Is there anyone out there who has been offered a place a either RNCM or RWCMD starting in september?? If so, can you help me because im finding it impossible to make my decicion.... !!

The RNCM has an amazing reputation, has loads more money and facilities etc, but im completly in love with the welsh college!! I felt so at home in cardiff and its a lots closer to home for me so I know that I would be completly happy there....but it seems to have a bad reputation? I know of a brilliant teacher at the welsh (called miriam bowen) and the student satisfaction rate is very high. HOwever, im worried that if I go there it will ruin my chances in the profession and that people will take 1 look at where I trained and will make up their mind before I even start to sing!! What I want to know is how much does reputation really matter?? Surley uni is just what you make of it? And also because Im a singer, ill surley have to do a postgrad when my voice has matured? This is just a starting point in my training right...so does it really matter where i train as long as im happy?

They seemed to really want me at the northern, giving me a place and scholarship on the spot BUT.....(perhaps its because im too much of a home girl or because ive lived in the country all my life) i found northern really overwhelming!! Im also really worried that because I dont have a second instrument I will struggle with the theory side of things (when I went to the preview day at northern, all of the other singers I spoke to had a second instrument of at least grade 5).

HELP!!! wb soon luv beth x x x

***oooh 1 more thing...trinity offerd me a 'reserve unconditional' place but when I called up they said that there are 4 other reserves on the course....but they wouldnt tell me which 1 i am!! If im 1st or 2nd reserve then i might still stand a chance....but if im 3rd or 4th I could accept that I havnt got a place and move on....but they wont tell me!! How frustrating!

go for the place where you most felt at home. no point in spending 3 years somewhere you don't like.

Haha, wow, this is almost EXACTLY the same position I was in. I've been offered places at both RNCM and RWCMD, with a full scholarship at the Welsh and doing Composition as my Principal Study. Initially I was going to choose the Welsh because a full scholarship was pretty tempting, but I've now accepted the offer at the RNCM. Basically what I did was look at the list of tutors, read their bios etc. and found that the tutors at the Northern seemed more renound, had more experience. I also get more tuition at the Northern plus better facilities/more ensembles to work with and stuff. Don't choose somewhere based soley on its reputation; if you know you're going to get just as good tuition at the Welsh as the Northern, and you know you'll be happier there, then it sounds like that's where you should go.

Good luck with making your decision, I know it's really not easy! But think of it like this: you'll never know if you've made the wrong decision, and when you start in September you'll forget that you even had to make this choice.

Btw, how have you not made your decision yet? I thought the deadline for replies to the colleges was Jan 31st?

Emily

Edit: This is a thread that I started when I made my choice - you might find it useful http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?showtopic=12097&hl=

If you have any questions about RWCMD or Cardiff, feel free to ask as I am a junior student there.

Oh wow, I'm applying for the junior department at the moment! Sorry Beth for hijacking your thread for a bit. What's it like there? What was your audition like? What's the there teaching like? Oooh I'm excited!

Hello, I graduated from RWCMD back in 2002 so I'll try not to be too biased.

When I was deciding to which college I should go for, I was really 'at home' at the RWCMD. The college was not too big and the atmosphere was 'one big family'. As to the facilities, it has improved for the last 3-4 years. They are also planning to build a new building to create a bigger performance hall - this may be an advantage (performance opportunities etc.) or disadvantage (noisy environment while the work is on and you may not benefit when its completed as you may have finished your course). In terms of teaching, the academic staff was excellent and their lectures always seem to have inspired me. I had a good clarinet teacher (Principal Cl at the WNO) and there were many performance opportunities available.

Here's some more good points about studying in Cardiff that you might consider:

*Welsh National Opera - resident company at the Wales Millenium Centre. I wasn't keen on opera before but after attending a couple of dress rehearsals (free to students), I try and watch a production at least once a year

*BBC Cardiff Singer of the World - I believe they have masterclasses for singers and recitals while this is on

*Wales Millenium Stadium - I guess important if you're a rugby or football fan

*BBC NOW - they perform at St Davids Hall

*The size of the city - really depends whether you like to live in a big city like Manchester or a medium size like Cardiff (one year my accomodation was less than 10mins from college)

Some not-so-good points:

*Big name orchestra/artists doesn't seem to give concert here that often unlike in London or Birmingham, etc. So if you're into attending concerts, you may find you have to travel to hear them (had to travel to Birmingham to hear the Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Emma Johnson/Richard Stoltzman etc).

*Can get too crowded when there is a match on...but the atmosphere is still good.


I hope I haven't waffle too much, but chose where you think you're going to enjoy yourself. Reputation does sometimes make a difference but I don't think it can make one happy.

Peace
Dominic

Ps. I was one of the original students at the Junior Dept at RWCMD (1996-1997 gosh 10 years ago!!!!).