|
|
| Summer 2002 | a publication for alumni, family, and friends |
The last year a student graduated with a music degree from Dakota Wesleyan University was 1983. Nineteen years later, two students graduated with music degrees on May 5. Krista Kocer of Scotland and Rachael Hauser of Mitchell are the first students in nearly two decades to graduate with a major in music. Kocer plans to continue living in Mitchell. "I have accepted a job working with the Dakota Wesleyan Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship as the executive assistant starting in July," said Kocer. In the future, she plans to give voice lessons and to open her own voice and dance studio. Hauser moved to Spearfish this spring and is currently looking for a job working with K-12 students. "I focused on working with secondary students at DWU, but for my student teaching I worked with all levels from kindergarten to 12th," said Hauser. "I didn't think I would like it but it was a blast. A job working with K-12 grades would be ideal."
"I can assure you it is much easier to maintain a department than it is to restructure and rebuild one anew," said Almjeld. "Perhaps our biggest challenge has been that DWU lost its most important music recruiting source when it eliminated the music program. We have not had any music major graduates to help channel prospective students to our program." The tide is changing, however. With two graduates this year and 12 current students either majoring or minoring in music, there will soon be more people to encourage prospective students to choose DWU's music program. Both Kocer and Hauser say they would recommend the music program to any student. Kocer said she enjoyed the program because of the knowledgeable, caring faculty. Hauser also enjoyed the people in the program and has already recommended the program to another student. Currently, the music department offers Highlanders, the Dakota Wesleyan Choir, Wesleyan Bells, Wesleyan Brass and the Wesleyan Woodwinds, in addition to classes. Unfortunately because of the lack of rehearsal space and faculty, music offerings will remain the same in the near future. "Until and unless we can provide more suitable space for rehearsing and add full-time faculty, I do not anticipate there will be any additional music opportunities for DWU students," Almjeld said. "All of us in the department are stretched to the maximum. It is absolutely critical for us that the McGovern Center and Sherman Center be built - and soon! "Without those two buildings it will be very, very difficult to continue the growth we have enjoyed over the past five years." Dakota Wesleyan University |
|
Brandon
Vetter
Paul Almjeld,
chair of the music department since 1997, said the rebuilding of the music program,
"has required significant time and energy over the past five years."