"I just wanted to take a few minutes to let you know how appreciative Jason, and I and Zach are with the professionalism of your company. As an already working actor, we really didn’t know what to expect when Zach started applying to drama programs around the country. When we learned of your company, we had an immediate relief that we were going to be guided in the right direction and that he would eventually learn the knowledge he needed in order to audition for and be successful in a top drama program of his choice. The audition process was quite different than he was used to, but Zach was confident with his training through your company, that he would impress several programs. Ultimately, the best piece of advice we were given was, that he would eventually end up where he was “meant to be” Your staff was amazing, comforting and exceptionally on point with their advice. I would highly recommend your company to any incoming dramatic arts student/family, as it will ease any and all concerns a parent may have as they take this journey with their young adult."
- Tina Robbins
(Zach Robbins - Pace University, BFA Acting for Film, Television, Commercials)
"Chelsea and MCA were recommended to me by a parent who told me her daughter would never have gotten into NYU without Chelsea (the daughter had auditioned the year before and only gotten into a program she was not happy with). I was dubious at first but soon learned how crazy competitive the audition process for musical theater was, with top programs auditioning 1,000 plus students for 20 or so places. A student needs to be super talented but also truly stand out in some way. Despite the fact that my daughter had years of experience, her one-on-one acting and acting the song training at MCA brought her dramatic skills to the forefront, gave her confidence to the point where many auditioners commented on how unusually strong her acting was for a musical theater major. As you learn, it is not as much about hitting the right note as being able to tell a story in song and it is almost staggering how much my daughter improved with convenient Skype lessons. Chelsea's staff is actually more impressive than a lot of the professors in the musical theater programs! More than anything it is the devotion and work ethic every member of staff projects-- every call is promptly returned, every concern addressed, every child feels special and that the lessons are truly customized to them. They want your child to succeed and you feel as if you are part of a community and have a partner in this very competitive and stressful process. The parent Facebook page is a source of ongoing information and support, which trust me you will need. Don't hesitate because once you are immersed in the process you will be overwhelmed on your own and so many of the talented friends my daughter trained with did not get into a single program. MCA is an artist run company that is one of the most organized, focused, committed and effective models that I (as a successful business entrepreneur) have ever seen. Everyone goes above and beyond, will exceed your expectations, and provides tremendous value for the money."
- Deirdre Girard
(Ella Faria - Manhattan School of Music, BFA Musical Theatre)
"Chelsea Diehl and her team of coaches are fantastic! The audition training they provided, gave our daughter Kelly the confidence and polish she needed to succeed at her auditions. Kelly has loved acting since the age of six, studied theater and acted professionally in films. We knew she wanted to study acting in college, but we were overwhelmed by the process and choices. Chelsea helped Kelly find the right programs and schools, and then set her up with great monologue coaches. Because of their help and support, Kelly made it through all her pre-screens and is now attending CalArts, her #1 college choice, working towards a BFA in Theater. We have recommended "My College Audition" to many friends! It was the best decision we made!"
- Nancy Golden
(Kelly Golden - CalArts, BFA Acting)
"When our daughter told us that she wanted to go to college and major in Musical Theatre, we panicked. We didn’t even know where to begin. She is our oldest child, and therefore this was our first parental experience ushering a child through the college application process. Her high school guidance department had been preparing us for several years with academic information, financial aid meetings, college visits, and college fairs. But wait…my kid wants to do Musical Theatre. The guidance counselor knew nothing about this major. What do we do now? Who can help us? Our daughter went to high school with an MCA alum who graduated a couple years before her. I remember him mentioning his “life-saving” audition coaches (who ever heard of such a thing?!) and we immediately got in contact with him to get details. We emailed Chelsea and she responded very quickly to set up a consultation. We purchased the MCA Musical Theatre coaching package. Chelsea and her coaches were very accommodating. Since we live over an hour away from the MCA studios in Allston, we set up two lessons each weekend, usually in a row. Bonus: the long car rides allowed me to chat with my daughter and spend some quality time with her! We had the pleasure of working with Justin, Joe, Nick, Stephanie, and of course Chelsea. These coaches are GIFTED and fully invested in each of their students. They selected and prepped monologues and songs, choreographed and rehearsed dances, prepared my daughter for her interviews, created an audition schedule, (and talked me off the ledge several times) in addition to supporting my daughter. Our daughter was accepted into six musical theatre programs and is attending a phenomenal program at a “reach school,” largely because of her MCA coaches. It sounds cliché, but we never would have made it through the college audition process without Chelsea and her team. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! If you're on the fence, think about this. Your kid needs a coach. Everyone else’s kid will have a coach. Give your child the tools and support they will need to walk confidently into each of his/her auditions. This is an investment in your child’s future. Nobody does it better than MCA."
- Michelle Livingston
(Natalie Livingston - The Hartt School, BFA Musical Theatre)
"I am a big believer in "everything happens for a reason." One of our son's friends, an alumni of MCA, visited us 4 years ago, just before heading off to NYU. She had never visited our home and I had never really had many in-depth conversations with her before that day. She only stayed for about 30 minutes, but in those 30 minutes, she just happened to mention how grateful she was to have worked with MCA. I questioned her about it and 2 years later, I made the call to Chelsea and will forever be grateful. Chelsea and her team guided us through a very overwhelming (but fun) process and our son is now headed to CCPA for Musical Theatre. Chelsea and her team are professional, experienced, kind, supportive, and encouraging. They learn your child so quickly and have so much expertise in knowing the best fit for your child, whether it is a song, a monologue, and dance routine or a college. Not being experienced in the theatre world, Chelsea and her team made my husband and I feel at ease and reassured that the training necessary for the musical theatre auditions and college process was in their hands. They truly know the path to get your child where he or she wants to be. We are incredibly grateful for all their kindness, support and guidance in this process. They are magnificent!!"
- Stephanie White
(Shaun White - CCPA at Roosevelt, BFA Musical Theatre)
"We contacted MCA before our son's senior year. Chelsea was an IMMEDIATE help, working with him to develop a realistic, balanced list of schools that would be good fits for his goals, abilities, personality, and preferences. From there, Joe and others helped our son with monologue and song selection, acting and audition coaching. Our family had a strong game plan for the year and our son went to auditions thoroughly prepared and confident. To our delight, he received a unanimous early acceptance and invitation to a high "reach" school in his Top 3, which meant he could drop every other school below that on the list, focus on the other two auditions, and fully enjoy his senior year of high school. Thank you, Chelsea and MCA!"
- Angie Ward
(Taylor Ward - Indiana University, BFA Musical Theatre)
"We came very late to the Musical Theater college application process when we found MCA. Chelsea made a rapid and realistic assessment of the situation, set up a game plan and got started immediately. With incredible focus and skill, Chelsea connected my daughter to Nael, Justin and Erica. My daughter, Gabi, could relate to each of them, and they all worked with her, pushing her to go to a higher level, while staying true to her unique strengths. The team was rigorous, yet kind and calm. They gave Gabi the tools she needed to feel more confident during her auditions. She was able to be herself and make a connection with the audition adjudicators during the process. When all was said and done, Gabi got into her first choice school (and a few others!) She was fortunate to have options. We are so thankful to the MCA team for their professionalism and commitment to us. It was a gift to be able to learn from and connect to such amazing actors, teachers and role models. They made it possible for my daughter to realize her dream."
