2008 Woodie Awards
Conservatory students do more than just sing
By: Beth Prusaczyk
Issue date: 5/3/07 Section: LifeStyle
Once students are accepted into the Conservatory of Theatre Arts, they are greeted with intense training and classmate competition - but they also find camaraderie.
Dottie Englis, chairwoman of the Conservatory, said about 500 students who hope to earn performance degrees audition for the Conservatory each year, but only 25 to 28 are accepted.
Performing and directing majors must audition for Conservatory faculty while design/technical and stage management majors must present a portfolio to faculty.
Englis said the Conservatory holds auditions around the country, including New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Atlanta, as well as St. Louis.
Steven Pierce, a junior musical theater major, said faculty members' responses to his audition helped solidify the Conservatory as his school choice.
"I had auditioned at other large schools and not all of them were very cordial," Pierce said. "The two faculty I auditioned for seemed like they really wanted to work with me and respected me. I think that's a key point in this type of training."
Pierce said he learned of the Conservatory through advertising in theater magazines and decided to contact the program after hearing personal recommendations.
Rebecca Kloha, a senior musical theater major, said her family encouraged her to apply to Webster.
"I was applying to schools offering bachelor's of fine arts in music theater, mostly big-named ones such as Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Boston Conservatory, Emerson and The Hart School," Kloha said. "I applied to Webster, but it was on the bottom of my list as far as schools I wanted to go to."
However, at her audition in New York, Kloha said Webster's musical theater faculty impressed her.
"I was accepted to the program, so I came to visit Webster," Kloha said. "As soon as I stepped foot on campus and met the Conservatory faculty, Webster shot to the top of my list."
Israel Gutierrez, a junior regional theater major, said he learned about the Conservatory at the Texas State Thespian Festival when he was a senior in high school in Texas. He said he was auditioning for several scholarships and colleges at the festival, and Webster was one of the schools that called him back.
Dottie Englis, chairwoman of the Conservatory, said about 500 students who hope to earn performance degrees audition for the Conservatory each year, but only 25 to 28 are accepted.
Performing and directing majors must audition for Conservatory faculty while design/technical and stage management majors must present a portfolio to faculty.
Englis said the Conservatory holds auditions around the country, including New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Atlanta, as well as St. Louis.
Steven Pierce, a junior musical theater major, said faculty members' responses to his audition helped solidify the Conservatory as his school choice.
"I had auditioned at other large schools and not all of them were very cordial," Pierce said. "The two faculty I auditioned for seemed like they really wanted to work with me and respected me. I think that's a key point in this type of training."
Pierce said he learned of the Conservatory through advertising in theater magazines and decided to contact the program after hearing personal recommendations.
Rebecca Kloha, a senior musical theater major, said her family encouraged her to apply to Webster.
"I was applying to schools offering bachelor's of fine arts in music theater, mostly big-named ones such as Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Boston Conservatory, Emerson and The Hart School," Kloha said. "I applied to Webster, but it was on the bottom of my list as far as schools I wanted to go to."
However, at her audition in New York, Kloha said Webster's musical theater faculty impressed her.
"I was accepted to the program, so I came to visit Webster," Kloha said. "As soon as I stepped foot on campus and met the Conservatory faculty, Webster shot to the top of my list."
Israel Gutierrez, a junior regional theater major, said he learned about the Conservatory at the Texas State Thespian Festival when he was a senior in high school in Texas. He said he was auditioning for several scholarships and colleges at the festival, and Webster was one of the schools that called him back.
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