After the Audition

A look at a student musician’s journey finding her way through the Jacobs School of Music and a global pandemic.

Published Nov. 12, 2021

Photos, story and video by Ethan Levy ethdlevy@iu.edu | @levyethan_

Web development by Izzy Myszak imyszak@iu.edu | @MyszakIzzy

TOP PHOTO: IU senior Katie Coughlin sings in a practice room Sept. 29, 2021, at the Music Annex Building. Katie studies classical music at the Jacobs School of Music.

Music has been part of Katie Coughlin’s life since she was a child. Her parents put her in piano lessons when she was in elementary school, which sparked a love of music that only grew over the years. As a senior studying vocal performance and classical music, Katie credits the Jacobs School of Music for helping her become the musician she is today. However, she said her time in the music school was not always easy.

Heavy workloads and a culture of comparison among students led Katie to feeling burned out by the music school during her sophomore year, she said. That feeling was only intensified by the transition to online learning during the pandemic. Katie said she started to question if her areas of study were right for her.

Despite the difficulties she faced, Katie said she would do it all over again.

As a senior studying vocal performance and classical music, Katie Coughlin credits the Jacobs School of Music for helping her become the musician she is today. However, she said her time in the music school was not always easy.

woman holds sheet music — IU senior Katie Coughlin picks up her music binder Sept. 29, 2021, inside the Music Annex Building. Katie said last year doing voice classes and other normally in-person music activities on Zoom was extremely difficult.

IU senior Katie Coughlin poses for a photo Sept. 29, 2021, outside of Simon Music Library. Katie said she experienced exhaustion from Jacobs during the COVID-19 pandemic because it was difficult to learn music through Zoom.

woman plays piano — IU senior Katie Coughlin rehearses at her piano during the afternoon of Oct. 29, 2021, at her apartment off campus. Katie plans to take a break from music after graduation while she contemplates going to graduate school for vocal performance. Katie said opera and other vocal performers are not taken seriously until they have a master’s degree.

two woman laugh outside — IU senior Katie Coughlin laughs with senior Elizabeth Elliott after their class Oct. 22, 2021, outside of the Music Annex Building. Katie and Elizabeth had just finished their Vocal Pedagogy class, the study of the anatomy behind singing, in the basement of the Music Annex Building.

IU Senior Katie Coughlin listens to the lecture in her Vocal Pedagogy class Oct. 22, 2021, in the basement of the Music Annex Building. Katie said studying at the Jacobs School of Music is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and despite all of the challenges, she take this path again.