- Anne Chiriboga
(Gabi Chiriboga - Boston Conservatory, BFA Musical Theatre)
"Audition coach? Who needs an audition coach? My kid is so talented schools will be falling over themselves to accept him/her". Oh, parent of a future actor, do I have news for you: YOU need an audition coach. After going through the BFA audition process, I'm pretty certain that MCA is more important for the parents than the students. Sure, the kids get awesome tips on their monologue selection and the coaches give them the tools they need to deliver really powerful monologues that make a lasting impression in under 2 minutes, but let's face it: while your kid is working on his monologues, someone has to check schedules, write checks, confirm audition dates/times, make plane/train/automobile reservations, book hotels, make dinner, run a household, hold down a job, maybe even take care of other kids...and I assure you, that is way too much to take on without the guidance that Chelsea and her team provide. If you think your kid doesn't need an audition coach, you may be right. But listen to me when I tell you: YOU need MCAs invaluable guidance, insight, reassurance, reminders, advice and reality checks. As far as the students go, I will tell you this: My son has a passion and drive to be an actor...along with tens of thousands of other kids, most of whom had a lot more experience than he did. Chelsea, Joe and Nael saw his potential and gave him the tools (monologue selection, audition tips, scheduling tips, school recommendations, and constructive notes) he needed to be taken seriously as a candidate for the very selective BFA programs out there. Without the MCA team's direction, I'm not sure we would have made it through the first audition, but with the guidance they provided, my son actually had choices! He was accepted into several programs AND received top talent scholarships at most of them. Although my son has passion, drive and talent, I'm quite certain that these would not have been enough to make his dream a reality without the guidance and direction MCA provided. They traveled with us through this crazy, stressful, overwhelming and chaotic journey and delivered us to an awesome destination. I am forever grateful."
- Michelle Ayer
(Evan Ayer - Hartt School, BFA Acting)
"Being a parent who has had no experience at all with the world of theater myself but having a child who was so obviously dedicated to the art, I can't thank My College Audition enough for their help in finding the right college for our son to continue his passion. Every step of the way, MCA was there and dead on, from evaluating strengths and weaknesses (which we all have), and giving amazing support on both, to knowing just which programs would be the best fit - not just where he could "get in" but giving us information on which ones would most challenge him as an artist. The audition process was daunting to me as a parent, but MCA made it all make sense and actually be manageable.The monologue/song coaching was dead on, and even I could see him grow as an artist during the process, not just helping him polish up his audition pieces. It's a very competitive and stressful process, and MCA's honest support and help made it doable, even for someone like me, who had no idea what was involved! In the end, we all feel that our son ended up just where he needed to be at this stage of his career, and could not be happier or more excited. I know for a fact that he would not be there without MCA's support!"
- Stephen Bauer-Balel
(Adrian Bauer - Marymount Manhattan, BFA Acting)
"As parents, we never would have guessed Tanner’s path to college entry would include acting auditions as well as the regular academic applications. Tanner did not get the “acting bug” until his junior year of high school. After a severe injury sidelined him from the sport he loved, he decided to get involved with his school’s drama department. From there, he did the research on what it takes to get into prestigious acting programs throughout the country. Once he found MCA, he was sold! After meeting with Chelsea via Skype, so were we. MCA worked with Tanner to select and then practice monologues that highlighted his versatility as an actor. The coaching provided by Chelsea, Joe, and Nael made all the difference in Tanner’s preparation. He entered each audition with just the right amount of confidence and a clear understanding of what was expected of him. As parents new to the theater world, the information shared by Chelsea proved to be invaluable as we embarked on this difficult process. Tanner was offered admission into six out of the seven schools where he auditioned. We are so proud of Tanner’s acceptances into the BFA Acting programs of University of Florida, Marymount Manhattan, Florida State University, Emerson, Boston University, and NYU Tisch. We cannot imagine having done this without MCA. The decision has been made, and Tanner has accepted the offer to attend FSU in the fall. He is one of twelve accepted into FSU's Class of 2020 BFA Acting program, and he can't wait to get started!"
-Scott and Stacey Holman
(Tanner Holman – Florida State University, BFA Acting)
"What can I say about Chelsea and MCA? I'll be honest, I looked at a couple of coaching services, and what impressed me most about Chelsea and her crew is the personal level of service that they give. It's not a coaching factory, where your child is randomly assigned to a mentor for songs, monologues, dance. When you hire MCA, you know up front who will be working with your child. And you know they will be helping him or her to let their individuality and personal strengths shine in the audition room, not trying to mold them to some preconceived notion of what schools might be looking for. Thanks to Chelsea, Justin and Nick, my daughter went into her auditions prepared and, even more importantly, calm and collected, knowing what was expected of her and ready for the challenge. Justin was even there for her when she discovered - the morning of Unifieds - that she had downloaded the wrong cut of one of her songs. He not only responded quickly to her panicked text message, within minutes he had sent the right recording to her email in plenty of time for her first audition. And Chelsea and company aren't just there for your child. I can't even begin to count the times she talked me off the ledge when the inevitable rejections started flowing in. Seriously, I was more of a basket case than my daughter! But Chelsea never made me feel like I was a crazed stage mother and reassured me every step of the way that my daughter would land right where she was supposed to. Which she did - as one of 26 members (from an audition pool of over 1000 applicants) of Point Park University's BFA Musical Theater class of 2020. Thanks, Chelsea, Justin and Nick, for never giving up on Marissa - or me!"
- Denise Smoker
(Marissa Smoker - Point Park University, BFA Musical Theatre)
"For our daughter, the college application process was the culmination of 10 years of hard work, determination and focus. 10 years of voice lessons, acting and monologue coaching, competitive dance training, auditions, children’s theater, summer theater, rehearsals, opening nights and closing performances. Her goal has been acceptance into a premier college BFA Music Theater program, leading to a successful career as a professional working actress. The audition process is so incredibly competitive that we could not take any chances, we needed every possible advantage, every resource we could find. Thankfully we found Chelsea! She knows the programs and their faculty. Her knowledge helped us refine our list of potential schools, settling on 12 schools to apply that would be the best fit for our daughter. Chelsea advised and guided our daughter with applications, audition song choices, monologue choices and deadlines. During the stressful months of the process, Chelsea’s calm guidance was reassuring that we were on the right track and that our end result would be positive. With Chelsea’s help our daughter was accepted into 9 amazing BFA Music Theater programs, including her top choice. The most selective theater schools receive 1000+ applications and accept 20 students or less, do not enter the college audition process alone. Thank you so much Chelsea, you gave Zan the edge!"
