Georgina Joshi
The Georgina Joshi International Fellowship
Through the generosity of the Georgina Joshi Foundation, the Joshi family has established the Georgina Joshi International Fellowship, which creates a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (JSoM) student to study for two years in the Artist Diploma program at the Benjamin Britten International Opera School at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London, where Georgina studied before coming to the Jacobs School.
Introduction
This year, the 2012 recipient of the Georgina Joshi International Fellowship will receive a Fellowship in the amount of $51,800. This Fellowship can be used to cover costs associated with tuition, fees, books, supplies, living and local travel expenses, and other costs related to studying and living in London, including participating in cultural experiences that would enhance the recipient’s study abroad, and may include hiring private coaches, travel costs and related expenses for auditioning purposes, and other costs associated with fully embracing the opportunities while enrolled at RCM that would ultimately increase the likelihood of the successful beginning of a professional voice and/or opera career.
Criteria
It is the wish of the Joshi family that the recipient possess intellectual curiosity about music and the humanities in general, superior musical and vocal talent, and importantly, a warm and generous personality-in short, a singer whose life and outlook embodies the characteristics for which Georgina Joshi was known and admired, and that the recipient of the Fellowship embody the following characteristics:
- Enjoys the collaborative process in making music. This includes working with pianists, instrumentalists, composers, and other singers.
- Enjoys performing a wide variety of musical styles: early music, contemporary music, chamber music, oratorio, song, opera, and Broadway in a variety of settings: the opera stage, recital halls, small ensemble, choirs, and intimate soirées.
- Seeks to help music school students with their studies and preparations for recitals and concerts, and Indiana University students in general.
- Enjoys mentoring younger students.
- Understands the importance of mastering foreign languages and learning the history of music and heritage of composers.
- Exhibits intellectual curiosity in the classroom and attends class enthusiastically.
- Auditions for additional opportunities to perform as a soloist with choirs and ensembles, to sing in guest master classes, and to participate in special events at the Jacobs School of Music.
- Understands the value of exposure to all forms of culture and the arts, and takes the initiative to attend exhibits, performances, and festival events.
- Is comfortable interacting with teachers, administrators, and fellow students.
- Is enthusiastic about participating in the ongoing activities of the RCM (or other institutional designee of the International Fellowship) and taking advantage of the rich cultural offerings of London or the location of the city where the student is completing the International Fellowship.
- Recognizes the significance of the Georgina Joshi International Fellowship and takes pride and pleasure in the award.
- Takes time to learn about Georgina Joshi through conversations with those who knew her, by reading what has been written about her, and by listening to her recordings.
- Shows the ability and desire to succeed.
- Demonstrates a generosity of expression and a true joy in singing.
Applications
Applications can be received from any student in good academic standing currently registered in a graduate voice degree or diploma at IU who will finish their degree requirements at the end of Spring 2012 or Summer 2012. Before advancing to the final round of competition, all applicants will be vetted through the Graduate Office to confirm that there will be no issues in completing the degree by August 2012.
1. Applicants should familiarize themselves with Georgina's life and recordings, which are here.
2. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the Artist Diploma program at the Benjamin Britten International Opera School at the Royal College of Music in London via their Website. Opera program information is here, and the MMus degree information is here.
3. Applicants will submit a personal essay of at least six pages in length about their career aspirations, what being a musician means to them, and how they believe that study in London at the RCM will benefit them.
4. By using the linked form, applicants will submit their CV, a narrative biography, their personal essay, and two letters of recommendation for review by the Indiana University pre-selection committee, which will consist of William Jon Gray, Mary Ann Hart, and Kevin Murphy. This committee will select up to six candidates to advance to the next level of selection. All materials should be submitted electronically to David Villanueva at dvillanu@indiana.edu by 5pm on Friday, December 9, 2011. On a separate sheet, applicants should indicate their availability to be in Bloomington and be heard by the JSoM committee - late afternoons and evenings of the week of January 9, 2012.
SELECTION PROCESS
The JSoM selection committee will arrange a time to hear each of the applicants sing one aria during the first week of the spring semester. The committee will notify the students who will advance to the next round and send their names, along with biographies and CV's, to the RCM.
1. On dates to be announced, the RCM director of opera, Michael Rosewell, and Nick Sears, the head of vocal faculty at RCM will conduct 20 minute auditions of each candidate in which each candidate will offer four arias, at least one of which must be in English. Each singer will choose one aria to perform, and the RCM faculty will choose additional arias from the candidate's offered repertoire. A brief sight-reading test may be given.
2. Mr. Rosewell and Mr. Sears will have a working session with each Fellowship candidate on the repertoire previously offered by the candidate. It is anticipated that each session will last a maximum of 45 minutes.
At the end of the working sessions, the RCM faculty will confer and identify the candidate most suited to their program and give their conclusion and rationale to the JSoM committee and the dean. They will also identify a back-up candidate, should the first-choice candidate decline the fellowship.
