For my interview, I met with Professor Mary Birnbaum. She is
a professor at Juilliard and teaches acting for singers, movement, and directs
some of the operas at Juilliard. Professor Birnbaum also stared her own theater
company in New York City in 2009 and works with the Seattle Opera along with
many other opera/theater companies. I got in contact with Professor Birnbaum by
simply emailing her and asking if she would be able to meet with me. I was extremely interested in her work as a professor at Juilliard and in New York Ctiy, and thought that I would be a wonderful experience to meet with her. I was able to obtain her contact information through the
Juilliard staff directory. We were in contact via email throughout fall
semester, figuring out a time to meet when I was in New York City. We were able
to set up a time on the Saturday after the rest of our group had left for Eau
Claire. I had planned on staying a few extra days to visit with family, so
meeting with Professor Birnbaum on Saturday worked perfectly.
We met at a Teashop right outside of Juilliard that was
extremely delightful. When I arrived, we met and sat at a table. We had already
been communicating throughout the semester, so it was nice that we already knew
each other. The interview started out by
taking about her background in theater and how she got to where she is now. She
shared how she started her own theater company in New York City. We also talked
about the UW-Eau Claire opera/voice program. I spoke of our immersion
experience that I had just been on. She was extremely impressed that this type
of program existed. As I explained further about what we were doing in New York
City, she expressed how important a program like this was. Her comments made me
very proud of our program and still extremely honored to say that I was
involved with a program like this. I was very interested in learning more about
her position as a professor at Juilliard.
I shared that acting as apart of preforming was something that I always
needed more practice with. In her job, she teaches acting and movement
strategies for singers. We had a short interview due to her work as the
director of one of the operas at Juilliard. She was in the middle of staging
one of their main stage operas that day. She used her break to meet with me.
Professor Birnbaum really encouraged me to look further into
the opera studies program at Juilliard. She shared with me the process of
entering into the opera program, and what classes are available in the program.
I learned a lot about the process in which to apply for the graduate program,
and the categories of classes that are offered for each skill level. I asked a
lot about the opera program, especially her involvement within the program. I
found it really interesting that they have specific classes for stage movement
and other forms of stage technique. That really interested me in the conversation
as did the other material that she covered.
I really enjoyed taking with Professor Birnbaum. I learned
so much about the opera program at Juilliard and all that the institution
offers for both undergraduate and graduate students. She opened my eyes to the
many possibilities that were present in New York City with her own theater
company and within Juilliard. Advice from the admission application process to
the description of what she teaches in the institution was discussed in my
interview with her. I was encouraged to revisit Juilliard when applying for
graduate programs and to stay in touch as I continue my undergraduate journey.
I was also provided with further advice of what to really look into while in
New York City, that I would gain a great deal form. I was very honored to meet
with Professor Birnbaum, and I look forward to working with her in the near
future. I was encouraged to stay in contact with her and let her know when I
was in the city again to talk again. This interview was a wonderful experience,
and I am very thankful that Professor Birnbaum decided to meet with me.
Many Thanks,
Amanda
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