- Steve & Carrie Berube
(Alexandra Berube - University of Michigan, BFA Musical Theatre)
"Waste no time and enroll your daughter with Chelsea Diehl and the “My College Audition” Team. When you make the decision to allow your child to rise up and follow their artistic passion, the competitive college audition process follows…and you will need a guide and a team of support that goes beyond what you can do locally. We went from knowing nothing about the competitive audition process to winning the Holy Grail at the end of the journey, as our daughter received multiple acceptance and scholarship offers from both her reach and middle schools. We attribute our daughter’s success to the exceptional training and individualized coaching she received through the My College Audition team. The acting programs at the colleges and universities our daughter was looking at accept less than 10% into their programs. Faced with those odds, we were overwhelmed. Our daughter had done well in her high school theatre program, but had little to no experience outside of that circle. Thank goodness we found Chelsea and the My College Audition team! Chelsea and her team provided excellent insight, personalized coaching and a steady, positive focus that guided both her and us through the creative labyrinth of the selective college audition process. Initially, we tried to find someone locally to assist, but gave up and decided to “try” MCA with Skype sessions. It soon became clear how much time we wasted by looking local! The Skype sessions were very effective and worked well with my daughter’s busy school schedule. The coaches on Chelsea’s team are working professionals who offer great feedback and are encouraging role models for young artists. MCA will set your student up for success in a way that you will not be able to do on your own. No library collection or local theatre teacher has the knowledge and pulse on the national trends; a national audition coach is the way to go to best prepare your student for the competitive national audition journey you are about to undertake.
Chelsea and her team first assess raw talent and give you a fair and honest idea of what your reach, middle and safety schools should/can be. Then, together, monologues are selected, worked on and nuanced. An investment in MCA is an investment in the heart and passion of your student. Set your student up to be their very best by gaining insider knowledge about the elite college programs and the competition your student will face on a national level…pick up the phone and enroll in MCA now!"
- Collette Rees
(Elizabeth Rees - Texas State University, BFA Acting)
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We so very much appreciate all your time, talent and effort. I cannot express how thrilled we are that Trisdon will be joining you in Boston at Emerson. He is so ready to get started in his school career and dive further into his passion. Because of your service, but even more importantly, your mentoring Trisdon (and his parents) made it through the audition process with success. More than anything, though, thank you for breathing encouragement and confidence into my son. It was such a blessing to me and his Dad to watch him mature in his feelings of self-confidence and self worth and all through the relationship with you guys. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart."
- Theresa Runnels
(Trisdon Runnels - Emerson College, BA Acting)
"From the moment we met Chelsea we knew this was not only a great fit but a necessity for Colin to get into a college for Musical Theatre. It was very overwhelming to hear of the audition process and all the components required. While we were concentrating on college applications and visits, it was a huge relief to know that you were all taking care of Colin and the tools he would need to succeed. To have you help choose the monologue, song and dance routine for his auditions and how they should be performed and perfected was priceless! We would have had no idea what the proper choices should have been and I know he would not have had the same results. The Master classes, audition video and your guidance gave him the confidence to succeed! We know we could not have done this without you! Colin is so very excited to be attending Emerson College in the Fall.....thank you for your friendship and helping him achieve his dreams!"
- Terry and Kristine McCarthy
(Colin McCarthy - Emerson College, BFA Musical Theatre)
"MCA has been great for my son and my family. The coaching and guidance that Dalton received during his audition process have been invaluable. Chelsea and her staff provide up to the minute inside knowledge about what each school is looking for in their auditions. MCA takes this knowledge and uses it to have your student 100% prepared for auditions. I can not overstate how much more confidence my son had going into auditions knowing that he had prepared specifically for the process and was ready. Your vocal coaches may be great, but they do not have the current knowledge of the schools that MCA has. Chelsea also helped us as parents remain sane during the process. Her recommendations on the advantages and disadvantages of each school helped us feel confident about Dalton's choice of school to attend. I consider the money we spent on getting the full package with MCA one of the best investments we have ever made. When I think of all the advantages we had with MCA, it seems almost unfair to the kids who don't have their help and are going in alone. PS: My wife loves and adores Chelsea!"
- David and Carmen Mitchell
(Dalton Mitchell - Montclair State University, BFA Musical Theatre)
"As parents we were amazed at how time consuming and rigorous the application process is for students pursuing an audition based BFA in acting or musical theater. Even though our daughter was well prepared by her high school and had trained in a variety of venues, so had most of the other 600 -1200 students applying to programs that accept 16-24 first year students. Chelsea Diehl was able to refine our daughter's focus and work with her in depth on her audition materials. Chelsea's approach is based on her vast, first hand knowledge of the top programs in the country. She helped our daughter select monologues that they both loved and presented her as an actor with a wide range of abilities. Chelsea is incredibly encouraging, but totally honest in her assessments and direction. Our daughter had positive results being offered admission to two top BFA acting programs, but equally as important she walked out of every audition feeling prepared, confident and proud. We cannot imagine having gone through this process without Chelsea Diehl and My College Audition."
- Ernie and Kathy Herrman
(Sarah Herrman - Syracuse University, BFA Acting)
"Navigating the unfamiliar and highly competitive world of the college audition process would have been extremely stressful, expensive and undoubtedly, a rocky experience were it not for the help we received from My College Audition. Quite unexpectedly, my daughter’s simmering passion for Performing Arts emerged at the beginning of her junior year. I fought my DIY tendencies, and began to look for professional support, googling my way through various factory-like audition companies. I stumbled upon the MCA website and was immediately impressed with the generosity of information and the testimonials. With offices in Boston and New York, my daughter could also receive one on one coaching, another bonus. MCA is a company of accomplished acting professionals with extensive coaching and teaching experience. From our first meeting with Chelsea, we were immediately impressed with her down-to-earth style, sincerity, sense of humor and professionalism. Initially, Mary worked with her, selecting her monologues, then continued locally with Joe Marrella. His teaching method and humor were a perfect match for my daughter. She also had the pleasure of working with McCaela Donovan who helped her with song choices, working with her until she was confident and ready to walk into any audition. Throughout all, the coaches provided advice, support and even a virtual hug for both my daughter and me! The smallest of questions was never overlooked and we remained in contact from beginning to end. My daughter began her journey pursuing a BA Theatre/MT degree and included several BFA Acting and MT programs. She never dreamed that she would be accepted to so many excellent programs that even rewarded her ability. I can only say that MCA bolstered her confidence and honed her skills. Thanks to her coaches, she was extremely well-prepared when audition season arrived! We are truly grateful that we chose My College Audition and we will continue to stay in touch with our MCA family and recommend them to all. Search no further! MCA will make this process a very happy memory for you. I am delighted to say that my daughter will be attending the BFA Acting program at Ithaca College, Fall 2013."
- Patty Herbert
(Mary Herbert - Ithaca College, BFA Acting)
"Again, thank you so much for all your help!! I would highly recommend you and Jonathan to any parent or student who is about to embark on the nerve racking process of college auditions. Honestly, we could not have done it without your help. I feel that both Chelsea and Jonathan go above and beyond to support your students. As a paying customer, we expect expertise in monologue selection/coaching and vocal coaching. But the emotional support that you provided to both Sara and I does not have a monetary price. It is not often that you meet people who truly give of themselves in the best interest of others. Your passion for the arts is evident by your sincere caring for the future of theatre students."
