Home free
Finally, it's all over! Bliss! Joyous celebration!
Well, actually, I still have to do the stupid Melbourne Uni musicianship test on Thursday, but I've decided that doesn't count as an audition and therefore they are all over.
So for anyone who hasn't heard and actually cares, a
#1- Random scholarship
This one was hilarious. I was one of the best performers there, but there were several people I wouldn't have minded losing to at all because I thought they were very good. The difference between us could easily have come down to personal preference. Admittedly, the people who I thought were on par with me were 19 and 20, studying music, but it wasn't I who thought myself better than them, they thought it. They gave all those fun exclaimations of "You're REALLY 17? Jesus..."
Then there was this really puzzling moment at the end when this really crap other 17 year old won it. I don't just mean she wasn't the best. She was really poor. Boring with a mediocre voice. There was silent confusion amonst all present. Then she got up to speak and mentioned that she goes to MLC. It was held at MLC. The adjudicator was some member of staff from the MLC music school. My mum was all irrate about it. I thought it has ridiculously funny. Come on, if you're going to do that, at least enter someone who is plausibly a winner...
#2- Les Mis audition number 1
Took an hour and a half to drive there, and as long back. Arrived and burst out laughing when I saw Joel Tito there. Went in and sang Poor Wand'ring One (I was going for Cosette, so it's a good song for showing off the range) the worst I have ever done it. They mysteriously asked me if I do any sport. This drew puzzled looks from me, the girl who hasn't done anything remotely sportlike since gymnastics. Oh, well, I did badminton for a while. I said that. They made me sing scales to see if I have a top C. Which I do. And gave me a call back for Cosette.
#3- VCA drama
This one I messed up severly out of nerves. Everyone else there was in their second or third year of uni, and they were making all these rude little jokes about high school people. So I messed up my contempory (a monologue from Sondheim's Assassins, Lynette Fromme, member of the Manson Family and still a Charles Manson worshipper) something dreadful. The Shakespeare (Helena from Midsummer Night's Dream) was much better, but still not what I would be happy with. I was glad this one was the first drama one, because it was the one I didn't much mind messing up.
#4- NIDA
I learnt my third monologue for this one the day before, but I didn't end up having to do it, luckily, as you only had to do two of your choice. So I got to do my Juliet (incidentally, I hate hearing Shakespeare in an Australian accent, it mutilates it beyond recognition) and my Joan (from George Bernhard Shaw's Saint Joan). I had much more fun at this one, and as a result did much better. The actual Head of Acting said I was very good (he really liked my Saint Joan- woot!) but too young. I was decidedly cheery. I did not go this year expecting to get in- it was more a practice thing- and I certainly did not expect to be told by the Head of Acting at NIDA that I did very well. So now I'm completely content to do music knowing that I can have fun doing that and know that drama is still on the cards.
#5- Les Mis audition number two
The callback. Another occasion on which everyone was older than me. All the Eponines and Cosettes were there at the same time, and there really weren't many. More Eponines, about 7 or 8, but only 5 Cosettes, and they were all at least 19, mostly more. Once again, all uni students or graduates. So I was convinced that I didn't have a chance. Also, I had sinusitis and was having realy trouble with my top register. I had this horrible feeling that I would get to the end of the set piece (Marius and Cosette- the post Empty-Chairs bit with the reprise of Heart Full of Love in a higher key) and there would just be no top C. I would go to sing it and nothing would come out. That didn't happen, though. It came out fine. A little scratchy, but I'd already told them I was sick. When I came out, this Eponine person who was in all these posters for other productions they've done (and so presumably was in those productions said) "Was that you?" to which I said yes. "I thought you said you were 17?" she continued. The puzzling thing was that, whilst everyone who had gone before me was asked to repeat parts of the song, I just sang it once and that was all they wanted. My mum and I analysed it all the way home. We couldn't work out if it was a good thing or a bad thing. I asked Ms Turner, my singing teacher, the next day, and she said it was a good thing, because when they get them to repeat parts it's because they didn't really like them the first time, so in theory if they don't get you to repeat anything it's because it was all good the first time. I'm not quite convinced, but either way I'm already happy that I was one of so few to get called back, and they all older and more trained.
#6 VCA music
I wasn't totally happy with how I performed, but then I never am, and in any case they seemed to think it was good. They said about four or five times that I had a lovely voice and that I sang very well. Then I had to do an interviewey part, and they asked me all these questions that I wasn't ready for and consequently my mind went blank. Who's my favourite singer? I couldn't remember the name of that Scandinavian singer, and I couldn't very well say "That Scandinavian Woman", so I just said the first singer that came into my head, Cecilia Bartoli, because she has great subtlety and she's incredibly dramatic. What are my other interests? Um... drama.... and..... um.... drama.... I wasn't sure if "militant veganism" would go down well, so I didn't mention it. Can I dance? Sure, why not! Do I know they expect me to practice a lot? I wondered at this question a little. Surely anyone trying to get into a music degree knows they have to practice? Maybe not.
#7- Melbourne Uni music
The audition room was horrible and small and hot and had no resonance whatsoever. I swear the walls were absorbing sound. But it was alright, I suppose. There were scales, and that was really it. They gave me a list of the teachers they approve of to learn from if I do it. That was really it.
And that's all from me, folks. I think I will go hibernate on a beach somewhere.
