Help with second audition for Purcell School.

[orangebear4]

Can anyone help us out please? Dd had a preliminary audition today at the Purcell School for Young Musicians, first study voice, second flute. She was asked to go back for a main audition which is great, but the head of department did say they would be looking for something a bit different in order for her to be accepted, and she would have to work on various aspects of her performance/technique. It is good that we have this advice, but she is not sure what to do about her second song, as she was asked to change the second one (first song was Schubert) to be more contrasting. He mentioned that it needed to be rhythmic and characterful. She hasn't got a big belting voice so tends to choose lighter songs, but was asked to work on projection, so actually it seems he is looking for a less safe, bigger song. Assuming that she can improve her projection in a month (!), can anyone suggest anything?
So far we have thought of 'Green Finch and Linnet Bird', 'Poor Wandering One' and 'Many a New Day', and she is quite keen on adapting 'Something's Coming' from West Side Story to suit a female voice. Does anyone know if it might be a problem to sing a musical theatre song? She really needs to get this right as it's such a high standard at Purcell, and I know she has a lot of work to do, but she really wants to be successful.

[begolina]

I am not an expert at all and I would say no to a musical theatre song, but then looking the curriculum for music they do study West Side Story in History of Music in year 8.

[DQsMum]

DD had to do a Flanders and Swann for her Grade 4 (The Warthog)...would tick the rhythmis button, is contrasting, and requires acting and is really quite technical. Another she did was 'Elsie Marley' a sort of folk song but fast and spirited and again needing acting as well. These are both from ABRSM syllabus I think as DD doesn't do MT.
Good Luck

[Welsh Mum]

Gilbert and Sullivan is a sort of " coss over" between MT and opera so may be worth a look. Some good sop songs in their stuff. Good luck

[orangebear4]

Thank you for your replies. I forgot to say that she is 15 and passed her Grade 8 singing with distinction in the summer. I will look up those suggestions thank you.

[orangebear4]

Sorry, Welsh Mum you were posting at the same time as me! G & S was my first instinct - do you have anything specific in mind?

[Welsh Mum]

My Dd did a lovely song from Iolanthe for her grade 8 - My Lord a Suppliant at Your Feet - quite dramatic. There's also Poor Wondering One from Pirates of Penzance and Little Buttercup from Pinafore. There must be lots of others as well, worth a youtube search I think

[riverdancefan]

I can't help as it is wayyyy beyond me - but really want to wish her all the VERY best from me and T ...please keep us up to speed!

xx

[Hecouldshine]

Good Luck to your dd for this orangebear4 Congratulations on such a wonderful result in her grade 8 Have you told the school that your dd has scoliosis? Maybe they would realise she might have problems with projection/volume atm and make allowances?

I can't help with specific songs but it seems all these suggested composers (Bernstein, G&S, Flanders & Swann etc) fit into the List C ones for ABRSM singing exams. As all the lists are online you could browse through the various grades to see more names of List C composers that ABRSM use and see if that brings any other songs to mind?

Hope you find a piece you're happy with

[pg]

I think my dd sang "Green Finch" for her Chetham's audition - it was either that or a Gershwin. I'm pretty sure Green Finch would be regarded as a suitable choice, Sondheim is often taken on by opera companies (not always with the happiest of results imo).

You could look at some of Patience's songs from Patience G&S. "I cannot tell what this love may be" (plenty of examples on youtube). It's quite light and dancy - but with enough musical challenges in it. It's also appropriate for a younger performer (which isn't always the case with some of the great MT songs).

Josephine has a couple of great songs in HMS Pinafore too.

Edit: just re-read your post - if you are looking for "bigger" songs, then you can look at Princess Ida (Princess Ida ), Josephine (as mentioned) or Elsie in Yeomen of the Guard "tis done, I am a bride" - that's quite a "big sing" though for a young singer. I think, of them all, I would go for one of Josephine's "Sorry Her Lot" or "The hours creep on apace".

Mabel from Pirates also worth considering, as Welsh Mum has mentioned.

[orangebear4]

We did tell the school about her scoliosis, but I don't think they were prepared to make allowances as the standard is so high. Her lung function is about 20% reduced at the moment, but she was ok during the audition yesterday. She has her pre-op assessment on 10th October, and I feel we are racing to fit in both her Purcell audition and NYCGB audition before the op.Thanks for the advice re the ABRSM list C pieces.
Also thank you to pg for the G & S suggestions, I will have a look at them on Youtube. We are quite liking the idea of Gershwin at the moment and I have borrowed a book. Dd's singing teacher worked on projection today and building up her confidence to think that she IS good enough as I'm sure that's half the battle!

[orangebear4]

Sorry, forgot to say thanks also to riverdancefan and T, and I will keep you posted!

[orangebear4]

Sorry I haven't been on here for ages as we recently moved house and had no internet for about three weeks. Last week dd had her second audition at Purcell. We still haven't been told the result, but she had a full day of auditions, tests and interviews, which dd thought went ok, but the standard of music there is just phenomenal, so it's very difficult to predict it. In the end she sang 'Something's Coming' from West Side Story for her second song, and changed her flute piece to Hindemith, and she felt happy with them. They said they would let us know within two weeks, and it's now been 8 days which is torture!
We now have a date for dd's scoliosis operation - 9th December at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore.

[orangebear4]

I've just heard! SHE GOT IN! She's been offered a place and full scholarship! I just can't believe it.

[Kazmama]

What fantastic news! Well done to your DD I hope her operation goes well xx