- Lauren Waite
(Sara Waite, University of the Arts BFA Musical Theatre)
"I was so fortunate to be introduced to Chelsea Cipolla and her team fairly early in the college application process. My son, Alex, applied to Colleges for Musical Theatre and Acting. He had an Acting Coach that I was not thrilled with at the time (I loved his vocal coach). I thought, though, that he needed the "vision" and guidance of someone new, particularly in the acting realm - someone who did not know him as well and could honestly critique his chosen monologues. After our first meeting with Chelsea, I knew it was a match made in heaven. Alex and I were so impressed with Chelsea's breadth and depth of knowledge and her outgoing personality and great sense of humor made it a perfect fit.
I cannot say enough great things about this team. I know this is not a "relationship" that ended when Alex was accepted to his first choice school - NYU Tisch. He was fortunate and had choices. I thank Chelsea for this!
Thanks again Chelsea - working with you has been a pleasure and I have no doubt Alex benefited and will continue to benefit from working with the two of you. I urge any parent who has a child applying to an Acting or Musical Theatre Program to contact MCA immediately if not sooner."
- Rhonda Bohn
(Alex Levy - NYU Tisch)
"I can’t imagine how challenging it is to work with young adults who want to enter the difficult, competitive, grueling world of theater. Your company is a beacon for parents who need to find support and guidance for their kids. We needed to engage a party that is professional, experienced, and above all, safe. Emma and I have found nothing short of those qualities in each and every MCA coach with whom she’s met.They are nothing short of accommodating. I’m impressed with their tireless pursuit of getting the right mix of material and coaches for my daughter. Personally, I appreciate the candor as well. Throughout our time with MCA, Chelsea has been our guide. Tirelessly reviewing monologue after monologue to find the right fit for her student. Then, answering question after question from both student and parent. What’s truly exciting is that watching this exchange is a glimpse into what college training will be like. It’s been a great primer for her. And, it’s helped me with this whole process too. I’m beyond thankful for Chelsea and MCA. They took the time to dig into my daughter’s talents, find a nugget of opportunity and marry the pieces that will drive her personal growth. What an amazing experience."
- Lorraine Romasco
(Emma Romasco, NYU, Musical Theater)
"I am the parent of three children and I can honestly say that in the past 18 years there have only been a few things that have left me feeling truly outside of my comfort zone. One of those things was the musical theater college audition process. Although I successfully navigated my way through both a bachelors and a masters degree, I had no idea what we were in for when my daughter announced that she wanted to pursue a degree in musical theater. Research into potential schools revealed how incredibly competitive these programs are, and we were truly unsure of how to proceed with preparing for this experience. Enter Chelsea Cipolla and My College Audition. Chelsea is living proof that great things really can be found on the Internet! After an initial meeting with my daughter, she immediately honed in on monologues that truly suited her personality. She coached my daughter with humor and enthusiasm and was always available for support and encouragement. When we all decided that a new song was necessary, Jonathan stepped in with the perfect choice. Together, they gave my daughter confidence in her material and a belief that she could rise above the competition. She is incredibly excited to be attending Emerson College as a BFA musical theater student in September 2013. Thank you to Chelsea and Jonathan for a job well done!"
- Tracy McGraw
(Alyssa McGraw - Emerson College BFA Musical Theatre)
"I am so thankful that we found Chelsea, Justin and My College Audition! They did such a fantastic job guiding my daughter in her musical theatre audition prep! They are true experts on what the college auditors are looking for during auditions. They know the best material to pick from when selecting your monologues and songs, and, even more importantly, what material to stay away from. They have the perfect coaching style - they are encouraging, firm, supportive, detail-oriented and exacting all at the same time. They are their students' biggest fans and have a unique gift for helping them bring out their strengths. They helped my daughter not only develop excellent songs and monologues for her audition, but also helped her feel mentally and physically prepared for all aspects of the demanding 4 hour audition process. As a result, my daughter felt confident, calm and more than ready for this high-pressure audition. And, as they say, "the proof is in the pudding" -- my daughter found out in December that she has been accepted into one of the top theatre schools in the country, NYU Tisch School of Drama, which was her first-choice school! She couldn't have done it without Justin and Chelsea, and we will forever be deeply grateful to them!"
-Victoria Forseth
(Tara Forseth - NYU/Tisch)
"This is an extremely valuable program that all high school students planning on majoring in performing arts should get involved in. It helps students understand the difficult process of college auditions. My daughter and I could not have survived without it! It was useful in every sense. Meeting Chelsea Cipolla was truly a life changing experience for me. My daughter had amazing weekly sessions of monologue coaching, but most importantly, self discovery. Chelsea is not only my daughter's coach, she is a mentor and friend for life."
-Rosemarie Cascio
(Gabby Cascio - Pace University BA Acting)
"I found My College Audition by chance online while looking for some help to navigate the crazy world that is college auditions. What a find. Chelsea and her colleagues are talented, nice, caring people who know what colleges are looking for at auditions. The support and knowledge my daughter received from song and monologue selection and rehearsal to resume and what to wear advice was outstanding. My daughter was accepted to NYU, Emerson and Syracuse as well as other non-audition schools. She chose NYU/Tisch and is pursuing her BFA in Musical Theater (class of 2015). I truly believe My College Audition played a large part in her success. I have and will continue to recommend My College Audition to anyone choosing this path."
-Beth Golden
(Jessica Golden - NYU/Tisch)
"I have only one regret about engaging the team at My College Audition -- not starting earlier! After all, we have sports coaches, dance lessons, and private music teachers...why not acting too? My daughter worked with Joe and Chelsea on selecting monologues (which is a lot harder than you'd think) and honing her performance. It was a wonderful, empowering experience. They are a talented, warm, caring group who give practical advice and loads of encouragement. I highly recommend it to any student considering audition schools."
-Angel Micarelli
(Noelle Micarelli - Pace University BA Acting)
"I would like to express my deep appreciation to Chelsea Cipolla and My College Audition. Being a former professional actor, I was very impressed how my daughter, within a few months grew as a young actress. Chelsea's style of coaching helped her to become confident, relaxed, and prepared for her college auditions, and I firmly believe that this gave her an advantage over the others. Chelsea helped my daughter carefully select audition pieces that were best suited for her and she prepared her for interview questions that were asked by the panel of college judges. She also gave input on headshots, resumes, and even proper attire to wear for her audition. I highly recommend My College Audition to any high school student who is serious about going to college to study the performing arts, whether they are majoring in musical theater or acting. My daughter was accepted to her number one choice and was also awarded a scholarship. Thank you, Chelsea and My College Audition!"
-Joe Grosso
(Danielle Grosso - Rider University Musical Theatre)
"I just got a call from Jessica. She drove down to NYC tonight for accepted students day at NYU tomorrow. She also got her studio assignment today and has been placed in The New Studio on Broadway: Music Theater! She couldn't be more excited and we couldn't be more proud. She's already envisioning classes being taught by Sutton Foster....Thank you again for all of you help and support."
- Stephen Golden
(Jessica Golden - NYU/Tisch)
"My daughter worked with Chelsea (monologue prep) and Kevin (voice prep) in preparation for her college auditions. Lexi was extremely happy with the coaching and advice provided to her from both. Chelsea and Kevin were a joy for Lexi to work with and their coaching gave Lexi the confidence she needed going in to her college auditions. It has paid off....so far, Lexi has been accepted to the two schools (Emerson and Hartt) that she applied to early action. The rest are coming up on January and March. I would highly recommend MCA for students preparing for their college auditions!!! The added confidence and insight gained, is very valuable! Good Luck to all....."