Well, actually, I still have to do the stupid Melbourne Uni musicianship test on Thursday, but I've decided that doesn't count as an audition and therefore they are all over.
So for anyone who hasn't heard and actually cares, a
#1- Random scholarship
This one was hilarious. I was one of the best performers there, but there were several people I wouldn't have minded losing to at all because I thought they were very good. The difference between us could easily have come down to personal preference. Admittedly, the people who I thought were on par with me were 19 and 20, studying music, but it wasn't I who thought myself better than them, they thought it. They gave all those fun exclaimations of "You're REALLY 17? Jesus..."
Then there was this really puzzling moment at the end when this really crap other 17 year old won it. I don't just mean she wasn't the best. She was really poor. Boring with a mediocre voice. There was silent confusion amonst all present. Then she got up to speak and mentioned that she goes to MLC. It was held at MLC. The adjudicator was some member of staff from the MLC music school. My mum was all irrate about it. I thought it has ridiculously funny. Come on, if you're going to do that, at least enter someone who is plausibly a winner...
#2- Les Mis audition number 1
Took an hour and a half to drive there, and as long back. Arrived and burst out laughing when I saw Joel Tito there. Went in and sang Poor Wand'ring One (I was going for Cosette, so it's a good song for showing off the range) the worst I have ever done it. They mysteriously asked me if I do any sport. This drew puzzled looks from me, the girl who hasn't done anything remotely sportlike since gymnastics. Oh, well, I did badminton for a while. I said that. They made me sing scales to see if I have a top C. Which I do. And gave me a call back for Cosette.
#3- VCA drama
This one I messed up severly out of nerves. Everyone else there was in their second or third year of uni, and they were making all these rude little jokes about high school people. So I messed up my contempory (a monologue from Sondheim's Assassins, Lynette Fromme, member of the Manson Family and still a Charles Manson worshipper) something dreadful. The Shakespeare (Helena from Midsummer Night's Dream) was much better, but still not what I would be happy with. I was glad this one was the first drama one, because it was the one I didn't much mind messing up.
#4- NIDA
I learnt my third monologue for this one the day before, but I didn't end up having to do it, luckily, as you only had to do two of your choice. So I got to do my Juliet (incidentally, I hate hearing Shakespeare in an Australian accent, it mutilates it beyond recognition) and my Joan (from George Bernhard Shaw's Saint Joan). I had much more fun at this one, and as a result did much better. The actual Head of Acting said I was very good (he really liked my Saint Joan- woot!) but too young. I was decidedly cheery. I did not go this year expecting to get in- it was more a practice thing- and I certainly did not expect to be told by the Head of Acting at NIDA that I did very well. So now I'm completely content to do music knowing that I can have fun doing that and know that drama is still on the cards.
#5- Les Mis audition number two
The callback. Another occasion on which everyone was older than me. All the Eponines and Cosettes were there at the same time, and there really weren't many. More Eponines, about 7 or 8, but only 5 Cosettes, and they were all at least 19, mostly more. Once again, all uni students or graduates. So I was convinced that I didn't have a chance. Also, I had sinusitis and was having realy trouble with my top register. I had this horrible feeling that I would get to the end of the set piece (Marius and Cosette- the post Empty-Chairs bit with the reprise of Heart Full of Love in a higher key) and there would just be no top C. I would go to sing it and nothing would come out. That didn't happen, though. It came out fine. A little scratchy, but I'd already told them I was sick. When I came out, this Eponine person who was in all these posters for other productions they've done (and so presumably was in those productions said) "Was that you?" to which I said yes. "I thought you said you were 17?" she continued. The puzzling thing was that, whilst everyone who had gone before me was asked to repeat parts of the song, I just sang it once and that was all they wanted. My mum and I analysed it all the way home. We couldn't work out if it was a good thing or a bad thing. I asked Ms Turner, my singing teacher, the next day, and she said it was a good thing, because when they get them to repeat parts it's because they didn't really like them the first time, so in theory if they don't get you to repeat anything it's because it was all good the first time. I'm not quite convinced, but either way I'm already happy that I was one of so few to get called back, and they all older and more trained.
#6 VCA music
I wasn't totally happy with how I performed, but then I never am, and in any case they seemed to think it was good. They said about four or five times that I had a lovely voice and that I sang very well. Then I had to do an interviewey part, and they asked me all these questions that I wasn't ready for and consequently my mind went blank. Who's my favourite singer? I couldn't remember the name of that Scandinavian singer, and I couldn't very well say "That Scandinavian Woman", so I just said the first singer that came into my head, Cecilia Bartoli, because she has great subtlety and she's incredibly dramatic. What are my other interests? Um... drama.... and..... um.... drama.... I wasn't sure if "militant veganism" would go down well, so I didn't mention it. Can I dance? Sure, why not! Do I know they expect me to practice a lot? I wondered at this question a little. Surely anyone trying to get into a music degree knows they have to practice? Maybe not.
#7- Melbourne Uni music
The audition room was horrible and small and hot and had no resonance whatsoever. I swear the walls were absorbing sound. But it was alright, I suppose. There were scales, and that was really it. They gave me a list of the teachers they approve of to learn from if I do it. That was really it.
And that's all from me, folks. I think I will go hibernate on a beach somewhere.