Paul Chernysh
College Bound Class of 2025 - Boston Conservatory at Berklee Class of 2029 - BM Voice Performance
As a voice performance major, it is very easy to get caught up in the technique of the song and make every note as technically sound as possible. Through the college bound process, I was reminded by the staff at RSPA that the text truly comes first, and there’s a multitude of ways in which you can practice the text. I found myself much more connected to my pieces because of the dedication that was instilled in me to bring out the text and its meaning. Something that is super important for your prescreen pieces and anything you’re auditioning with is to keep the material fresh. How do you make a piece that you have rehearsed countless times sound like it’s the first time you’re saying those particular words? Anytime I felt like I was hitting a block with a piece, I was given a new strategy by RSPA College Bound and felt inspired to continue trying to grow my material as much as I could. I was encouraged to practice speaking the text while doing random tasks around my house, playing with different levels of light/temperature in the room, singing my pieces while laying on the floor, while running, only on vowels, etc. The point is that RSPA College Bound always had an answer for me to continue finding inspiration and joy in my pieces. That being said, they also knew when to tell me that the pieces were ready and I didn’t need to obsess and question whether they were of good quality or not. They assured me that I had done great work and that they felt 100% confident with me sending these videos to schools and bringing this material to my in-person auditions.
One of the most unique aspects of my RSPA College Bound experience was how the three main instructors I worked with brought so much of their own expertise to my coachings, yet the goal was still perfectly centered on how they can be “Team Paul”. I truly had an amazing support system around me that each had their own individual styles and were there no matter what I needed. Joe had been my voice teacher since the summer going into my 8th grade year, and our technical work on my pieces in lessons was such a huge part of the success I had in my singing at my auditions. Even though we had a deadline, Joe made the best of both worlds with a process vs product oriented approach. Certain aspects of my voice were still developing as I was getting closer to my prescreen filming, but Joe made sure I was the best and most confident I could be on that particular day. After I would build my technique with Joe, I would have a coaching with Pat every week to work more on musicality and phrasing, putting immense detail in the songs that made me grow more curious and inspired with my pieces each week. I was really proud of how clean my audition material was because of those coachings. I also had acting coachings on my pieces with Jess, because I don’t believe in the stereotype that opera singers don’t need to act! Jess really got me to loosen up with my acting and make it more organic, finding the true meaning of the words and creating a strong character for each piece. She made me really dissect the translation and make it more applicable to myself and how I would say those words in everyday language. I could not be more grateful for these three instructors that invested so much time in me!
I really loved when we had a class with all of the other college bound students that was run by Joe. We got to perform our repertoire for each other and put all of those coachings into performance in a low stake and very supportive environment. I think it’s super important to watch your colleagues grow as well and for people in different majors to see each other work. Joe did an amazing job taking all of the pieces and allowing all of us to be somewhat involved in coaching and providing feedback. For multiple people’s songs, as an exercise, Joe would have other students be a part of it and encourage them to be open to new ideas. It was a great representation of something that could very well happen in an audition room. As far as the repertoire that I submitted and sang live in person, I felt that those pieces really challenged me, but they weren’t out of reach. I grew so much in a short amount of time with the amount of training I received and the way in which I was challenged as an artist. I grew to love all of my songs and each time I gave an audition, I was reminded how far I’ve come and how integral the college bound program was to that growth.
Above anything else, I walked into all of my auditions with confidence and poise. I felt like I was prepared to take on anything because of the training I received and all I had to do was take care of my health, be myself, and give the best performance I could. I didn’t feel nervous because I had been told all of the correct things and I knew what to do. I couldn’t express how much knowledge is shared among the RSPA College Bound Staff and that every detail from what I wore, how I prepared my music for the pianist, what to say when I walked into the room, was accounted for. Something I don’t think is preached enough among the auditioning world is how much an outfit impacts your performance and how you come across to adjudicators. I was told to wear something I felt good in, looked put together, and came across as professional. People don’t just remember you for how you sing, but even more importantly, who you are as a human and applicant when you audition for that panel. This level of preparedness and attention to detail that I was so luckily provided with is the reason I had so many successful auditions and got into a lot of great music programs around the country. If I wasn’t reminded enough by the positive reactions I got from jury panels, it was the immediate texts from all of the staff asking how the audition went, if I needed anything etc. Along with receiving the best training, I received the best support a music applicant could ask for, and will forever be grateful. RSPA College Bound is without a doubt the best around, and any senior will feel in great hands with them. Happy auditioning!
Sean Tagariello
College Bound Class of 2024 - The Juilliard School Class of 2028 - BM Vocal Performance
The college process is stressful for everybody, but prospective music/performance students have a lot more to face besides Common App and FAFSA. It can seem like a lot to deal with, but thankfully I had the help of the College Bound program at Rising Stars Performing Arts. I cannot express how deeply grateful I am for the level of preparedness I was able to achieve through the help of this program. I specifically appreciated the emphasis on quality when filming my prescreens. Everyone who was working with me wanted to make sure every minute detail was perfect to best represent me, and my work. From the warmth of the light, to the transparency of the backdrop, my mentors had two goals in mind for my prescreens: clean and efficient. This also couldn’t be achieved without the help and assistance of the faculty in cultivating my prescreen materials to represent me in the best way they possibly can. Each coaching I had, I felt like I was indisputably growing with these pieces. At Rising Stars, we like to say “always forward, never back.” And I feel that with the aid of this program, I’ve only been soaring forward!
