolve as musicians and human beings.


3. Their faculty features many well known Canadian performing artists including mezzo Anita Kraus (currently at the COC in Butterfly), baritone Ted Baerg, mezzo Sophie Roland (who, with her husband Todd Wieczorek bring DMA degrees from Indiana University) and recently hired soprano Laura Whalen.


4. They provide numerous master classes with visiting artists including Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka.


5. Last summer they launched a summer program aimed at the emerging artist called Canadian Operatic Arts Academy (COAA) (check out their brochure - auditions for 2010 are in November!)


6. Their opera program has the benefit of a new facility with 3 productions for 2009-10. The operas are based on open auditions for undergrads and graduate students so everyone has a chance to learn a major role.


7. Their education stream is very strong with a Faculty of Education at UWO making a convenient transition after 4th year. Part of the strength of this program are the 5 choirs that provide training in choral singing and conducting.


8. UWO doesn't provide big scholarships as they chose to distribute their money evenly among students based on academic achievement as they feel this is a large indicator for success. You can be guaranteed $2000 if you enter with a 90% or higher and $1500 with an 85%!

In short, UWO is a big school and with that comes big opportunity, a plethora of experiences and of course, a lovely campus!

Making the Cut: University of Ottawa

It is always a party when Ingemar Korjus from the University of Ottawa is in the room! His ultra-resonant bass-baritone voice announced that UofO was a small but MIGHTY music school (while donning the Wagner helmet with horns)! Here are the highlights of the program as presented:

1. 1. Sandra Graham (his wife) is on faculty teaching Opera Workshop. Sandra is a mezzo that sang in Germany for years and brings a wealth of knowledge to her teaching.
2. They encourage the onus of study to be on the student asking "what do I (the student) have to offer as a musician?"
3. Singers outnumber the rest of the musicians at UofO. With a focus on helping students feel safe, they can take the risks necessary to learn more and get to the next level.
4. Opera Workshop is a major part of the program involving both undergrads and graduate students. In the past they have performed the Medium, Cosi fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, Carmen and this year will do Le Nozze di Figaro with orchestra.
5. There is a wealth of musical happenings in Ottawa and when major singers come to sing with the NAC Orchestra, UofO has them present master classes. Last year they hosted Russel Braun, Dalton Baldwin (pianist) and Edith Weins. Students also receive free tickets to many concerts.

Ingemar finished with a passionate speech encouraging young singers to "follow your heart and you will not go wrong".

Making the Cut: Brock University

Deborah Linton was on hand to outline some of the features of the 4 year BMus program at Brock University. Here are some of the highlights of the program as presented:

1. Location, location, location! Located in the lovely Niagara Peninsula, Brock University is surrounded by verdant fields filled with grapes, peaches and apple orchards. Niagara Falls is minutes away plus wine tastings, Shaw Festival Theatre and Fort George. The added bonus is that it is also only an hour from Toronto!
2. Brock University Department of Music is small with individualized attention. Faculty know students by name. They offer a 4 year Honours BMus, BA with Honours in Music, and BAs with music as a major or minor (see their website for details!). The translation? The program is flexible and tailor-made to your needs and interests.
3. Brock has its own Faculty of Education which makes the transition into the BEd program seamless.
4. The Music Department is part of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts which includes drama and art which means a wide range of artist possibilities for courses.
5. They have recently been given a large endowment which will see new facilities, 6 new concert halls including a 1000 seat theatre and tonnes of scholarship money!
6. There are many opportunities to perform with opera excerpts, weekly master classes, and joint productions with the theatre department.
7. Courses included 1 hour weekly lessons, Diction and Pedagogy.

Making the Cut: The Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music

Jennifer Tung and Donna Sherman represented The Glenn Gould School from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Here are some of the highlights of their program as presented:

1. The GG offers a 4 year BMus degree and a 2 year Diploma
2. They offer 90 minute lessons (These lessons can be split 60/30 voice and piano if needed or you can purchase extra lesson time on another instrument)
3. Performance opportunities include Master Classes with international singers. Last season was Ruth Falcon of Mannes College in NYC and Canadian baritone John Fanning; this season includes Frederica Von Stade.
4. They have 3 performance facilities including the brand new Koener Hall . Additionally their space has been newly renovated with new rehearsal and teaching spaces added.
5. They will help make you the musician you need to be to have a career as a singer! They feed into the COC Ensemble and have a working relationship with Opera Atelier.
6. This is a conservatory-style education where incoming grades are not weighed as heavily as they would be at a university.

Making the Cut: Tips on Winning the Post-Secondary Audition

For those of you who regularly follow this blog, you will have noticed a big push to attended the recent Ontario NATS event titled "Making the Cut: An informational seminar for high-school students wanting more information about universities and colleges in Ontario".


Yesterday was the big day organized by Ontario NATS VP of Special Projects, baritone Todd Wieczorek . This event was a well executed and informative afternoon that offered a great deal of advice to future voice majors, their parents and the teachers that prepare them for the auditions!


I will take this week to review the information that was presented by each of the 8 schools in attendance and post the questions and answers posed to the panel by the moderator (Todd) and the floor.


The following schools were in attendance (in order of presentation):

1. The Glenn Gould School, Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto
2. Department of Music, Brock University, St. Catherine's
3. School of Music, University of Ottawa, Ottawa
4. Don Wright Faculty of Music, University of Western Ontario, London
5. Faculty of Music, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo
6. Department of Music, York University, Toronto
7. Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, Toronto
8. Department of Music, Cambrian College, Sudbury

Finally, please note that the information is based on the notes I took and should not be taken as gospel. If you have any questions, please contact the school directly for answers! I will provide contact information for each school.