Music

I want to teach music because everyone has a connection to it. It is easy to relate or communicate with others through music. I have made close friendships with people from my music courses. My professors are strong role models of excellent musicians and they make me want to improve my own skills. Chorale has helped me refine my singing abilities and apply what I have learned from other classes. My sophomore year, we sang the piece Indodana in Burrus Dickinson hall. The acoustics and the way our voices all blended together made me realize how much of a musical instrument choir really is. We are all part of a whole and our contributions make beautiful music."

Chorale has been the first choir experience for me since 6th grade and I feel that it has given me the opportunity to meet some lovely people and work on my vocal skills regularly. Both were big concerns for me in coming to Eureka from community college, where I wasn't involved in any extra curricular activity at all. I was worried that I wouldn't find any friends, and that I had missed my last chance to sing in an organized group/setting. Joining chorale has provided me with both and helped make my transition to Eureka much more pleasant!"

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the music program at Eureka College. Before I got to Eureka, I had never sung in a group before. I saw college as a chance to branch out, and luckily the music program was willing to mold me into a part of something beautiful. Making music with the chorale and chamber singers for the last 4 years has given me: stress relief, new friends, and a creative outlet."

At Eureka College, I have been involved in many activities, including theatre, residential life, and Cru; however, through it all, one of the most impactful and, honestly, fun programs I have been a part of has been the music program. Even though my major is not music or anything music-related, I have been able to sing in both Chorale and Chamber Singers during my four years here and, in doing so, have been able to sing and act in the Renaissance Christmas Dinner (one of my favorite things!) and many concerts. Additionally, I have been able to start a male a cappella group - Dischords - and lead them for three years, singing some of my favorite barbershop arrangements of classics like "You've Got a Friend in Me" and "Hello Mary Lou." One thing I've learned at college is that I am not myself without music in my life, and Eureka College has been a place that has allowed me to express that part of myself, regardless of my major. Being at a school like this, where only you set the bar for how far you want to go, has been a unique, motivating, and fulfilling experience."

When I enrolled at Eureka College as a freshman music major I had no idea the impact that decision would make on my life. I have spent the last 25 years as a professional opera chorister with Lyric Opera of Chicago & San Francisco Opera. I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this career without the foundation that was laid at Eureka. Many of my colleagues attended the finest conservatories and universities with large music departments. I remember being intimidated by the names of their alma maters, but then we would discuss music and I knew that my education had totally prepared me for this career. Often I was shocked by how much more solo experience I had during my undergraduate days. I was able to give three full solo recitals and was a soloist with the Chorale on many concerts. The music faculty was always available for additional lessons and rehearsals and that extra time and support was significant in my ability to sing at the highest levels. One of my fondest memories of EC was singing in the Chorale. Not only was it a great musical experience, it was fun! We toured to Europe, New Orleans and throughout the Midwest. Those tours were a blast and are always the highlight of alumni weekend stories. There is something special about making music with your friends. At Eureka you don’t have to be a music major or minor to sing in the Chorale. Many of my friends went on to careers in education, medicine, business, law and many of them still sing in community choruses or with their church choirs. My time in the Chorale was truly some of my best time at Eureka College (and I had a great experience)."