TeenLife 2023 Guide to Performing & Visual Arts Colleges

Did You Have to Prepare for This Major
in Any Way?
Yes, before auditioning for AMDA my theater
teacher and I went through three songs and some
monologues that sat comfortably in my voice. For my
three songs I focused on “Hold Me in Your Heart”
from Kinky Boots, “Music of the Night” from Phantom
of the Opera and “Don’t Let Me Go” from Shrek
the Musical. My teacher made sure I had a dramatic
song, a classical song and a comedic song. As for my
monologue, I did a comedic scene from the most
recent musical I was in, The Wedding Singer.
IN MY
OWN
WORDS
AMDA College of the Performing Arts
HOSEA MUNDI
Why Did You Choose AMDA College of the
Performing Arts and Select This Major?
After high school I knew that I wanted to get into
acting, but I couldn’t decide If I wanted to act for the
stage or the camera. My theatre teacher had told me
about the acting program at AMDA and how intense
the training was. Some of her previous students had
attended the school. After going through AMDA’s
website, I was very adamant about attending this
school for its BFA acting program. That was until
I read through their Music Theatre program. I had
just finished doing a musical at my school, and even
though I wasn’t the strongest singer, in the back of
my head there was this slight joy I felt whenever I
sang. That small voice in the back of my head grew
louder the more I read about the program. In the end
it was my family who persuaded me to switch my
training to musical theater. Why learn only how to
act when you can learn how to sing and dance as well,
they told me. And, oh boy, am I glad I listened to
them. Never did I think in three years I would grow
to be such a strong singer.
What Was a Typical Day Like at the AMDA
College of the Performing Arts?
A typical day at AMDA always started with me
warming up and putting on a concert in my shower
at 8 a.m. The days are long here at AMDA. There
is a lot of good work to be done, and I cannot stress
enough how important warming up first thing in the
morning is. My first class is usually a Gen Ed class
such as math and English composition. After that
my next classes would be either my MT core classes,
where I got to work on duets, trios, audition techniques
and songwriting with my other classmates, or
acting classes, where I got to work on monologues,
scene study, off- and on-camera work and improv, or
dance classes, where I took Tap, Jazz, and Ballet. Later
in the day I would head out to rehearsals for the BFA
shows, mostly the BFA musicals. The musicals are so
fun to do here at AMDA!
What Was the Most Memorable Moment of Your
Time at the AMDA College of the Performing Arts?
My first memorable moment would have to be my
final bow during my last BFA musical. The productions
here are so beautiful to be a part of. The costumes,
mics and lighting make you feel like you're a
professional. After being a part of every show since
my first semester, it was so rewarding to be able to get
up on stage and share one last bow with my friends.
My second most memorable moment would have to
be first semester when my new group of friends and
I held a Secret Santa get-together in the dorms. On
campus most of the fun will come from the connections
and the families you create off stage rather than
on stage. And I guarantee you these connections will
last for eternity.
28 | 2023 TEENLIFE GUIDE TO PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS COLLEGES