Concordia attracts diverse talent and fresh faces with its Music Scholarship Weekend
It’s fairly easy to spot newcomers to Concordia—letter jackets, admissions folders, and parents in tow. This time of year sees a variation on that theme.
Recently, in addition to heavier coats, we’ve seen suits and dresses with instrument cases and music folders while Hvidsten Hall has been packed to the gills. These are the hopefuls trying out to be a part of Concordia’s music scene next year. January 28 and 29 were both the Music Performance Scholarship concert and audition. On these two days, Concordia puts its best foot forward to welcome the students to campus for what may be their first visit to campus as they audition to fill one of the scholarship spots.
The events begin on Thursday as the students arrive and meet the hosts they will stay with overnight in the dorms. That night they are introduced to Concordia faculty in the music program, then treated to a dinner and brought to Memorial Auditorium to see Concordia’s top ensembles perform. The band, orchestra, choir and Jazz 1 all bring their best to bear for a concert that showcases the vast array of talent in the music department. After that, they return to their hosts to spend the night with current students to get a feel of the college life here in Moorhead. That night, practice rooms are filled to overflowing as students try to fit in their last practice before their audition the coming morning.
The next day is the big day for the “prospies.” On Friday, they get the chance to display their own talents as they audition in front of a three- to four-person panel comprised of the teachers for their instruments. For these high school seniors, this 15-minute audition is the result of months of practice.
Victoria Richmond, from Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minn., said that she has had “a good six to seven months of preparation.”
For many, this audition date is not the first, but part of a season of auditions that started months ago by sending recordings of themselves to music schools across the state to be selected as finalists for scholarships.
“This will not be my first audition, so I sort of know what to expect as far as the audition process goes,” Richmond said. “I’m still a little nervous though.”
She certainly is not alone; the tension before the auditions is palpable. A walk through the music building reveals many anxious and impatient students before their audition time. Most are trying to calm themselves down before they perform—taking deep breaths, running silently through their hardest passage, or going through the song one last time in their heads.
After the audition, each student walks out the room with a slightly different expression, usually a mix of relief and tiredness.
“[The audition] all went well, maybe a few pitch problems, but it’s all over for now,” said Matt Lanier of Rosemount High School in Rosemount, Minn.
Most of the students seem to reflect the same idea: they are glad to be done for now, or until the next school’s audition. When they are done, many students will gladly head back home, while others take the rest of the day at their leisure to see the rest of the school and get a feel for what it is like. These students may take a tour or unwind while eating lunch in DS.
Though the scholarship is very enticing, many prospective students see the scholarship weekend as a chance to get to know Concordia.
“Of course the money would be helpful,” Lanier said, “but I’m also trying to see what would make a good home next year.”
Richmond echoed similar thoughts, saying she was drawn to Concordia in particular after seeing the Concordia Choir, and beyond the music ensembles themselves, “the friendly disposition of everyone on campus.” Lanier also liked the demeanor of the professors.
“I was really impressed with everyone during the weekend,” Lanier said. “I was really excited to sit with Dr. Jones at the dinner. He was very nice.”
Both were very happy to be done with their auditions to have time to look at the college.
“It’s pretty much a downhill ride after the audition itself,” Lanier added.
At the end of the weekend, both were tired, but also happy with the experience.
“I think it’s a good fit. Maybe I’ll be back next year,” Lanier said.
