As things draw to a close...

So, a short post to say: 

I sent in my contract to Baylor about a week ago.  Come the middle of August, I will be making my way down to Waco, TX, where I will be pursuing a Master of Music in clarinet performance.

My recital yesterday turned out not to be a disaster.  In fact, everyone to whom I have spoken who attended said they really enjoyed it.  It was far from perfect, but it was a good program.  I was pleased that I was able to get through it, as I had not gotten the chance to run the whole program consecutively and in order.  It was: Saint-Saens Sonata, Messiaen "Abyss of the Birds" from Quartet for the End of Time, Debussy Premiere Rhapsodie, intermission, Milhaud Suite for violin, clarinet and piano, and the Poulenc Sonata.

I will wait a bit longer before I listen to the recording.  Next up is a visit to Baylor (4/27-4/29) and then my final Gordon performance, playing Prokofieff's Classical Symphony and Stravinsky's Firebird Suite with the symphony orchestra.

So I was mistaken...

Due to my not receiving a confirmation email from ETS about the GRE, I thought that the exam I registered for was on Friday, though in reality (I found out Thursday) it was on Thursday. Thus, I had to drop another $140 to register for it again. This time I got a confirmation email. It's tomorrow. Oi. I really don't have the time to study, but it doesn't matter, because.........

I ALREADY GOT AN ASSISTANTSHIP!!!!!!!

I received three letters this morning - acceptances from Duquesne and Oklahoma, and an acceptance with assistantship from Baylor. Before I even knew about the assistantship, all my professors here at Gordon have been telling me to go to Baylor. I just yesterday bought plane tickets to visit Baylor at the end of the month, and this morning I got the letter. So excited. Hopefully I'll like it when I visit. So now the list is as follows:

Baylor - assistantship!

Duquesne - accepted

Oklahoma - accepted

Ohio - accepted

Georgia - unofficially accepted, pending GRE

BU - accepted, not going

FSU - rejected

So, a recital in less than two weeks, a visit to Texas a week after that, and a decision to be made very shortly.

Also, I found out recently that I have been accepted into the Scotia Festival of Music, which is a two-week chamber music festival in Halifax, NS, CA, where the Ying Quartet (faculty at Eastman) will be guest artists/faculty, in addition to clarinetist Todd Palmer and a bunch of other amazing musicians. It may cost me a grand or so, but I think I should jump on this opportunity. I'm excited to do a festival - something I've never done before - and to meet other passionate musicians coming from a different place than myself. Networking is everything in music.

And there remains so much to do.

GRE on Friday and recital on April 20. I guess I should start studying for the GRE and really learn my recital music.

And this morning...

an email came from Mr. Samuels (Duqesne University in Pittsburgh) saying that he accepted me into his studio. This is exciting for two reasons: a) I got in to a school at which, during my visit, I got to hear the amazing Pittsburgh Symphony, discovered what a good teacher he is, and realized how nice it would be to go to school in a city, and b) I have now heard from every school to which I applied!

The schools I now must consider are, in order of most information/most certainty:

Ohio University: officially accepted
Baylor University: recommended for admission and assistantship by clarinet professor and faculty committee
University of Oklahoma and Duquesne University: accepted into clarinet professors' studios
University of Georgia: accepted by professor, University admission pending GRE

Money will play an important role, and we will see whether my GRE is good enough for admission to Georgia. I may not have enough time to study for it! We'll see what I can do. I've talked to friends who have taken it (one of whom has a condensed study guide he made up), and I've bought the Kaplan's review book. We'll see how much I can prepare for it.

That is all. In the meantime, I must do homework so that I may graduate.

Another update...

I got an email this morning saying that Dr. Etheridge at the University of Oklahoma accepted me into his studio! I'm quite excited, as it would be great to study with him, but now to see about money. As per my father's recommendation, and as per common sense, it would be best to pay as little for graduate school as possible. Oi. Still much to be traversed in the decision-making process, and I also still have several schools to hear from officially. The only school I know anything about financially is BU, and I'm not going to go there. The list now stands:

Ohio University - accepted
University of Oklahoma - unofficially accepted
Baylor - unofficially accepted
Georgia - unofficially accepted by the prof, pending GRE

Duquesne - still waiting

BU -accepted, not going
FSU - rejected

Of course, I need to hear about how financially feasible any of the top five might be before any steps can be made toward a decision. It does look like, however, that I will not be in the northeast for graduate school. Though I love Boston, I think I'm okay with that.

Mission: Auditions... complete!

The middle of last week brought my final audition, this at UGA. I really liked the professor. I think he could help me establish some good habits in my playing that would bring about much improvement. In addition to two clarinet assistantships open next year, there is also a band assistantship available, because of which he had me play for the band director as well. We'll see what happens. I have to take the GRE now, because Georgia hasn't waived the GRE requirement for performance majors (all the other schools to which I applied waive the GRE for grad performance majors). Pain in the butt.

Speaking of things left on applications, I found out that because of a single course that I took at Hudson Valley Community College during a summer and because of credit I earned at SUNY Albany in high school French 4, I need transcripts sent from them to Baylor University to complete my application there. Another pain in the butt. Grr. Especially when the music school doesn't even care. Dr. Shanley indicated that the faculty were sending positive recommendations both for admission and for an assistantship to the music graduate program. Oi. All these steps make me wish that music programs were separate from the universities, but on the other hand, music schools probably don't often have the finances to run well without a larger institution.

When I got back on Thursday, there were two pieces of mail for me from Boston University. They actually accepted me, but I didn't get any money from them, so I probably won't go. I like Boston, but not enough to spend at least another $60k to stay here two more years, especially when there are good teachers and other cool towns elsewhere.

Finally, I went and got myself an A clarinet on Friday. It came with a double case, and I bought a case cover with it. This makes me elated. Now I have my own set of instruments and can call myself a real clarinetist! Hopefully the instruments will hold up for a long, long time. I'm going to be sending in the form for insurance ASAP, either today or tomorrow.

One to go and then....

I wait.

I just finished my audition at Duquesne University. Tomorrow I leave for the University of Georgia. For now, I'm spending St. Patrick's Day at my grandmother's house, having just eaten a dinner of corned beef and cabbage, and I should be writing a paper and practicing. Oh well.

So, for an update, for the sake of ease of communication, I'll do it in list form:


Florida State - Rejected. :-( Makes my decision easier though. Everyone wants to study with Dr. Kowalsky. Maybe I'll audition again for my doctorate.

Ohio - Accepted! Waiting on financial information. From what I heard from the students, it appears that every graduate music student has an assistantship of some sort (not necessarily in the major area), so we'll see. I really enjoyed my visit, and I think I could grow as a player here. I might not end up being pushed as hard as I like, though.

Baylor - Sent in a CD, unoffically accepted, and unofficially in the running for a clarinet assistantship. From my conversations with Dr. Shanley, I think the expectations there are sufficiently high where I would be pushed to grow as a player.

Oklahoma - Still waiting, hoping to get in. Dr. Etheridge is a great pedagogue, and the overall music program is super strong.
Duquesne - Just auditioned, hoping to get in. I think the teacher here might be the best match for me as a student. Plus, they have the Pittsburgh Symphony, which I got to see on Saturday, March 15, and it is truly a first-rate group!
BU - still waiting, don't particularly care if I get in (I was unimpressed when I went for my audition)

University of Georgia - I audition tomorrow. Dr. McClellan said that he has a couple assistantships available, so we'll see how my audition goes and if he likes my playing.

Arizona State - Sent in a CD and haven't heard anything. I haven't applied there either, so I'm not that worried about furthering this. I've got my eggs in enough baskets.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!