Curtis Institute of Music

[MzrtMusic]

Hey all...

My teacher and I have recently been looking at the Curtis Institute of Music for me to attend when I graduate from High School. I was wondering if there were any people on this forum who are students at Curtis, or have been in the past few years. I would love to get a feel for the school by talking to someone who has been there. Also, if anyone else knows anything about it, I would love to hear it! Has anyone else tried to audition there? What did you play? My planned repertoire is:

J.S. Bach- Italian Concerto, complete
F. Chopin- Nocturne Op. 27 No. 1 in c# minor
F. Chopin- Etude Op. 10 No. 12 in c minor "Revolutionary"
L. v. Beethoven- Sonata No. 23 in f minor Op. 57 "Appassionata"
C. Debussy- Suite Bergamasque, complete

Any comments on that? Thanks so much for your help!

Love,

Sarah

[thracozaag]

Hey all...

My teacher and I have recently been looking at the Curtis Institute of Music for me to attend when I graduate from High School. I was wondering if there were any people on this forum who are students at Curtis, or have been in the past few years. I would love to get a feel for the school by talking to someone who has been there. Also, if anyone else knows anything about it, I would love to hear it! Has anyone else tried to audition there? What did you play? My planned repertoire is:

J.S. Bach- Italian Concerto, complete
F. Chopin- Nocturne Op. 27 No. 1 in c# minor
F. Chopin- Etude Op. 10 No. 12 in c minor "Revolutionary"
L. v. Beethoven- Sonata No. 23 in f minor Op. 57 "Appassionata"
C. Debussy- Suite Bergamasque, complete

Any comments on that? Thanks so much for your help!

Love,

Sarah

 I think that's quite a good program, although personally I would maybe shy away from the Appasionata.  When I auditioned there, it was held in the Horzowski room and was quite intimidating, walking in playing for Frank, Fleisher, Graffman, Lipkin, etc. plus being videotaped in such a small venue.  I think the auditions are at Curtis Hall, now.  
 I have nothing but positive things to say about the school.  The student body is small (about 150 students total), the people are friendly, and Philly has a nice mix of big city/intimate feel.  
 If memory serves correct, my program was:
Bach Prelude and Fugue #4 WTC:I
Mozart Sonata K. 332
Chopin 2nd Sonata
Chopin Nocturne Op. 27 #2

 I don't recall having to play an optional piece, but maybe the rep. requirements have changed since the pre-cambrian era when I was there.  

Best of luck on your audition!

koji

[MzrtMusic]

Thanks so much for your reply! I thought of a few more questions... How many pianists are there at the school? I figured that it was probably under 10, but I wasn't sure... What would you say the general feeling of the school is? Like, some schools have a lot of Russian faculty, so they all have that very technique-driven mentality... Is Curtis like that?

Also, thank you for your comments on my repertoire. The current requirements are:
Applicants will play from memory: (1) a complete work of J.S. Bach; (2) any Mozart sonata (except K. 545) or any Beethoven sonata (except Op. 49) complete; (3) two contrasting selections from the works of Chopin for solo piano (no works of Chopin for piano and orchestra will be acceptable); and (4) a major solo work of the applicant’s choosing. No substitutions for the above repertoire will be allowed. Applicants must be under 21.

I guess by optional piece, you were referring to the Debussy. I'm using that as my Major Solo Work. What makes you say you would shy away from the Appassionata? I've been playing that sonata since August, 2002 now... So, I've had some time to live with it and such... But I would still love your opinion!

Namarie!

Love,

Sarah

[thracozaag]

Thanks so much for your reply! I thought of a few more questions... How many pianists are there at the school? I figured that it was probably under 10, but I wasn't sure... What would you say the general feeling of the school is? Like, some schools have a lot of Russian faculty, so they all have that very technique-driven mentality... Is Curtis like that?

Also, thank you for your comments on my repertoire. The current requirements are:
Applicants will play from memory: (1) a complete work of J.S. Bach; (2) any Mozart sonata (except K. 545) or any Beethoven sonata (except Op. 49) complete; (3) two contrasting selections from the works of Chopin for solo piano (no works of Chopin for piano and orchestra will be acceptable); and (4) a major solo work of the applicant’s choosing. No substitutions for the above repertoire will be allowed. Applicants must be under 21.

I guess by optional piece, you were referring to the Debussy. I'm using that as my Major Solo Work. What makes you say you would shy away from the Appassionata? I've been playing that sonata since August, 2002 now... So, I've had some time to live with it and such... But I would still love your opinion!

Namarie!

Love,

Sarah

 There's about 30 pianists total there at any time.  I was very fortunate my year, as they took an inordinate amount of pianists, I believe 4.  
 I would say GENERALLY that technique is emphasized SLIGHTLY less at Curtis than Juilliard.  This is NOT to say that Curtis pianists don't have fingers and that Juilliard pianists are lousy musicians...it was just my general impression.  And of course, it all depends on which teacher you get.
 I think they have altered the rep. requirements slightly, I honestly don't recall having played anything in addition to the program above, although I could be dead wrong; I was so terrified, much of the experience has been blotted from my memory :-/
 My only reservation about the Appasionata is that they will probably hear, conservatively, 50 performances of it in the course of a week.  You have people like Lipkin and Frank who specialize in Beethoven (both having performed the cycle numerous times).  I would recommend Mozart on this basis, but if you feel confident in the Beethoven, then by all means play it.  You want to make the strongest impression possible in the shortest amount of time.  I was told later that my being chosen as a student was largely due to Fleisher liking the slow movement of the Mozart sonata I played.  If you really want to play the Appasionata, and feel that you really have something to say with it, then by all means, play it.  

 Just my two cents.

koji