-Tori Rabadi
(Lexi Rabadi - Pace University BFA Musical Theatre)
- Tina Robbins
(Zach Robbins - Pace University, BFA Acting for Film, Television, Commercials)
"Chelsea and MCA were recommended to me by a parent who told me her daughter would never have gotten into NYU without Chelsea (the daughter had auditioned the year before and only gotten into a program she was not happy with). I was dubious at first but soon learned how crazy competitive the audition process for musical theater was, with top programs auditioning 1,000 plus students for 20 or so places. A student needs to be super talented but also truly stand out in some way. Despite the fact that my daughter had years of experience, her one-on-one acting and acting the song training at MCA brought her dramatic skills to the forefront, gave her confidence to the point where many auditioners commented on how unusually strong her acting was for a musical theater major. As you learn, it is not as much about hitting the right note as being able to tell a story in song and it is almost staggering how much my daughter improved with convenient Skype lessons. Chelsea's staff is actually more impressive than a lot of the professors in the musical theater programs! More than anything it is the devotion and work ethic every member of staff projects-- every call is promptly returned, every concern addressed, every child feels special and that the lessons are truly customized to them. They want your child to succeed and you feel as if you are part of a community and have a partner in this very competitive and stressful process. The parent Facebook page is a source of ongoing information and support, which trust me you will need. Don't hesitate because once you are immersed in the process you will be overwhelmed on your own and so many of the talented friends my daughter trained with did not get into a single program. MCA is an artist run company that is one of the most organized, focused, committed and effective models that I (as a successful business entrepreneur) have ever seen. Everyone goes above and beyond, will exceed your expectations, and provides tremendous value for the money."
- Deirdre Girard
(Ella Faria - Manhattan School of Music, BFA Musical Theatre)
"Chelsea Diehl and her team of coaches are fantastic! The audition training they provided, gave our daughter Kelly the confidence and polish she needed to succeed at her auditions. Kelly has loved acting since the age of six, studied theater and acted professionally in films. We knew she wanted to study acting in college, but we were overwhelmed by the process and choices. Chelsea helped Kelly find the right programs and schools, and then set her up with great monologue coaches. Because of their help and support, Kelly made it through all her pre-screens and is now attending CalArts, her #1 college choice, working towards a BFA in Theater. We have recommended "My College Audition" to many friends! It was the best decision we made!"
- Nancy Golden
(Kelly Golden - CalArts, BFA Acting)
"When our daughter told us that she wanted to go to college and major in Musical Theatre, we panicked. We didn’t even know where to begin. She is our oldest child, and therefore this was our first parental experience ushering a child through the college application process. Her high school guidance department had been preparing us for several years with academic information, financial aid meetings, college visits, and college fairs. But wait…my kid wants to do Musical Theatre. The guidance counselor knew nothing about this major. What do we do now? Who can help us? Our daughter went to high school with an MCA alum who graduated a couple years before her. I remember him mentioning his “life-saving” audition coaches (who ever heard of such a thing?!) and we immediately got in contact with him to get details. We emailed Chelsea and she responded very quickly to set up a consultation. We purchased the MCA Musical Theatre coaching package. Chelsea and her coaches were very accommodating. Since we live over an hour away from the MCA studios in Allston, we set up two lessons each weekend, usually in a row. Bonus: the long car rides allowed me to chat with my daughter and spend some quality time with her! We had the pleasure of working with Justin, Joe, Nick, Stephanie, and of course Chelsea. These coaches are GIFTED and fully invested in each of their students. They selected and prepped monologues and songs, choreographed and rehearsed dances, prepared my daughter for her interviews, created an audition schedule, (and talked me off the ledge several times) in addition to supporting my daughter. Our daughter was accepted into six musical theatre programs and is attending a phenomenal program at a “reach school,” largely because of her MCA coaches. It sounds cliché, but we never would have made it through the college audition process without Chelsea and her team. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! If you're on the fence, think about this. Your kid needs a coach. Everyone else’s kid will have a coach. Give your child the tools and support they will need to walk confidently into each of his/her auditions. This is an investment in your child’s future. Nobody does it better than MCA."
- Michelle Livingston
(Natalie Livingston - The Hartt School, BFA Musical Theatre)
"I am a big believer in "everything happens for a reason." One of our son's friends, an alumni of MCA, visited us 4 years ago, just before heading off to NYU. She had never visited our home and I had never really had many in-depth conversations with her before that day. She only stayed for about 30 minutes, but in those 30 minutes, she just happened to mention how grateful she was to have worked with MCA. I questioned her about it and 2 years later, I made the call to Chelsea and will forever be grateful. Chelsea and her team guided us through a very overwhelming (but fun) process and our son is now headed to CCPA for Musical Theatre. Chelsea and her team are professional, experienced, kind, supportive, and encouraging. They learn your child so quickly and have so much expertise in knowing the best fit for your child, whether it is a song, a monologue, and dance routine or a college. Not being experienced in the theatre world, Chelsea and her team made my husband and I feel at ease and reassured that the training necessary for the musical theatre auditions and college process was in their hands. They truly know the path to get your child where he or she wants to be. We are incredibly grateful for all their kindness, support and guidance in this process. They are magnificent!!"
- Stephanie White
(Shaun White - CCPA at Roosevelt, BFA Musical Theatre)
"We contacted MCA before our son's senior year. Chelsea was an IMMEDIATE help, working with him to develop a realistic, balanced list of schools that would be good fits for his goals, abilities, personality, and preferences. From there, Joe and others helped our son with monologue and song selection, acting and audition coaching. Our family had a strong game plan for the year and our son went to auditions thoroughly prepared and confident. To our delight, he received a unanimous early acceptance and invitation to a high "reach" school in his Top 3, which meant he could drop every other school below that on the list, focus on the other two auditions, and fully enjoy his senior year of high school. Thank you, Chelsea and MCA!"
- Angie Ward
(Taylor Ward - Indiana University, BFA Musical Theatre)
"We came very late to the Musical Theater college application process when we found MCA. Chelsea made a rapid and realistic assessment of the situation, set up a game plan and got started immediately. With incredible focus and skill, Chelsea connected my daughter to Nael, Justin and Erica. My daughter, Gabi, could relate to each of them, and they all worked with her, pushing her to go to a higher level, while staying true to her unique strengths. The team was rigorous, yet kind and calm. They gave Gabi the tools she needed to feel more confident during her auditions. She was able to be herself and make a connection with the audition adjudicators during the process. When all was said and done, Gabi got into her first choice school (and a few others!) She was fortunate to have options. We are so thankful to the MCA team for their professionalism and commitment to us. It was a gift to be able to learn from and connect to such amazing actors, teachers and role models. They made it possible for my daughter to realize her dream."
