Graduate School? #4

Travesty! Or rather, "Agony!"

I just got off the phone with the admissions office of Eastman School of Music. Though I need to learn more about the other schools to which I am applying, I had hoped to at least be considered for Eastman. There is a mandatory interview in Rochester, NY for Music Theory Ph. D. applicants on Feb. 1 & 2. Those are the two dates of our performance of Into the Woods. The admissions office tells me there is no wiggle room.

What do I do? Do I prefer the musical, or the interview (assuming I decide to go through with the application process, and they invite me out)? Ever since I saw Into the Woods, I wanted to play the role of one of the princes -- and now I am, at my alma mater surrounded by good friends. But if I can't attend the interview in Rochester that weekend, I cannot hope to attend Eastman in 2008.

I have already decided one thing: I will not leave Into the Woods without a second Prince. If I do get the interview, and I decide I want to pursue that instead of the musical, but we can't find an understudy, I will nonetheless be performing the musical in Santa Barbara. That is my commitment, and the Lord will honor that.

But now, do I still break my back finishing my Eastman application in the next few days? I think so, since I've done so much work already, and especially because I already have three recommendations for Eastman, and those were kind enough to have been done over Thanksgiving. No, I need to at least apply, and get my foot in the Eastman door.

But will I follow through? At this point (having thought about it for less than an hour), I think not. I will still apply to the other schools, investigate them, and see what opportunities lie about me. But unless one of the other schools really catches my attention, I think I will defer any acceptances for a year (if possible) and spend another year in Santa Barbara. I would be continuing in a job that I mostly enjoy, would be saving up more money for when I eventually become a musician pauper, and would be able to study a foreign language (which all schools seem to require; either German or Italian). However, I would not be leaving a job situation that has proved to not be the best (though I can/should work to improve it), nor would I be pursuing music as soon as I would have hoped.

But God's time is not man's time. I am fully devoted to His time in this matter, and that makes me overwhelmingly happy and peaceful. ...Despite the turmoil of decision-making, of course. Jesus, lead on!