SPOLETO STUDY ABROAD

c/o Ashley Hall

172 Rutledge Avenue

Charleston, SC 29403

Students must have finished the 9th grade, ages 15-19, and demonstrated marked proficiency in either instrumental or vocal music through an audition process, artistic skills through submission of a slide portfolio, acting skills through a video tape audition or creative writing through submission of writing samples. There is no language requirement.   

In examining completed applications, we ask two fundamental questions: First, is this student prepared artistically and academically to meet the challenges of the program and, secondly, is this person going to make a good ambassador for school and country, taking constructive advantage of opportunities, exploring new interests and ideas, and making healthy contributions to the program. We examine teacher recommendations and the audition tape, portfolio or writing samples to answer this first question. We rely heavily on the student essays and the recommendations to answer the second question.  

Instrumental and vocal applicants must submit a performance audio tape or CD that demonstrates his/her instrumental or vocal proficiency. It should contain two contrasting works or movements from standard repertoire on the given instrument. (Examples: Violin - one unaccompanied movement from a 19th century concerto with cadenza; Vocal - two arias of contrasting styles, one in a foreign language).  Mark the audition tape or CD with the applicant's name, school, instrument, vocal range (if applicable), names of pieces and composers. 

Portfolios should consist of examples of your work in any combination from the following areas: ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture or textiles.  Submissions in all areas must be submitted as slides or on a CD. Place 10 examples of your work in a notebook slide sleeve holder or burn 10 images of your work on a disc. Label disc or slides with applicant's name, school and medium.

A complete application to SPOLETO STUDY ABROAD includes:
1. Completed application form with photo, preferably a school picture.
2. Essays I and II, typewritten.
3. Recommendation Form A and Form B: Fill in your name on each recommendation form, have  
      both recommendations  returned to you in separate, sealed envelopes (which you provide)
      with the signature of the faculty member signed across the sealed envelope to enhance
      confidentiality. All recommendations must be typewritten.
4. Audition tape or cd or portfolio submitted with the above specifications.  Tapes or cds and
      portfolios become part  of the application process and will not be returned.
5. $75.00 application fee:  Please make your check payable to SPOLETO STUDY ABROAD.  This
     fee is non-refundable and is not applied to tuition.
6. All required application materials must be submitted in the requested format and in one packet
      or will be returned to the applicant for revision.

Students must have finished the ninth grade and demonstrate marked proficiency in either instrumental or vocal music through an audition process or artistic skills through submission of a portfolio.  There is no language requirement.

The fee for SPOLETO STUDY ABROAD is $5,800.  This fee includes tuition, all meals, lodging, books, all transportation in Italy and entrance fees for group activities.  Expenses not included in this fee are: round-trip airfare to Rome, passport fees, tuition insurance, art lab fees and personal expenses such as laundry, snacks, telephone calls, faxes and spending money. 

An Application Fee of $75 must accompany the application.  All applicants will be notified by mail of their acceptance decision.  A deposit of $850 will be due within 10 days of acceptance and the balance of $4,950 due by April 30, 2008.  Expenses are based on the exchange rate effective September 20, 2006.  Prices are subject to equitable adjustment should there be a significant change in the rate of exchange by June 1, 2008.

All payments excluding the $75 application fee and $850 deposit are fully refundable until May 1, 2008.  There are NO refunds after May 2, 2008.

The specific international flight will be announced at the time of acceptance into the program.  It is an expectation that all students travel on the same international flight on June 20, 2008, as our staff will meet all participants and escort them to Rome.  Students will be met at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome on the morning of June 21 by our staff for transportation to Spoleto.  Instructions for the specific flights will be announced at the time of acceptance into the program.

As summer "guests" of the town of Spoleto, the guidelines by which we live consist both of rules to obey and Italian traditions to respect.  Our basic code is to forbid any behavior that is illegal, antisocial, or dangerous, either to the student or to the group.  Smoking is not allowed. Possession, use or any contact with those in possession of alcohol or drugs is strictly forbidden.  Driving any motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and motorbikes is prohibited

For obvious reasons, students are expected to maintain a standard of behavior representative of the program.  Excessive noise, abuse of property or facilities and similar lapses from this standard are strictly forbidden.  Our faculty-in-residence take responsibility for maintaining standards of behavior, in addition to their primary role as teachers and advisors.  Both to protect our students' well-being and to respect the rules and standards of  SPOLETO STUDY ABROAD, we must reserve the right to send home, at the family's expense, any student who violates these rules.