Hometown: Independence, Missouri
Major: Vocal Pedagogy
Degree: M.M.
Class: 2011
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri
Current Teacher: Karen Holvik
Why did you choose to study at NEC?
“Initially, I was interested in NEC because two of my professors from the University of Missouri had completed their graduate degrees at NEC. Upon further investigation, I found that NEC provides its students with a plethora of services and experiences that many other schools could not match. For example, NEC's Career Services Office operates a service called Bridge which lists job openings in the music field. No other institution has such a service, and even other schools subscribe to use it. It seems to me that NEC is looking to help its students not just be great performers, but also be practical in a modern world. Realistically, it will take additional time outside of graduate school, but it's great that NEC prepares its students for that experience while still in school. Plus, living in Boston seemed exciting and different.”
What do you like about studying at NEC?
“From acting classes to opera performances, everything at NEC is focused on making me a better musician and performer. I have learned so much from the faculty and my classmates this year. I love that NEC fosters so many talented musicians; there are so many concerts each semester from NEC students, so it's great to see such a vibrant music life in one place. Plus, everyone is really friendly and dedicated to their art. And, of course, I LOVE my teacher!”
Is there anything about being a pedagogy major at NEC that you’d like to share?
“The great thing about being a Vocal Pedagogy major is that you can still perform! There are so many performance opportunities at NEC and in Boston that everyone gets their fair share. The voice department is friendly and supportive, and we all work hard to become better at what we do. It's a stressful and exhausting, but very rewarding program. I love NEC and my time spent here has truly helped me grow as a musician.”
What do you like about Boston?
“Boston is such a fun city; there is always something to do! Public transportation is fairly simple to navigate so it's pretty easy to get around to any part of the city. It's also great to walk around the city when the weather is beautiful. With so many colleges and universities in the area, Boston is full of fun people.”
What are your plans/goals after NEC?
“Post-NEC, I hope to get some music-related job while I continue to grow into my voice. Then I hope to start performing and ultimately teach voice. But in the mean time, I'll keep working hard at NEC to reach these goals.”
What do you do outside of class?
“Besides studying and practicing, I enjoy going shopping with friends at the Prudential Center or on Newbury Street. While we usually don't buy anything, it's just nice to walk around the city. I also enjoy going to concerts, reading, visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, hanging out with friends, and sleeping when possible.”
Describe one of your favorite experiences with a non-music course at NEC.
“As a student in opera, we are enrolled in movement classes. These are so much fun; our instructor helps us to use our bodies properly (without extraneous movements or stretching) and it has really helped me in my vocal technique this year.”
What kind of music do you like and what musicians/bands do you like?
“I love all types of music. I tend to listen to the fine art staples (Bach, Mozart, Debussy, etc) but I also enjoy Beyonce, Mika, The Shins, Iron & Wine, Adele, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Postal Service (just to name a few).”
2010-07-01
FELIX MENDELSSOHN