The last few months of my stipend have been great: Days spent performing and studying, nights spent watching one of the greatest orchestras in the world, followed by a refreshing pilsner in one of the beer gardens close to my house. Not to mention traveling to Paris, Wroclaw, Vienna, Prague, Amsterdam, Rome and Brussels on the weekends, watching the final of the FIFA World Cup in Berlin on the world’s largest big screen television (set up just beyond the Brandenburger Tor), and grilling on a boat in the North Sea during the world’s largest sailing festival.
As the weather turned from winter to spring to summer, the people were out in droves in Leipzig’s city center, shopping in the outdoor markets, stepping into the newly open Breuninger’s department store, eating ice cream (the Germans love their Eis), and enjoying the weather.
Best of all, I just found out that I’ve been granted an extension. All in all, I’ll be in Germany for 18 months, learning, singing, traveling, and having what truly has been the time of my life. And, just like it says at the top of the page, the U.S. government has been footing the bill. To be fair, Germany gives me about half of my stipend, so it’s more courtesy of both countries. Still, the point is that the work I’ve been doing here is supported, financially and otherwise.
A number of you have e-mailed me to ask about how I got here, or what I’m doing over here, so I thought it would be most effective to answer all of your questions here in Classical Singer, so you’d have the information right at your fingertips.
First off, what is a Fulbright Fellowship?
The Fulbright Program, named after its founder, Sen. J. William Fulbright, is the largest U.S. international exchange program, offering opportunities for students, scholars and teachers in more than 140 countries worldwide. Fulbright fellows go on to be heads of state, ambassadors, members of Congress, actors, artists, professors, and musicians. Both Renée Fleming and Anna Moffo had fellowships. So did Phillip Glass and Evelyn Lear. Not bad.
How do I know if I qualify for a Fulbright?
First of all, you have to have already received a bachelor’s degree, or be in your senior year in college. You have to be a U.S. citizen and in good health. And, obviously, you have to be interested in studying abroad for a year.
What is the application process like?
It depends. Like so much about Fulbright, it is what you make it. In addition to an extensive form you fill out, there’s also the issue of what country you want to study in, a grant proposal, a narrative curriculum vitae, a recent audio recording, and three letters of recommendation. Something else they mention in the application that may or may not be important: a letter of support from an individual at an institution in your host country. I’ve met a few Fulbright fellows who didn’t have such a letter, but I’ve met considerably more who did.
Why did you choose Leipzig, Germany?
It’s no secret that the opera scene in Germany is a little more vibrant than it is in other places Fulbright operates. (There wouldn’t have been any point in me applying for a Fulbright in Bosnia, for example.) But other factors were definitely involved.
When I first looked at the program, I wanted to study in London. But quickly I realized my odds weren’t that good. Of the 598 applications received for study in London, the Fulbright Program granted 20. The odds in Germany? Nearly 1 in 3 gets an acceptance letter.
Then there’s the issue, for musicians, of a teacher. I came over here without really knowing my teacher or how we would get along. It turns out she’s not only a great teacher, but we also get along very well. It could have been disastrous, however.
If you can afford a trip over here (it could cost you between $1,500 and $2,000, depending on flights), I highly recommend it. I didn’t have the funds available, and it didn’t stop me from getting a Fulbright; don’t let it stop you. The Hochschule für Musik und Theater has a good reputation, and the city of Leipzig has so much to offer, musically and culturally.
What about your project?
Let me say first that the rules for musicians and the rules for everyone else are kind of different. The non-musicians usually have much more concrete projects than the musicians. My project—discovering German Romantic Lieder that are not performed in America—is a little more exact than some of the other musicians’ (such as just German Lieder) but not nearly as specific as some of the scientists’ (“Correlation of Altered Protein Expression with Cellular Changes in Dementia”).
The point of the project proposal is that it brings you to the country in question. It makes a lot of sense to study German Lieder in Germany. It doesn’t make so much sense to study general music history in Germany (you can do that it in America). By the same token, it makes sense to study Bach in Leipzig, but not in Munich.
Now, a word about the actual essay. I started my essay in July, knowing the deadline was towards the end of October. The dean of my conservatory patiently worked with me through at least five drafts—and that was after I’d worked on it for a month. I looked at other proposals, both successful and unsuccessful, to see where they went right or wrong. I ran my essay past friends and teachers for issues of grammar, content, and flow. The two-page essay I submitted represented more than 50 hours of work. One fellow Fulbrighter, however, started her essay on Oct. 19, knowing the deadline was the next day. No one proofread it, no one edited it. She spent maybe three hours on it.
What about that recording?
Since you’re over here as a practicing musician, the Fulbright Commission is obviously going to be interested in what kind of a musician you are. The recording you send in should show you off. A word to the wise: Do your recording early, so you can send a copy to teachers you’re interested in. It may help you get that letter of support.
What next?
After you submit your application, you’ll be invited to audition for the American side of things. My audition was in New York (Fulbright paid for my flight). If you’re accepted there, they forward your application to your country of choice. A different panel looks at all of the applications they receive, and then notifies those they’ve selected as Fulbright fellows.
I submitted my application Oct. 20, 2004, and received the final letter of acceptance April 4, 2005.
Then there’s the issue of language. Fulbright provides a language course just before the grant begins, but it would be a big mistake to rely on that alone. Start studying your country’s language the day you choose the country. It’s not like you’ll be wasting your time—you’ll probably want to learn it for singing anyway.
So that’s the process. But what is having a Fulbright really like?
Your Fulbright will be whatever you want it to be. I came over here to study unknown German songs, but I’ve auditioned for, and been given roles in three operas. I’ve performed on a number of recitals at the Hochschule, and, together with another Fulbrighter in Leipzig, am organizing a concert whose supporters include the Fulbright Commission, the American consulate general in Leipzig, and the City of Leipzig. I’m also participating in a number of public recitals, not only in Leipzig, but all around Germany.
Like any educational experience, half of what you learn is learned outside the classroom. Traveling is a major part of anyone’s Fulbright experience, and, if you do get one, I suggest you save as much money as you can, and dedicate it to travel during the year. You get a stipend from Fulbright, but extra money never hurts.
The experience is wildly varied. There’s the food, the beer, culture, parks, museums, Christmas markets, year-round outdoor markets, local bands—and of course, the other fantastic Fulbrighters you’ll meet. There is a great deal to experience, both good and scary. The point is this: you make your Fulbright yours.
If you have any other questions, feel free to e-mail me. And if you find yourself in eastern Germany anytime before Feb. 15, 2007, let me know. I’ll treat you to a beer in the Barfuß Gässchen and you can tell me about your project. Good luck!
