Emelina Pappalardo

(Pre-Law and Music major, Spanish minor)

Ever since I was little, I knew that I wanted to serve others through both policy and my love for music; however, I never knew what my journey to get there would look like. I remember feeling so overwhelmed the summer before my senior year because I didn’t have a dream school or this vision of my university self like many of my classmates did. I visited a lot of seemingly nice campuses, but nothing felt like it was meant for me. Then one day, my family traveled to Columbus to visit family; The Ohio State University was never in my plan, but I figured that I might as well walk around and visit. There was something about the vibrancy of the trees, the sunlight, and the people walking around that made me feel at home. I found a profound beauty that existed in Ohio State that I envisioned for my own life on campus, so it was easy for me to develop a deep appreciation and excitement for this school. 

After that day, OSU became my dream school. When I applied, I planned on studying political science and Spanish because it seemed like an easy decision for the pre-law track. There was always a part of me, though, that wondered if I was making a mistake for not pursuing music.

One day, after performing oboe at Solo and Ensemble, my dad asked me if I really thought not studying music was the right decision. In that moment, I felt a hint of sadness and regret, and I realized that I didn’t make the right decision in what I had chosen to study. I had already been accepted into Ohio State, though, and it was late February, so I thought it was too late to apply to the School of Music. Nevertheless, I didn’t give up and reached out to the oboe professor, Abby Held, whom I had met at OMEA All-State Orchestra the year before. She was so nice and helpful in my late application process, and this showed me that this community of music people would be the supportive environment that I needed throughout my college years.

Currently, I am a double major in pre-law and music, with a minor in Spanish, and I’m able to study such a wide variety of subjects because Ohio State has so many opportunities. I’ve never felt overwhelmed by the size, though, because the School of Music balances it all out with its smaller community of people that always have each other's backs.

I want you to know that you can make any college campus your happy home with an intentional mindset, but I’ve found that the School of Music at Ohio State makes this easy. I wish you the best of luck in this season, and I hope to see you this fall as a Buckeye!

Michael Malone

(Music Education major)

Choosing to attend The Ohio State University for music was genuinely one of the best decisions I've ever made. I remember a year ago today, I was looking at all of the acceptance letters and financial packages from various colleges, and I had no idea what to do or where to go. I can't give you a specific reason why I decided in the moment to go to Ohio State, it really was a gut feeling that told me this is where I need to be. All summer, I was still worried I was going to end up regretting my decision, but by the end of my first week here, I knew without a doubt this was the perfect place for me. First of all, the resources here really are unmatched. The facilities are incredible, with our music building only being 4 years old. Our performance spaces are incredible, and there are so many practice rooms that are in great shape. Second, the performing groups and opportunities are top-tier. Obviously, the marching band is unmatched, and that has been incredible, but our concert bands and chamber ensembles are extremely skilled and demanding as well. Having experienced marching band, concert band, jazz band, men's chorus, trombone choir, and several other chamber ensembles, not a single one of them has disappointed me. Finally, and most importantly, the people are some of the best people I've ever met, especially within the trombone studio. The trombone studio here is one of the most welcoming and fun environments I've ever been in, and I can already tell that I'm making lifelong friends from it. Dr. Elisabeth Shafer Suffern, our trombone professor, is outstanding and has never ceased to amaze me with how incredible an educator she is. I have walked out of every lesson knowing that I am a better musician than when I walked in. Overall, my first year at OSU has been an overwhelmingly positive experience, and I truly can't imagine myself having a better experience anywhere else.

Anaiyah Rogers

(Music Education major)

I knew that The Ohio State University School of Music was exactly where I wanted to be from the moment I first walked in and immediately felt at home. I was welcomed with warm smiles and genuine encouragement, which is something that hasn’t stopped since my first year. Choosing Ohio State has been one of the best decisions I’ve made because I’m receiving an exceptional education in something I’m deeply passionate about, while still being able to enjoy the experience. I feel challenged in the best way, without ever feeling overwhelmed. For students deciding between schools, my advice is simple: choose the place where you feel the strongest connection. A large university can feel intimidating at first, but here, the School of Music becomes your community! It's a close, supportive environment within a much bigger campus. As a flute student, I’ve found a community unlike any other. The flute studio is incredibly supportive, and I know my peers will always have my back. It has truly become my forever family.

Jack Bell

(Choral Music Education major)

As a first-year student in the School of Music at The Ohio State University, I truly believe that I could not see myself going anywhere else. The community is so close-knit, especially for such a large university, so you get the experience and benefits of both a large university and a small school of music. 

I still remember the exact moment I decided that I would attend The Ohio State University. I was visiting a rehearsal for the Men’s Glee Club, and the director, Dr. Robert Ward, turned to me at the end and said, “Jack, what would you like to hear us sing?” Of course, I said “Carmen Ohio." I remember standing there, arm-in-arm with this entire brotherhood, and just looking around. In that moment, I knew that I needed to go to The Ohio State University because everyone I was looking at had already accepted me as one of their own and as one of their friends. I also couldn’t talk about my admissions experience without mentioning the number of times Dr. Ward and two of my good friends in the Men’s Glee Club, Curtis Nutter and Logan Henry, went out of their way to email me, text me, or call me to ask how I was doing with admissions. Their extra effort is a large reason why I decided Ohio State was right for me, as it felt like the School of Music was the only place I was truly wanted. 

As someone who was once in the chaotic and stressful step of deciding which college I would attend, I would like to offer some advice. First, do not be afraid to visit more than once. I visited the School of Music four times before I decided it was right for me. The admissions teams at each respective university are there to help, so take advantage of that resource! My second bit of advice is to plan a student shadow day WITH a sample lesson with one of the applied instrument faculty. I did this for my second or third visit to my top three colleges, and it really helped me narrow it down even more and helped me decide which applied voice professor I would take lessons with! My third and final piece of advice for students deciding on colleges is to pick a college for your PRIVATE LESSON TEACHER! You will be working with this person for all four years of your degree program, and even sometimes more. Consider all factors, but put the private lesson teacher at the forefront.

Being a voice major at a large university with a strong School of Music, such as OSU, comes with its benefits. Something that was really appealing to me as someone with voice as their primary instrument was the number of applied voice professors we had to pick from. With five different vocal studios in the School of Music, you have the opportunity to pick from five unique people and teaching styles and can switch if it’s not working out with your current professor. Another great thing about being a voice student at OSU is that the voice majors are such a fun, collaborative, supportive, and unique community on their own. Most of my closest friends are also voice majors, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.