I vote for music school plus part time work.
And my vote should count a lot, because I’m walking in your shoes. I graduated from a snooty university and had a “career” for four years that I hated. It paid the bills (almost) but the stress and the boredom and the feeling that there was something else out there for me was too much. So I quit and moved to a new city. I’m thinking of going to film school and trying to work on the business side of film production, because I love movies and working as a freelance writer, because I love to write.
I’ve never had less money or less job security in my life (I’m temping until I find a job/decide for sure on school) but I’m paying my bills and doing okay.
It is possible to do the Citicorp career and school at the same time? Of course - lots of artists have day jobs.
But let’s apply the rule of dinner theater, shall we?
Two things that are quite good on their own get diluted when they are combined - you could devote all your resources to theater, and have good theater, or you could devote all your resources to dinner, and have a great dinner. When you try to stretch your resources too far you end up eating rubber chicken and watching “A Chorus Line” in the basement of a local church. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s not exactly the stuff that dreams are made on.
You are an intelligent person - I’m sure you could go far at Citicorp if you wanted to. But if you love music enough to want to devote your life to it, then you owe it to your music and your dream to follow it and see where it takes you. Trying to do both will only make you tired, stressed, and less of a musician or a financial professional than you could be if you just followed one. Why do music as a hobby when you can make it your LIFE? Music, any art form really, is a tough master and you have to give it your best self, not the self that is worn out after a day of being a banker. You are lucky - you know NOW what you want to do - you’ve honed in on it! Now go! I’m still sort of searching, but believe me when I find what it is I’ll go after it fully.
Your mom wants what’s best for you, as does mine. She is very worried about me finding a job here in Chicago. But we had a very telling exchange the other day when she called me to ask me how my current gig (temping at an advertising agency) is going. I told her it was fine, but really boring. She said “I can’t wait for the day I don’t hear you say that about your job.” See?
Right now, ask yourself (and have your mom ask herself) what’s the worst thing that can happen? That should give both of you some clarity.
Also, run, run, run to the bookstore and buy The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s a course designed to free up your creative side and help you give yourself the opportunity to be the artist you want to be. Maybe you and your mom can do the course together.
Good luck!