Deciding to Audition in a Conservatory

[cantabile23]

This is my first post...

I'm really happy because my parents finally approved of me auditioning for conservatories when I reach my senior year (I'm a junior and I'm from the Philippines) but I'm an amateur (I've taken lessons as a child and self studying now). I'm just wondering if I have a shot in making it not only in conservatories here but also conservatories such as Colburn School, Curtis, Juilliard (too ambitious huh?)? I really want to audition and I'm determined to do it...

That was my 1st question, more down there...

2. Is it possible for me to get scholarships as a foreign student... if so which schools have scholarships for foreign students?

3. My audition repertoire...
I'm preparing as early as now... my planned repertoire is a list of pieces that I've learned in the past and new ones...

A sampling of what I want to put in...
Bach- WTC Book II Prelude and Fugue no. 16
Mozart- Piano Sonata no. 11 in A major
Chopin- Etudes op 10 no. 1 and 3
Chopin- 3rd Scherzo
Liszt- Gnomenreigen
Debussy- Reverie
Stravinsky- Trois movements de Petrushka
Schumann- Piano Sonata no. 2 in G minor *still learning
Yoko Shimomura- Kingdom Hearts: Concert Paraphrase on Dearly Beloved *one school suggested a piece from 20th or 21st Century

I really need your opinion on this because I really want to study piano that much and I love what I do...

[david_h]

Hi cantabile23,

I wanted to reply to your post, as I have just read it.  It is great to have the ambitions you have stated.  The best advice I could give you is to contact some professors at your preferred institutions directly, as it is an extremely competitive path you are considering.

With regard to scholarship, again this is competitive, but in my opinion should be a secondary concern to finding the right school and teacher.  Find that, and scholarship will follow.

The other thing, that you did not state, is at what level can you play the works you have listed?  I think it is fair to say that to take an audition at conservatory, the works of your choice should be memorized and technically superb.  If your works are prepared to that level, then one path open to you may be to make some video recording (very easy with today's camcorder technology), and upload to YouTube.  From there you can quickly get people's attention.

Just some things I would consider if I were in your position.

Best of luck.