Ithaca College

Over the past four weeks, Thomas Kline, Director of Music Admission and Preparatory Programs, has been traveling throughout Asia to audition some of the world's top young musicians. The trip was part of the USA Schools of Music tour, which includes Boston University, Oberlin Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, and Peabody Conservatory.

Audition locations included Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. The group heard 420 auditions, from which over 200 students have indicated an interest in applying to Ithaca. The group spent many 12-hour days listening to auditions in order to accommodate an increase in audition numbers, especially in China.

Kline is grateful to have received support from the College to embark on this venture, now for the third year. He comments: "This trip is instrumental in recruiting international students for the School of Music. Last year, we enrolled 18 students from Asia as a result of this trip, and it has been exciting to observe their positive impact on our student body. I am also pleased that this initiative directly supports IC 20/20, which aims to increase the percentage of international students at Ithaca College."

Non-work related highlights include a visit to the Singapore Zoo and meeting wild crab-eating macaque monkeys in Thailand. To read Kline's blog from the trip, please visit:
https://www.ithaca.edu/music/admission/blogs/asia_audition_tour_2012/