- Anne Chiriboga
(Gabi Chiriboga - Boston Conservatory, BFA Musical Theatre)
"Audition coach? Who needs an audition coach? My kid is so talented schools will be falling over themselves to accept him/her". Oh, parent of a future actor, do I have news for you: YOU need an audition coach. After going through the BFA audition process, I'm pretty certain that MCA is more important for the parents than the students. Sure, the kids get awesome tips on their monologue selection and the coaches give them the tools they need to deliver really powerful monologues that make a lasting impression in under 2 minutes, but let's face it: while your kid is working on his monologues, someone has to check schedules, write checks, confirm audition dates/times, make plane/train/automobile reservations, book hotels, make dinner, run a household, hold down a job, maybe even take care of other kids...and I assure you, that is way too much to take on without the guidance that Chelsea and her team provide. If you think your kid doesn't need an audition coach, you may be right. But listen to me when I tell you: YOU need MCAs invaluable guidance, insight, reassurance, reminders, advice and reality checks. As far as the students go, I will tell you this: My son has a passion and drive to be an actor...along with tens of thousands of other kids, most of whom had a lot more experience than he did. Chelsea, Joe and Nael saw his potential and gave him the tools (monologue selection, audition tips, scheduling tips, school recommendations, and constructive notes) he needed to be taken seriously as a candidate for the very selective BFA programs out there. Without the MCA team's direction, I'm not sure we would have made it through the first audition, but with the guidance they provided, my son actually had choices! He was accepted into several programs AND received top talent scholarships at most of them. Although my son has passion, drive and talent, I'm quite certain that these would not have been enough to make his dream a reality without the guidance and direction MCA provided. They traveled with us through this crazy, stressful, overwhelming and chaotic journey and delivered us to an awesome destination. I am forever grateful."
- Michelle Ayer
(Evan Ayer - Hartt School, BFA Acting)
"Being a parent who has had no experience at all with the world of theater myself but having a child who was so obviously dedicated to the art, I can't thank My College Audition enough for their help in finding the right college for our son to continue his passion. Every step of the way, MCA was there and dead on, from evaluating strengths and weaknesses (which we all have), and giving amazing support on both, to knowing just which programs would be the best fit - not just where he could "get in" but giving us information on which ones would most challenge him as an artist. The audition process was daunting to me as a parent, but MCA made it all make sense and actually be manageable.The monologue/song coaching was dead on, and even I could see him grow as an artist during the process, not just helping him polish up his audition pieces. It's a very competitive and stressful process, and MCA's honest support and help made it doable, even for someone like me, who had no idea what was involved! In the end, we all feel that our son ended up just where he needed to be at this stage of his career, and could not be happier or more excited. I know for a fact that he would not be there without MCA's support!"
- Stephen Bauer-Balel
(Adrian Bauer - Marymount Manhattan, BFA Acting)
"As parents, we never would have guessed Tanner’s path to college entry would include acting auditions as well as the regular academic applications. Tanner did not get the “acting bug” until his junior year of high school. After a severe injury sidelined him from the sport he loved, he decided to get involved with his school’s drama department. From there, he did the research on what it takes to get into prestigious acting programs throughout the country. Once he found MCA, he was sold! After meeting with Chelsea via Skype, so were we. MCA worked with Tanner to select and then practice monologues that highlighted his versatility as an actor. The coaching provided by Chelsea, Joe, and Nael made all the difference in Tanner’s preparation. He entered each audition with just the right amount of confidence and a clear understanding of what was expected of him. As parents new to the theater world, the information shared by Chelsea proved to be invaluable as we embarked on this difficult process. Tanner was offered admission into six out of the seven schools where he auditioned. We are so proud of Tanner’s acceptances into the BFA Acting programs of University of Florida, Marymount Manhattan, Florida State University, Emerson, Boston University, and NYU Tisch. We cannot imagine having done this without MCA. The decision has been made, and Tanner has accepted the offer to attend FSU in the fall. He is one of twelve accepted into FSU's Class of 2020 BFA Acting program, and he can't wait to get started!"
-Scott and Stacey Holman
(Tanner Holman – Florida State University, BFA Acting)
"What can I say about Chelsea and MCA? I'll be honest, I looked at a couple of coaching services, and what impressed me most about Chelsea and her crew is the personal level of service that they give. It's not a coaching factory, where your child is randomly assigned to a mentor for songs, monologues, dance. When you hire MCA, you know up front who will be working with your child. And you know they will be helping him or her to let their individuality and personal strengths shine in the audition room, not trying to mold them to some preconceived notion of what schools might be looking for. Thanks to Chelsea, Justin and Nick, my daughter went into her auditions prepared and, even more importantly, calm and collected, knowing what was expected of her and ready for the challenge. Justin was even there for her when she discovered - the morning of Unifieds - that she had downloaded the wrong cut of one of her songs. He not only responded quickly to her panicked text message, within minutes he had sent the right recording to her email in plenty of time for her first audition. And Chelsea and company aren't just there for your child. I can't even begin to count the times she talked me off the ledge when the inevitable rejections started flowing in. Seriously, I was more of a basket case than my daughter! But Chelsea never made me feel like I was a crazed stage mother and reassured me every step of the way that my daughter would land right where she was supposed to. Which she did - as one of 26 members (from an audition pool of over 1000 applicants) of Point Park University's BFA Musical Theater class of 2020. Thanks, Chelsea, Justin and Nick, for never giving up on Marissa - or me!"
- Denise Smoker
(Marissa Smoker - Point Park University, BFA Musical Theatre)
"For our daughter, the college application process was the culmination of 10 years of hard work, determination and focus. 10 years of voice lessons, acting and monologue coaching, competitive dance training, auditions, children’s theater, summer theater, rehearsals, opening nights and closing performances. Her goal has been acceptance into a premier college BFA Music Theater program, leading to a successful career as a professional working actress. The audition process is so incredibly competitive that we could not take any chances, we needed every possible advantage, every resource we could find. Thankfully we found Chelsea! She knows the programs and their faculty. Her knowledge helped us refine our list of potential schools, settling on 12 schools to apply that would be the best fit for our daughter. Chelsea advised and guided our daughter with applications, audition song choices, monologue choices and deadlines. During the stressful months of the process, Chelsea’s calm guidance was reassuring that we were on the right track and that our end result would be positive. With Chelsea’s help our daughter was accepted into 9 amazing BFA Music Theater programs, including her top choice. The most selective theater schools receive 1000+ applications and accept 20 students or less, do not enter the college audition process alone. Thank you so much Chelsea, you gave Zan the edge!"
