Well....the paperwork is completed and my decision is made....

I'M GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND!!!

I have to say it was an extremely difficult decision to make, but I know that UMD is the best for me. While it is scary and a little exhilarating to be walking away from a full ride from Rice University, I am so looking forward to all the new experiences that the Maryland Opera Studio will offer! EEE!!!

I know that this does not seem like much of an update, but I will have more to share after my recital is over....it's April 9th at 7:30pm...like you all haven't heard that before ;)

Well....after 2 months of stalking my mailbox to the point of creeping out my postman...THE GRAD SCHOOL OFFERS ARE ALL IN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been accepted to all 3 schools I had applied/auditioned for - University of Maryland, Florida State University, and Rice University...which is incredibly exciting!!!! I've narrowed down my choices to University of Maryland and Rice University. I've had really amazing offers from both.

1)Rice offered me a full ride. I'm currently reading through all of the fine print to see if it is a full tuition waver or if it just covers what the minimum full-time tuition.

2)Maryland offered me an assistantship that covers half my tuition and makes the half I pay instate tuition. The assistantship also offers me health insurance and a $7,300 stipend each year.

I'm spending the next week or so calling each school with my questions, talking to the voice faculty and lots and lots of praying about this decision I have to make. I feel incredibly blessed to have been accepted to both of these wonderful schools. Rice was only taking 14 new MM students and Maryland was only taking 10 new MM students, so big yay! I know that I will receive a fantastic education from both of these schools, its just figuring out which one will be best for me.

In other news, I actually got to go somewhere for spring break!!! That never happens...ever. I went to Tulsa, OK for the Crescendo Music Competition last weekend. My car broke down on the Cimmaron turnpike on the way there....whoops. But I was able to have it towed to Tulsa and have it repared in time for my preliminary round. I made it to the semi-finals, but did not advance to finals...but hey, it's all good audition experience :) After that I drove to Dallas, TX to spend my spring break with Frank. It was really wonderful to be able to relax for a bit and spend time with him. I met several of his family members and loved them all. I came back to Wichita sporting a sunburn from visiting the Dallas Arboretum...pictures will be up later.

My recital is soon approaching...eek! I'm feeling much more prepared, which is a plus. My recital preview is this week...once I get through that it will be smooth sailing. Hope you all are doing well and as always please keep me posted with your lives!

Hello all!

Sorry I have not posted an update for a while, but life has been really busy. I'm trying to catch up in my classes from being gone for auditions, tech week for the opera, and frantically trying to finish learning my recital material. Ahhh!

The show opens Thursday! My performance nights are on Thursday and Saturday, but as fun as this show has been, I am ready for it to be over so I can tackle other things on my agenda. I will try to update more when I have the time, but until then I wish you all the best!