I don't know if any one else feels this way about this competition, but I just wanted to express my feelings about my experience. I think that when you pay to do an audition you should be given the respect to have it at a location that is of high quality. Northwestern is Northwestern but the music facilities for this competition sucked. Not only was it literally a thousand degrees in the building but the audition was held in a dumpy choir room.

When I got to the audition it was running an hour behind!!!! I have done many auditions, and for the most part they were behind maybe 15 to 20 minutes, but an hour? We were only presenting 3 arias!!

There was no monitor and the hired accompanist (who was very nice) acted as one. When I get to an audition I really just want to get there sign in and then relax until I am called to audition. I really didn't want to talk to the other singers and disturb them to ask them who is next.

Also I found out that one of the judges was a Northwestern Professor..... there are so many vocal professionals in Chicago who could have judged the competition. Why not get someone who is not connected to Northwestern to judge? It seemed to me a little unfair in that respect.

On the application it was expressed that you should bring your own accompanist...but then it went on to say that one would be provided if necessary. It would have been nice for the competition to post who that accompanist would be if they were providing one. I actually contacted the head of the competition and asked a week in advance if he could give me the information of who would be there to accompany and got no response.

I found that the accompanist who was provided was adequate but not a very good follower.

I would not audition again for this competition.

Thank you for letting me voice my opinion!

And good luck for all who auditioned and who will be auditioning!

I've been in that room. It's hot and it's bone dry. Great atmosphere for a piano AND a singer! People who run auditions seldom care about the "environment" they create for the auditionees, nor do they care about the credentials of the accompanist. My best advice: When YOU do an audition and you feel it was a waste of your time and money, post a review on the Web! Other singers will get wind of the good and the bad ones and start boycotting the ones that are a waste of time. If you PAY to do an audition, you deserve AT LEAST a good accompanist (not synonymous with 'pianist'), a room that has proper temperature and humidity levels for singers, and judges who are cordial and respectful of your talent and time invested!

I've been in that room. It's hot and it's bone dry. Great atmosphere for a piano AND a singer! People who run auditions seldom care about the "environment" they create for the auditionees, nor do they care about the credentials of the accompanist. My best advice: When YOU do an audition and you feel it was a waste of your time and money, post a review on the Web! Other singers will get wind of the good and the bad ones and start boycotting the ones that are a waste of time. If you PAY to do an audition, you deserve AT LEAST a good accompanist (not synonymous with 'pianist'), a room that has proper temperature and humidity levels for singers, and judges who are cordial and respectful of your talent and time invested!