Audition Season is Over!

I've decided to cancel my audition for Oberlin this Saturday. In comparison to the other schools that I've auditioned at, it doesn't stand a chance. I'm really happy to be done with auditions; it took a lot of time and energy to prepare for them and to actually do them. Yet, today I reflect on my wonderful experiences I had through auditions. I got too see wonderful friends, Natalie Horn and Kiana Jerard, and I got to spend two wonderful evenings in a BEAUTIFUL house in Virginia with family. I also really enjoyed spending time with my dad; he went to each of my auditions with me, which meant so much! So, now I wait for acceptance/decline letters and scholarship notices. So far I've been declined at University of Michigan and accepted at Kent State University.

Audition No. 5: Shenandoah Conservatory

Hello all! 5 down, one more to go. I have to say I'm really excited to have undergrad auditions done once and for all :) Anyways, I'm hear in Virginia writing this as I gaze out onto the Appalachian Mountains. It's so beautiful here, but unfortunately it's smokey too. Their have trouble with some fires caused by the high winds we're experiencing here. Yet, it's still beautiful to gaze on the hazy silhouette of one of God's amazing creations.

I'm staying at my Aunt (actually first cousin once removed) Megan Smith's house in Flint Hill. It's so beautiful and I thank her so much for hosting us this weekend.

We drove to Virginia yesterday. It took us about 6 1/2 hours.

I auditioned this morning at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA. It's a part of Shenandoah University, a private university with only about 3500 students. I learned about this school as I was originally looking to apply to their undergrad collaborative piano program (accompanying). Their one of a few schools that offer this degree. However, I decided it was best for me to pursue a piano performance undergraduate degree.

Outline of my day:

• 8:30 AM- Registration
• 9:00- Introduction and Curriculum Session
• 10:00- Diagnostic Aural Skills Exam (Sight-singing)
• 1:30 PM- Audition
• 2:00- Lunch
• 3:00- Campus Tour

So, my audition went very well. The piano faculty members had good feedback after each of the pieces I played. I played my whole program which included Kennan's Three Preludes, Brahms Rhapsody No. 2, Op. 79, and Bach Prelude and Fugue in E flat. I actually got to play through it all, unlike most all of my other auditions. I also did some sightreading and they were impressed by that. We talked a bunch about what I want to do later after school and then I left with a smile.

I really like Shenandoah, but if I decide to consider going there in the end I'll need to take a lesson with my prospective professor (my personal preference).

Next, week is OBERLIN.... Then, I'm done!

Peace!

Event: OrrVilla Recital

What: OrrVilla Community Event: Recital featuring Pianist/Vocalist, Peter Douglas
When: Wednesday, February 16, 7:00 PM
Where:
OrrVilla Retirement Community
Maple Terrace
333 East Sassafras Street
Orrville, Ohio 44667

Piano works by Brahms and Chopin; Vocal works by Faure and Dvorak

Hope to see you there!


 

Audition No. 4: Webster University: Department of Music

Another great audition, yay! I have really enjoyed coming back to St. Louis. I feel very comfortable here and it is definately one of my tops. Anyways, today I auditioned at Webster University of Webster-Groves, Missouri. It's about 15 minutes from St. Louis. It's a small university with only about 125 music students. They are an all-Steinway school, which is very enticing (they have only Steinway brand pianos). I also studied with the piano professor, Daniel Schene, at Indiana University's Piano Academy. He is great!

An outline, of course:

Friday

• 5:00 PM- Departure from Cleveland Airport

*note change to central time

• 5:45- Arrival at St. Louis Airport
• Arrival at Hotel and Dinner at Chilis

Saturday

• 8:30 AM- Registration and breakfast at Webster
• 9:00- Introduction and meeting with Dr. Jeffrey Carter, Chair of Department of Music
• 10:30- Aural Skills Test
• 10:40- Meeting with Professor Schene
• 11:40- Audition
• 12:00- Theory Placement Test
• 1:00 PM- Lunch

The aural skills test and theory placement test were a piece of cake. I thank my wonderful choir teacher, Mrs. Heather Carr, and my great band teacher, Mr. Randy Kaserman for helping me aquire the solfege, rhythm and sight-reading skills needed for these tests. The aural skills is another name for an ear-training test. They tested my on identifying the pulse of a piece, matching pitch, repeating a played melody, and sight-singing. The theory test was simiilar to the Kent State theory test: key signatures, scales, rhythms, and Roman numer analysis.

The audition portion was very comfortable for me, as I have already had three under my belt (but I did experience a little nervousness which supplies some nice adrenaline). I played for the entire available faculty-about 11 professors! I played the first two Kennan preludes, half of the 1st Brahms Rhapsody, and the exposition of my Bach fugue. They all went well and I think really showed my strengths as a performer, musician, and interpreter.

Next weekend is Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Viginia. For those who might ask, I will be doing a piano solo audition there, not collaborative. I'm delighted that I will be staying with my dad's cousin Megan Smith. Can't wait!

Peace.

Audition No. 3: Kent State University: The Hugh A. Glauser School of Music

Best audition yet!! YAY!!!! This morning, I auditioned at Kent State Univesity's Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at their main campus in Kent, Ohio. It was so nice to be back in this wonderful builiding. For those who may not know, I attended two summers of Kent State's Piano Institute (2007 & 2008). I had a wonderful experience there and it helped me decide that I was going to strive to study piano performance in college. For interested pianists, here is their website: http://www.kent.edu/pianoinstitute/index.cfm. I'd be more than willing to answer questions or share my experiences at the Institute. Just leave a comment here or on Facebook and I will get back to you.

Here's an outline of what I did:

• 7:15 AM- Departed for Kent with dad
• 8:15- Arrived at Kent, Registered, A little practice/warm up
• 9:00- Welcome Meeting
• 9:30- Theory Placement Test
• 10:45- Audition
• 11:30- Starbucks- Cafe Mocha :]

This is the first audition where I had to take a theory placement test. It was a test to see if you need to be placed in the remidial theory, therefore it was a pretty basic test. Topics included key signatures, writing out scales, ect. There was also an ear training test in which they played a series of notes and I had to pick what they played from four choices. I found it fairly simple.

So, now the audition itself. I was invited cordially into the room and talked with the faculty members awhile about what I was up to this year. Next, I played Kennan's Three Preludes in their entirety. Next, came bits of the first movement of the Haydn and the 2nd Rhapsody of Brahms. I finished playing through my Bach prelude and fugue. The pieces went really well. I believe that I had a better mind set coming in then my previous audition, which helped with my confidence and ability to focus on making music. I finished by playing four scales and sightreading a piece.

So, I'm very excited to hear the results of my audition; I should hear back from them late next week!

I'm off to St. Louis for my next audition at Webster University on Friday. We're flying. Everyone have a wonderful week!!

Tri-County Honors Band

What: Tri-County Honors Band
When: Sunday, February 6 at 2:30 PM
Where: McGaw Chapel, on the campus of The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH

Performers are auditioned high schoolers from Wayne, Holmes, and Ashland counties. Each student was admitted by recommendation of their band director and a successful audition. Three bands will perform: the top honors band directed by Nancy Ditmer, Professor of Music and Director of Bands at The College of Wooster, the second honors band directed by Marshall Kimbal, Assitant Professor and Director of Bands at Marietta college, and The Scot Symphonic Band (The College of Wooster) directed by Nancy Ditmer.

Please come see a beautiful afternoon of concert band music performed by the best of Tri-County. It can be a memorable prelude to Super Bowl festivities :)