Auditioning for 2024 entry

[biscuitsneeded]

Congratulations to MTEast's DD! Really glad it's worked out for you.

[Elle’smom]

Ooo I think it’s a viable option transport wise, and they have host families! Will definitely consider this. Thank you.

All I would say is not to expect the same intensity of MT training that you would get from eg Emil Dale. It worked well for DS as we couldn't afford anything fee-paying, and he was able to spend two years doing what he enjoys (he did theatre arts and dance IB alongside performing arts BTEC) but it's not the intense training of somewhere like EDA. There is still academic work to be done around the IB side of things, and it's an inclusive performing arts Btec which will include people with loads of performing experience and people who've done a couple of school plays. Some will go on to vocational training post 18, some are doing it purely for interest. They do have some very successful alumni, and the teachers are very kind and dedicated. The facilities are typical state school, so no state-of-the-art studio or theatre for example, but they try to get visiting tutors in for workshops and they get guests/grads in to talk about their experiences. Your DD would not necessarily make the huge progress in performance skills that she might at somewhere like EDA, but it's a good compromise if she's willing to do some academic work (DS ended up finding the academic side of theatre arts really interesting!) For us it worked out, as we knew DS would not want to carry on doing two more years of pure academics. The host families are really for international students as it's an IB international college (and I must say there is a lovely, outward-looking ethos about the college) but there's nothing to say you couldn't look for a host family. If it were me I wouldn't go to those lengths but it depends on your family set-up and what you're willing to do!

Thank you so much for this. It’s a tricky one for us. My DD is autistic and has a condition called Functional Neurological disorder. It’s very complex, but she is riddled with symptoms at school and has no symptoms when in her dance classes or MT associates programmes. So for us, she absolutely needs to be somewhere with likeminded people for both her physical and mental health. I think I am just so scared the PA colleges won’t be an option for her, so any glimmer of a plan B is worth looking at for us.

I wanted to reassure you about support for SPLN my DD has a visual processing disorder and is on the MT degree. Firstly she applied for and got awarded disabled students allowance which includes 45 hours support a year for her. Also Conti ( and I am sure others do too) has a student support officer who when she doesn’t understand what the assignment is asking she goes and sees and he breaks it down for her. I know others he has printed a less complex version of the timetable for so they know where to be when. When I asked her about this she rolled her eyes and said ‘ oh mum it’s performing arts college virtually all of us have some learning difficulty’.
She has found Conti much easier to manage than school and even vocational sixth form.

[Elle’smom]

Hi, my DD has just attended the Italia Conti audition preparation course, which she enjoyed and found useful, but I think it was a bit of a reality check for her! She had thought her singing was her strength as she has got a strong belt but although she received overall good feedback on her singing, they said she needed to improve her technique and confidence. In addition, they said to the group in general that bad breathing technique in singing was a red flag and they would mark them down in an audition. My question is surely that is what the professional course is for, teaching proper technique, etc? They always say they look for potential and trainability in auditions so I’m a bit confused. She’s currently at a PA 6th form college and getting singing teaching but obviously it’s not enough! Is this the level where foundations are generally offered rather than degrees?

With a DD at Conti I think I can add a bit of context to this - there is a big concern over singing health in particular as quite a lot of contemporary musicals require prolonged use of the belt. My DD had 2 years of singing with an ex-west pro who is a singing health pro, then another two years at vocational sixth form again with a focus on singing health. Her voice is really a standard broadway voice and this term is contemporary term ( in year 2) and even with five years of professional level training her voice has taken a bartering and she is identified as one of the strongest singers at Conti ( a member of Italia Conti singers).
Do you have any singing teachers locally who are MT specialists as this may help her develop the right support for her voice.

[LizzyBee]

How’s everyone getting on? Getting ucas sorted and sending off next week and hoping to get tapes in before Xmas. Anyone booked audition dates yet?

[sailorgirluae]

Yep UCAS applications going in here as well - first lot of auditions booked with Mountview up first at beginning of Dec. DC has been advised to also apply for acting course as had initially focused just on MT so a few more to add to the list now.

[K8t]

Yep UCAS applications going in here as well - first lot of auditions booked with Mountview up first at beginning of Dec. DC has been advised to also apply for acting course as had initially focused just on MT so a few more to add to the list now.

Waiting to hear from Mountview and GSA for auditions. Arts audition in Jan, Emile Dale this Sat in Manchester.

Just heard that Conti are doing a MT Acting course in Sept, so that’s going into UCAS too.

DD released her Chichester offer, let’s hope the gamble pays off.

[38ta]

K8t I think the new Italia conti course is direct rather than through UCAS as it’s just being finalised. They’ve said it will be funded through student finance but don’t think it’s finalised. Good luck with the auditions! Nothing submitted here yet. Been waiting ages to get personal statement back.

[K8t]

K8t I think the new Italia conti course is direct rather than through UCAS as it’s just being finalised. They’ve said it will be funded through student finance but don’t think it’s finalised. Good luck with the auditions! Nothing submitted here yet. Been waiting ages to get personal statement back.

Thank you for the info. I’m see it’s waiting accreditation and I just read through it and it’s apply direct, so thanks for pointing it out.

[Ditzi]

For those that might be interested, EDA are now offering a government funded foundation, with a £1500 per year private top up fee.

[biscuitsneeded]

Any updates from you all, particularly the brave re-applicants? My DS is coming home from GSA tomorrow having had a wonderful term, and I know it's UCAS submission time and am remembering this time last year. Wishing all the DC lots of luck.

[lawn]

Mine comes home from RB in a week's time. Is enjoying it but OMG the hours are insane, had a Sat morning class this term in addition to being in 5 days a week and because it's nearly end of term show time have been in until 8-9pm at night with homework on top. All this has impacted on ability to find a p-time job to help with finances, so for those auditioning make sure that's taken into account too when doing the finances. Looking forward to hearing the success stories next in 2024 and if it's not their turn this year don't despair, it took mine 3 years before offered degree at a place she wished to be at.

[LizzyBee]

Any updates from you all, particularly the brave re-applicants? My DS is coming home from GSA tomorrow having had a wonderful term, and I know it's UCAS submission time and am remembering this time last year. Wishing all the DC lots of luck.

We’re on this journey again. Started earlier this time so just about got all the first round tapes in now, a little break over Xmas trying to forget about any decisions and then in person auditions starting in Jan - 4 booked so far she’s looking forward to being in the room rather than endless taping sessions where you’re basically having to judge yourself if you think it’s good enough!

Hope everyone’s plans are coming together. It’s certainly time consuming even just from an admin pov

[sailorgirluae]

First audition today for my DC at Urdang. Now for the 2 week wait!

[biscuitsneeded]

Good luck @lizzybee and @sailorgirl's DC. Keep us posted.

[LizzyBee]

First audition today for my DC at Urdang. Now for the 2 week wait!

How did it go? Mine has hers in Jan!