So, the Southern Gospel Choir’s end of year concert on the 17th of November went really well, as always an amazing and fun experience to be a part of. On the 19th I had my audition for the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music. My audition-ers were Andrew Legg and Kelly Ottoway. The audition went really well, they seemed impressed with me, and the aural tests (echoing melodies, clapping rhythms, sight singing etc.) didn’t go too badly at all. I sung “Out Tonight” from the musical Rent, and Aretha Franklin’s “Won’t Be Long”.
On the 24th I went to the workshop for the Young Jazz Players’ Competition, that was reasonably enjoyable and it was nice to meet some of the other competitors before the semi-finals. The semi-finals themselves were on the 27th at the Rosny Barn. That was a fun experience and I had a great time enjoying the performances of the other competitors. There were many different instrumentalists, and one other vocalist, a lady named Siobhan O’Rourke who was very good and more experienced than me, having a year at the Conservatorium already under her belt. She beat me and I was not one of the five finalists, but I had a great time anyway and was happy to see my friend Rob Mason make the finals as I think he is a very deserving musician.
My written (theory) test for the Conservatorium was on the 10th of December. I was a little puzzled as there was no aural/listening part of the test, and the example sheet had said there would be. That was a bit frustrating as I spent the last three of my (quite expensive) theory lessons working on dictation, and it turned out that I didn’t even have to do any of that. Oh well, I suppose it was good that I learned it anyway. I am also happy as I discovered a friend of mine whom I met through the gospel choir has done an advanced degree in theory. He helped me refresh some stuff on the morning of my test, and he has started teaching private lessons. I’m thinking of maybe asking if he will give me lessons – I expect they’ll almost certainly be a lot cheaper than the lessons I was taking with Ashton Maggs, and there is the bonus of studying with a friend, which always increases motivation.
And this week it seems my work paid off, as I received a letter of offer from the Conservatorium offering me a place in the Bachelor of Music! I am very happy about this, although I’m hoping they didn’t just go easy on me, as I would like to be able to handle the level of the classes! I expected with my little theory experience I would get an offer for the Bachelor of Music Studies, which is kind of a lower-level course in which you can work your way up to the level of the Bachelor of Music. But nope… I got into the main one right away. Well, I’m not complaining, that’s for sure!
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