The Andrews University Department of Music provides students with a dynamic environment to develop their musical talents while connecting with the community. Offering a blend of performance, pedagogy and theory, the department prepares students for diverse careers in music education, performance and beyond while fostering a deep appreciation for the role of music in holistic education. The department has much in store this year to engage students, from new programs to exciting concerts.
Max Keller, who recently became the chair of the Andrews University Department of Music, hopes to grow the department’s connection with the community in a way that sets Andrews apart from other schools. One of these new opportunities is a community school where music majors have the opportunity to teach both private and group lessons to young students of the community. This program has been able to provide more opportunities for international students to find work on campus. As of now, the program is only for beginner violinists and guitarists, but Keller and the department hope to expand to more instruments soon.
Marc Élysée, one of the music department faculty members and the conductor of the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra, says the program “provides valuable professional experience to the music students who have taken music pedagogy courses” and that it is “an investment for the future, as these young beginners learn from an early age the value of discipline and fulfillment of achieving something together as a group.”
It is not only Keller who is excited about the growth of the music program. Élysée also shared that “the orchestra has been growing steadily in the last couple of years and has now reached a size comparable to that of universities with much larger music programs around the country.” Indeed, the orchestra has 78 members this semester: 66 students and 12 community members.
In addition to new programs promoting growth in the department, the music department continues to inform others about their program through various events, including the Alumni Gala, which happened on Sept. 28. At the yearly gala, all three of the large ensembles on campus—the orchestra, the Andrews University Wind Symphony and the Andrews University Singers and Chorale—come together to perform for select alumni of the school. This year, to celebrate the school’s 150th anniversary, the program was different from that of the typical gala. Alumni who were once involved in the ensembles during their time at Andrews were invited back to perform alongside the students.
In addition, Keller arranged two versions of “Our Dear AU,” one for pep band and the other for full orchestra, that were performed at the gala.
“I wanted to have this feeling of nostalgia,” he said. “I wrote it from that perspective … so when you hear it, you have that remembrance of Andrews.”
Davielle Smith (senior, music and mathematics) is most excited for this year's Welcome Christmas concert, saying that it will be a “collaborative showcasing of the orchestral and choral vitality at Andrews.”
This year, instead of having each of the ensembles perform their own Christmas concert, the music department has decided to combine them into one concert where all of the ensembles will perform. One of the highlights of the program is Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,”which will be performed with ballerinas from the Dance Arts Studio in Stevensville. The Welcome Christmas will occur on Dec. 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m., and is sure to be one of the highlights of the semester.
Denisse Santos, director of the wind symphony, said she is looking forward to celebrating the university’s 150th anniversary at the ensemble’s Fall Concert on Oct. 26 at the Howard Performing Arts Center. She says that the concert will “feature pieces that focus on our pioneers” including a couple of new pieces composed by music department faculty that highlight the history of Andrews University. Not only does the wind symphony have some exciting on-campus events this year, but the group will also have the chance to travel off campus for a Spring Break music tour that is still being finalized, giving the students opportunities to perform for new audiences and broaden their horizons.
In addition to providing fun events on campus, the music department adds immense value to the Andrews campus in other important ways. When asked about the department’s value, Keller said, “How do I sum that up into one thing? Music is so many things for so many people. The importance of studying music and producing good music has merit on its own … but as far as the opportunity for people to listen to music, to enjoy live music—it seems like that is a scarce commodity. To have that opportunity while [students] are studying whatever it is, that is special. And also the opportunity to participate in that. Music, as far as education, is proven to produce better students in general, even if music isn’t your main field.” He continued on to say that music is important in God’s kingdom and to a holistic way of living, and for that reason, we should highlight it in our Seventh-day Adventist education.
How does this apply to you? Whether you play an instrument and want to get involved with a music ensemble or would rather turn on Spotify and listen to music, there are many options for you. The ensembles on campus are not exclusive to just music majors and minors. Reach out to the music department (carterm@andrews.edu) if you are interested in joining. Consider adding a music minor to your schedule—it’s not as hard as you might think. If neither of those interests you, every performer needs an audience! We hope to see you at this year’s music department events.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.