This summer I had the absolute privilege of getting to study opera in Germany… all thanks to Oberlin! Through Oberlin’s Internship+ program for juniors, I was able to fund my tuition and travel expenses for MusikTheater Bavaria. This program was exactly what I needed at this stage in my operatic journey. It was intensive conservatory-like training for 3.5 weeks in the Bavarian Alps. The view of the mountains itself would’ve been worth the money spent! I had half a semester's worth of lessons and coachings, which helped me learn so much about my voice and myself as an artist through such a short period of time. The most unexpected part for me was the dance classes we took 3 times a week. I dreaded this prior to the program, but it actually ended up being one of my favorite parts! I didn’t realize how much dancing would help me connect with my body, which would in turn help me while singing. I also just had so much fun. We had German class every single day which truly helped me build on the skills I learned last semester in German 101. Though most locals spoke English, they all knew we were there and were also happy to help us practice our German! We also took wonderful acting classes, workshops, and masterclasses. The whole program concluded with an opera scenes and arias showcase. I performed in three German opera scenes (2 of which I had never heard of prior to the program). It was an amazing introduction to niche German opera. It also greatly helped improve my German diction! I was able to truly test my acting skills with two vastly different operatic roles: a possessed ghost mother coming to haunt and help kill her daughter, and a newlywed who wants to live happily forever with her husband. Overall, this program was so beneficial to me and I learned SO MUCH!
Now, you may not understand what Internship+ is or what Oberlin has to do with a random summer program in Germany. The Internship+ program is designed for both college and conservatory students the summer after their junior year to fund an internship or music festival. You are able to apply for up to $5,000 in funds to help cover travel, program, and living expenses for whatever your summer program is! The process is pretty simple and includes: scheduling an appointment with a career advisor, researching expenses and creating a thorough budget, exploring low-cost options, and submitting your application answering each prompt to the best of your ability. I scheduled an appointment with Susan Ellinger in the professional development department of the conservatory, and she helped me refine my resume and artist bio. Then I calculated my tuition, food, and travel expenses. After putting together my budget and application materials, it probably took me about 45 minutes to write out my answers to mini-essay questions, and submit. One of the main reasons I knew I wanted to go to Oberlin was because of their ability to support their students in every aspect of life, including funding for different adventures! So far, almost every Oberlin has helped me with almost every music experience I have done outside of school!
