BY: AL GENTILE
Jaime García-Añoveros III is a lifelong violin player who, in his teenage years, began taking composition more seriously. Having played and performed for most of his life, music school seemed an important next step in his development as a composer and as an artist.
Determined to Double Major in a New York Music School
Before connecting with Inside Music Schools (IMS), García-Añoveros knew he wanted a different kind of music school experience that would allow him to pursue his interests in philosophy and other academic subjects. And he knew he wanted to be in New York. All of this made choosing a music school more difficult.
Guidance from Music School Admissions Experts
While working with his first college advisor, it became apparent early on that a daunting and singular admissions process would be better served with expert advice from a place of experience. Steve and Karen, music school admissions experts from Inside Music Schools, were able to point García-Añoveros to programs outside the typical, and perhaps more obvious, schools for composition majors. After some decisive portfolio review and exploring García-Añoveros’ goals as a musician and artist, he found that a double major in Composition and Philosophy at Columbia University was the best place to grow.
Zeroing In on a Liberal Arts College in New York
García-Añoveros was attracted to the energy and depth of the musical identity of New York City, and IMS was able to help direct him toward the right school.
Columbia University stood out because it allowed him to explore more experimental and avant-garde musical styles. “I’m most excited for the avant-garde music scene at Columbia specifically because they’re known for being these crazy experimental, very diverse faculty and student bodies,” García-Añoveros said. Ultimately, García-Añoveros was drawn to the double major option because of his affinity for philosophy.
Developing a Music Portfolio for Composition
In order for García-Añoveros to achieve his dreams, he needed to develop a strong portfolio that showed off his skills and creativity while fulfilling faculty expectations. With deep-running connections with Columbia music faculty, Steve and Karen were able to find out directly from the source what would make García-Añoveros’ application stand out.
“I had advisors, but at that time, they weren’t guiding me on undergraduate composition portfolios,” García-Añoveros said. “I think what Steve and Karen helped me do is develop a clear image of what the admissions department and music department was looking for. They also helped me earlier in the process to get in contact with composition faculty to get advice on my portfolio, which ended up being really helpful because I didn’t have the portfolio I needed.”
Once the destination was identified, IMS helped to develop García-Añoveros’s admissions package into one that was Columbia-ready. All this was possible, García-Añoveros said, because of a dedication to get it right the first time.
“I felt that Steve and Karen were very approachable and easy to work with, and humble in that when they didn’t have an answer, they would always reach out to someone they knew and get me that information quickly,” García-Añoveros said. “Those references were very helpful.”
Getting It Straight: Streamlining the Admissions Process
The application and review process for getting into music programs can be daunting. In the case of García-Añoveros, the confusing deadlines and myriad portfolio and application requirements were challenging to navigate.
But with the guidance of Steve and Karen, García-Añoveros could organize all the different requirements and take a lot of the anxiety out of music school admissions.
Further, having someone with a deep background in music school admissions was, according to García-Añoveros, invaluable.
“We were kind of in the dark,” said García-Añoveros about his college search before IMS and their specialized knowledge.
Columbia University: The Right School
Now that he’s all set for Columbia, García-Añoveros is looking forward to the wide world of New York City.
“I like the cultural scene, and there’s so many musicians dedicated to music,” García-Añoveros said. “In terms of networking, it’s heaven. Everyone’s there all the time. It’s less stratified, and I feel there’s fewer gates and barriers to entry.”
Columbia turned out to be the right school for García-Añoveros not only because of its musical and academic offerings but also because of the location and culture – a match that checked a lot of boxes for him.
By getting to know their students’ desires as artists and their career goals as musicians, Inside Music Schools strives to find what is ultimately the best schools for their students to apply to that will fulfill their creative needs and career goals.
If you are ready to embark on your music school journey with decades of experience in the music school admissions process behind you, contact Inside Music Schools today!
Al Gentile
Al has crafted prose on music big and small for nearly 10 years, as well as in the spheres of music education, advertising and in the newsroom. He’s also a lifelong guitar player and songwriter, performing with several bands throughout the Boston area for the past 20 years. In his off time, Al is dedicated to his record collection and his growing plant family.