- Steve & Carrie Berube
(Alexandra Berube - University of Michigan, BFA Musical Theatre)
"Waste no time and enroll your daughter with Chelsea Diehl and the “My College Audition” Team. When you make the decision to allow your child to rise up and follow their artistic passion, the competitive college audition process follows…and you will need a guide and a team of support that goes beyond what you can do locally. We went from knowing nothing about the competitive audition process to winning the Holy Grail at the end of the journey, as our daughter received multiple acceptance and scholarship offers from both her reach and middle schools. We attribute our daughter’s success to the exceptional training and individualized coaching she received through the My College Audition team. The acting programs at the colleges and universities our daughter was looking at accept less than 10% into their programs. Faced with those odds, we were overwhelmed. Our daughter had done well in her high school theatre program, but had little to no experience outside of that circle. Thank goodness we found Chelsea and the My College Audition team! Chelsea and her team provided excellent insight, personalized coaching and a steady, positive focus that guided both her and us through the creative labyrinth of the selective college audition process. Initially, we tried to find someone locally to assist, but gave up and decided to “try” MCA with Skype sessions. It soon became clear how much time we wasted by looking local! The Skype sessions were very effective and worked well with my daughter’s busy school schedule. The coaches on Chelsea’s team are working professionals who offer great feedback and are encouraging role models for young artists. MCA will set your student up for success in a way that you will not be able to do on your own. No library collection or local theatre teacher has the knowledge and pulse on the national trends; a national audition coach is the way to go to best prepare your student for the competitive national audition journey you are about to undertake.
Chelsea and her team first assess raw talent and give you a fair and honest idea of what your reach, middle and safety schools should/can be. Then, together, monologues are selected, worked on and nuanced. An investment in MCA is an investment in the heart and passion of your student. Set your student up to be their very best by gaining insider knowledge about the elite college programs and the competition your student will face on a national level…pick up the phone and enroll in MCA now!"
- Collette Rees
(Elizabeth Rees - Texas State University, BFA Acting)
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We so very much appreciate all your time, talent and effort. I cannot express how thrilled we are that Trisdon will be joining you in Boston at Emerson. He is so ready to get started in his school career and dive further into his passion. Because of your service, but even more importantly, your mentoring Trisdon (and his parents) made it through the audition process with success. More than anything, though, thank you for breathing encouragement and confidence into my son. It was such a blessing to me and his Dad to watch him mature in his feelings of self-confidence and self worth and all through the relationship with you guys. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart."
- Theresa Runnels
(Trisdon Runnels - Emerson College, BA Acting)
"From the moment we met Chelsea we knew this was not only a great fit but a necessity for Colin to get into a college for Musical Theatre. It was very overwhelming to hear of the audition process and all the components required. While we were concentrating on college applications and visits, it was a huge relief to know that you were all taking care of Colin and the tools he would need to succeed. To have you help choose the monologue, song and dance routine for his auditions and how they should be performed and perfected was priceless! We would have had no idea what the proper choices should have been and I know he would not have had the same results. The Master classes, audition video and your guidance gave him the confidence to succeed! We know we could not have done this without you! Colin is so very excited to be attending Emerson College in the Fall.....thank you for your friendship and helping him achieve his dreams!"
- Terry and Kristine McCarthy
(Colin McCarthy - Emerson College, BFA Musical Theatre)
"MCA has been great for my son and my family. The coaching and guidance that Dalton received during his audition process have been invaluable. Chelsea and her staff provide up to the minute inside knowledge about what each school is looking for in their auditions. MCA takes this knowledge and uses it to have your student 100% prepared for auditions. I can not overstate how much more confidence my son had going into auditions knowing that he had prepared specifically for the process and was ready. Your vocal coaches may be great, but they do not have the current knowledge of the schools that MCA has. Chelsea also helped us as parents remain sane during the process. Her recommendations on the advantages and disadvantages of each school helped us feel confident about Dalton's choice of school to attend. I consider the money we spent on getting the full package with MCA one of the best investments we have ever made. When I think of all the advantages we had with MCA, it seems almost unfair to the kids who don't have their help and are going in alone. PS: My wife loves and adores Chelsea!"
- David and Carmen Mitchell
(Dalton Mitchell - Montclair State University, BFA Musical Theatre)
"As parents we were amazed at how time consuming and rigorous the application process is for students pursuing an audition based BFA in acting or musical theater. Even though our daughter was well prepared by her high school and had trained in a variety of venues, so had most of the other 600 -1200 students applying to programs that accept 16-24 first year students. Chelsea Diehl was able to refine our daughter's focus and work with her in depth on her audition materials. Chelsea's approach is based on her vast, first hand knowledge of the top programs in the country. She helped our daughter select monologues that they both loved and presented her as an actor with a wide range of abilities. Chelsea is incredibly encouraging, but totally honest in her assessments and direction. Our daughter had positive results being offered admission to two top BFA acting programs, but equally as important she walked out of every audition feeling prepared, confident and proud. We cannot imagine having gone through this process without Chelsea Diehl and My College Audition."
- Ernie and Kathy Herrman
(Sarah Herrman - Syracuse University, BFA Acting)
"Navigating the unfamiliar and highly competitive world of the college audition process would have been extremely stressful, expensive and undoubtedly, a rocky experience were it not for the help we received from My College Audition. Quite unexpectedly, my daughter’s simmering passion for Performing Arts emerged at the beginning of her junior year. I fought my DIY tendencies, and began to look for professional support, googling my way through various factory-like audition companies. I stumbled upon the MCA website and was immediately impressed with the generosity of information and the testimonials. With offices in Boston and New York, my daughter could also receive one on one coaching, another bonus. MCA is a company of accomplished acting professionals with extensive coaching and teaching experience. From our first meeting with Chelsea, we were immediately impressed with her down-to-earth style, sincerity, sense of humor and professionalism. Initially, Mary worked with her, selecting her monologues, then continued locally with Joe Marrella. His teaching method and humor were a perfect match for my daughter. She also had the pleasure of working with McCaela Donovan who helped her with song choices, working with her until she was confident and ready to walk into any audition. Throughout all, the coaches provided advice, support and even a virtual hug for both my daughter and me! The smallest of questions was never overlooked and we remained in contact from beginning to end. My daughter began her journey pursuing a BA Theatre/MT degree and included several BFA Acting and MT programs. She never dreamed that she would be accepted to so many excellent programs that even rewarded her ability. I can only say that MCA bolstered her confidence and honed her skills. Thanks to her coaches, she was extremely well-prepared when audition season arrived! We are truly grateful that we chose My College Audition and we will continue to stay in touch with our MCA family and recommend them to all. Search no further! MCA will make this process a very happy memory for you. I am delighted to say that my daughter will be attending the BFA Acting program at Ithaca College, Fall 2013."
- Patty Herbert
(Mary Herbert - Ithaca College, BFA Acting)
"Again, thank you so much for all your help!! I would highly recommend you and Jonathan to any parent or student who is about to embark on the nerve racking process of college auditions. Honestly, we could not have done it without your help. I feel that both Chelsea and Jonathan go above and beyond to support your students. As a paying customer, we expect expertise in monologue selection/coaching and vocal coaching. But the emotional support that you provided to both Sara and I does not have a monetary price. It is not often that you meet people who truly give of themselves in the best interest of others. Your passion for the arts is evident by your sincere caring for the future of theatre students."
- Lauren Waite
(Sara Waite, University of the Arts BFA Musical Theatre)
"I was so fortunate to be introduced to Chelsea Cipolla and her team fairly early in the college application process. My son, Alex, applied to Colleges for Musical Theatre and Acting. He had an Acting Coach that I was not thrilled with at the time (I loved his vocal coach). I thought, though, that he needed the "vision" and guidance of someone new, particularly in the acting realm - someone who did not know him as well and could honestly critique his chosen monologues. After our first meeting with Chelsea, I knew it was a match made in heaven. Alex and I were so impressed with Chelsea's breadth and depth of knowledge and her outgoing personality and great sense of humor made it a perfect fit.