My tips to anyone entering this process would be: believe in yourself, don’t get held back by your struggles, and remember that a school’s opinion is not a reflection of your talent. This process is not easy, everyone can admit that. But you need to have as much faith as you can throughout this process! In that audition room, you have that chance to show yourself doing what you love, why try and fit into a box or “expectation?” You’ll face a lot of struggles while working on your repertoire, but that’s ok! We all struggle and I personally believe that you can’t grow without struggling. It means that your body is learning! Respecting that time of growth is essential in a confident performance. Lastly, don’t think you’re doing this “for” these schools, this is all for you! Don’t try to force yourself to be what you think they “want”, because they should want YOU! And in the end if they feel that you would not have a genuine connection with their program, that is not a reflection on your talent or worth! The earth still turns, and as our president Joe likes to say, “you’ll still have your birthday!” To anyone about to enter this process, I send you ALL the best!
Jaime Lamb
College Bound Class of 2024 - Illinois Wesleyan University Class of 2028 - BFA Musical Theatre
My name is Jaime Lamb and I am a senior in high school, who just underwent the entire application process for pursuing a degree in musical theatre in college. I can certainly say that this has been one of the most stressful times of my life, but I don’t think I could have done it without the Rising Stars Performing Arts College Bound program and teachers. For starters, I have been doing musical theatre since I was in fifth grade, but I had never had formal dance training before. Naturally, this made me extremely stressed about the dance portion of my prescreen submissions. It also caused me anxiety for going to actual in-person dance auditions. Luckily, I found RSPA and was greeted with the most welcoming staff, Jess and Joe. Jess never made me feel bad or looked down upon for having no dance experience and used positive encouragement that pushed me to become the best dancer I could be in the short amount of time that I had to prepare for college auditions and filming prescreen videos. Furthermore, Jess helped me with my monologues and allowed me to grow as an actor. I strived through her monologue coaching and can say with certainty that I am a better, more confident actor now that I have had her guidance. The environment created and the guidance I received at RSPA is indispensable.
For anyone entering the college process, my biggest piece of advice is to realize that you are not alone in this process. At my school, none of my friends were trying to pursue a degree in the arts and I felt so alone and overwhelmed. However, through the College Bound Program, I met other amazing seniors who were going through the same process as me. I can now call those seniors my good friends, who I am so thankful I met! My other piece of advice is to understand that rejection is not the end! There are so many schools out there and there is one for everyone. Just because a school rejected you does not mean that you are not good enough to be in this field. You will always be good enough and rejection does not define you. You are capable of amazing things and this process and career process requires a lot of courage and belief in yourself. So, to anyone who is about to enter this process, you are not alone and I wish you the very best.
Nyelle Gogarty
College Bound Class of 2024 - Western Connecticut State University Class of 2028 - BFA Musical Theatre
My name is Nyelle Gogarty, and this year I applied for 15 programs. 8 for musical theatre and 7 for classical vocal performance. College Bound has helped me navigate not only the prescreen and audition experience but the college experience in general. As a first-generation student, I haven’t been able to just ask my parents for help applying, but college bound teachers Joe and Jess have taught me everything I need to know! Applying to college for performing arts is all about putting your best foot forward, so having high-quality prescreens with a great repertoire is a leg up. Joe and Jess help you with everything, whether it be what you should wear or how you should do your makeup. They put effort into the smallest details so that you have the best shot of getting into schools! If you are entering the college bound process, be proud of yourself! It is a huge step to decide to pursue the performing arts, and it’s very easy to get discouraged.
Stay confident in your abilities! I always get nervous before auditions, but I go in with the mindset that I am confident in the training that Joe and Jess have given me, no matter what.
Wear something you are comfortable with! Your audition day isn’t the opportunity to try a new pair of shoes you’ve never walked in.
Practice improving! You will improve the songs that aren’t musical theatre. I’ve been to auditions where we were dancing to rap music or rock music. Make sure you are prepared to dance to all genres of music!
Warm up beforehand! Even if it means waking up at 2 AM for an 8 AM audition. Even if that means warming up in a Whole Foods in Manhattan. Some schools will not give you any time to warm up.
Always follow up! Let the adjudicators know that you care!
Don’t read into everything! I had an audition where I'd been stopped, and I started to think that they had seen enough and didn't want me. But it was actually the opposite!
No matter where you are, treat people with kindness and respect! No one wants to work with negative people.
Network! Network! Network! You will meet a bunch of people who you will see again. If not in your next audition, then somewhere else down the line!
Veronica Bosco
College Bound Class of 2024 - Fordham University Class of 2028
Making decisions for your future can be stressful, especially as a teenager who is trying to find their place in the world. However, the College Bound process at Rising Stars helped make this process for a potential college education in music and performance much easier. As someone who was introduced to the idea of pursuing voice in the summer, it would have been easy for me to be overwhelmed by all the research and preparation that I would need to do for potential schools, my prescreen, and the audition process. But, I was given guidance by Rising Stars staff, especially the president, Joe, which prevented me from feeling as if I was too behind to pursue this. The lessons and coaching sessions that I was given in that short period of time made me feel very prepared and capable of being successful in this process. To go on, I was still given the same amount of support when talking about applying to some schools on an academic path. To make sure that I was still able to pursue music in some capacity, Joe and I spoke about a cappella groups and voice lessons offered at schools. As someone who was a new addition to Rising Stars just when the college process was starting, I felt welcomed and like my success was being rooted for, whether that be in a college for music or academics.
A tip that I would give to anyone entering the College Bound process is that you can control how hard you work, but not how people will react to your performance. In other words, work hard because that will be one of the most fulfilling parts of this process. Not only will you grow as a performer, but you will learn about yourself and mature as a result of all the hard work and dedication that you put into learning and perfecting new repertoire. If you focus on that and working up to your potential during this time, then you will be able to succeed. My last tip is to remind yourself during a setback that music and performance are things that make people happy. If you remember that, it will shine through any issue in your repertoire or challenge you are experiencing. Good luck to anyone who will experience this process!