At first, I was reluctant to even consider attending a summer program in-state. My 16-year-old self thought that leaving Texas for a few weeks really meant that I was getting excellent training, but I was so incredibly wrong. TAP Camp is one of the finest summer intensives for musical theatre, acting, and film, something very few intensives offer collaboratively.
At TAP, I found a home; a sanctuary full of other wickedly talented young artists all trying to better themselves. I learned how to trust myself — I learned how to truly be present and in the moment, regardless of the medium I was involved in. TAP camp instills this hunger for knowledge and improvement in every single student — something that you don’t see very often. The young artist’s purpose is challenged and strengthened at this intensive, and we truly got a taste of the business. Everything going on is fast-paced and campers learn to adapt to change quickly, a skill useful in and out of the theatre. TAP helped me understand myself, what I was capable of, and how quickly I can improve if I set my mind to it.
Through TAP, my peers and I gained all the skills necessary to successfully complete our Unified Auditions for BFA programs. In fact, one of my favorite days was when we had a “Mock Unified” experience; it truly gave us a taste of what to expect when the actual auditions came. Through this, I was accepted to The Boston Conservatory for a BFA in Musical Theatre, something that would not be possible without the Texas Arts Project.
TAP Camp does such a thorough job of making sure that each student is prepared for whatever lies ahead of them, and I am so humbled to be a part of this experience. TAP Camp is for everyone, the 16-year-old opera singer, the 14-year-old who wants to make films but has never tried, or the experienced young actor who wants to strengthen his skills — TAP Camp fosters all of these types and helps each of them blossom.
Overall, the summer of 2015 at Texas Arts Project was the best summer I’ve ever had. I will always remember TAP and all of the lessons I learned there. Thank you TAP Camp, I owe you big time!
-Sarah Cosgrove (Starting Boston Conservatory Fall 2016)