I cannot say enough great things about this team. I know this is not a "relationship" that ended when Alex was accepted to his first choice school - NYU Tisch. He was fortunate and had choices. I thank Chelsea for this!
Thanks again Chelsea - working with you has been a pleasure and I have no doubt Alex benefited and will continue to benefit from working with the two of you. I urge any parent who has a child applying to an Acting or Musical Theatre Program to contact MCA immediately if not sooner."
- Rhonda Bohn
(Alex Levy - NYU Tisch)
"I can’t imagine how challenging it is to work with young adults who want to enter the difficult, competitive, grueling world of theater. Your company is a beacon for parents who need to find support and guidance for their kids. We needed to engage a party that is professional, experienced, and above all, safe. Emma and I have found nothing short of those qualities in each and every MCA coach with whom she’s met.They are nothing short of accommodating. I’m impressed with their tireless pursuit of getting the right mix of material and coaches for my daughter. Personally, I appreciate the candor as well. Throughout our time with MCA, Chelsea has been our guide. Tirelessly reviewing monologue after monologue to find the right fit for her student. Then, answering question after question from both student and parent. What’s truly exciting is that watching this exchange is a glimpse into what college training will be like. It’s been a great primer for her. And, it’s helped me with this whole process too. I’m beyond thankful for Chelsea and MCA. They took the time to dig into my daughter’s talents, find a nugget of opportunity and marry the pieces that will drive her personal growth. What an amazing experience."
- Lorraine Romasco
(Emma Romasco, NYU, Musical Theater)
"I am the parent of three children and I can honestly say that in the past 18 years there have only been a few things that have left me feeling truly outside of my comfort zone. One of those things was the musical theater college audition process. Although I successfully navigated my way through both a bachelors and a masters degree, I had no idea what we were in for when my daughter announced that she wanted to pursue a degree in musical theater. Research into potential schools revealed how incredibly competitive these programs are, and we were truly unsure of how to proceed with preparing for this experience. Enter Chelsea Cipolla and My College Audition. Chelsea is living proof that great things really can be found on the Internet! After an initial meeting with my daughter, she immediately honed in on monologues that truly suited her personality. She coached my daughter with humor and enthusiasm and was always available for support and encouragement. When we all decided that a new song was necessary, Jonathan stepped in with the perfect choice. Together, they gave my daughter confidence in her material and a belief that she could rise above the competition. She is incredibly excited to be attending Emerson College as a BFA musical theater student in September 2013. Thank you to Chelsea and Jonathan for a job well done!"
- Tracy McGraw
(Alyssa McGraw - Emerson College BFA Musical Theatre)
"I am so thankful that we found Chelsea, Justin and My College Audition! They did such a fantastic job guiding my daughter in her musical theatre audition prep! They are true experts on what the college auditors are looking for during auditions. They know the best material to pick from when selecting your monologues and songs, and, even more importantly, what material to stay away from. They have the perfect coaching style - they are encouraging, firm, supportive, detail-oriented and exacting all at the same time. They are their students' biggest fans and have a unique gift for helping them bring out their strengths. They helped my daughter not only develop excellent songs and monologues for her audition, but also helped her feel mentally and physically prepared for all aspects of the demanding 4 hour audition process. As a result, my daughter felt confident, calm and more than ready for this high-pressure audition. And, as they say, "the proof is in the pudding" -- my daughter found out in December that she has been accepted into one of the top theatre schools in the country, NYU Tisch School of Drama, which was her first-choice school! She couldn't have done it without Justin and Chelsea, and we will forever be deeply grateful to them!"
-Victoria Forseth
(Tara Forseth - NYU/Tisch)
"This is an extremely valuable program that all high school students planning on majoring in performing arts should get involved in. It helps students understand the difficult process of college auditions. My daughter and I could not have survived without it! It was useful in every sense. Meeting Chelsea Cipolla was truly a life changing experience for me. My daughter had amazing weekly sessions of monologue coaching, but most importantly, self discovery. Chelsea is not only my daughter's coach, she is a mentor and friend for life."
-Rosemarie Cascio
(Gabby Cascio - Pace University BA Acting)
"I found My College Audition by chance online while looking for some help to navigate the crazy world that is college auditions. What a find. Chelsea and her colleagues are talented, nice, caring people who know what colleges are looking for at auditions. The support and knowledge my daughter received from song and monologue selection and rehearsal to resume and what to wear advice was outstanding. My daughter was accepted to NYU, Emerson and Syracuse as well as other non-audition schools. She chose NYU/Tisch and is pursuing her BFA in Musical Theater (class of 2015). I truly believe My College Audition played a large part in her success. I have and will continue to recommend My College Audition to anyone choosing this path."
-Beth Golden
(Jessica Golden - NYU/Tisch)
"I have only one regret about engaging the team at My College Audition -- not starting earlier! After all, we have sports coaches, dance lessons, and private music teachers...why not acting too? My daughter worked with Joe and Chelsea on selecting monologues (which is a lot harder than you'd think) and honing her performance. It was a wonderful, empowering experience. They are a talented, warm, caring group who give practical advice and loads of encouragement. I highly recommend it to any student considering audition schools."
-Angel Micarelli
(Noelle Micarelli - Pace University BA Acting)
"I would like to express my deep appreciation to Chelsea Cipolla and My College Audition. Being a former professional actor, I was very impressed how my daughter, within a few months grew as a young actress. Chelsea's style of coaching helped her to become confident, relaxed, and prepared for her college auditions, and I firmly believe that this gave her an advantage over the others. Chelsea helped my daughter carefully select audition pieces that were best suited for her and she prepared her for interview questions that were asked by the panel of college judges. She also gave input on headshots, resumes, and even proper attire to wear for her audition. I highly recommend My College Audition to any high school student who is serious about going to college to study the performing arts, whether they are majoring in musical theater or acting. My daughter was accepted to her number one choice and was also awarded a scholarship. Thank you, Chelsea and My College Audition!"
-Joe Grosso
(Danielle Grosso - Rider University Musical Theatre)
"I just got a call from Jessica. She drove down to NYC tonight for accepted students day at NYU tomorrow. She also got her studio assignment today and has been placed in The New Studio on Broadway: Music Theater! She couldn't be more excited and we couldn't be more proud. She's already envisioning classes being taught by Sutton Foster....Thank you again for all of you help and support."
- Stephen Golden
(Jessica Golden - NYU/Tisch)
"My daughter worked with Chelsea (monologue prep) and Kevin (voice prep) in preparation for her college auditions. Lexi was extremely happy with the coaching and advice provided to her from both. Chelsea and Kevin were a joy for Lexi to work with and their coaching gave Lexi the confidence she needed going in to her college auditions. It has paid off....so far, Lexi has been accepted to the two schools (Emerson and Hartt) that she applied to early action. The rest are coming up on January and March. I would highly recommend MCA for students preparing for their college auditions!!! The added confidence and insight gained, is very valuable! Good Luck to all....."
-Tori Rabadi
(Lexi Rabadi - Pace University BFA Musical Theatre)