Grade School
St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Saginaw, MI
I spent my first 9 years of school at St. Paul’s. I still attend the congregation’s church to this day (although the church is not on the same property as the school). My parents have both served on the school faculty: my mom previously taught lower grades, and my dad has been a choir director, band director, and taught anywhere between grades 4 and 8, and is now the principal. As many small children do, I participated in some sports I wasn’t cut out for, including soccer, basketball, and some track and field activities. I was in choir and band by my parents’ choice, although I would eventually grow to love both of them in their own right.
High School
Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, MI
My time at MLS was an interesting one. Although I may have lost a year and a half of the normal high school experience to COVID, I was still able to make the most of it in other ways. I participated in varsity cross country for 4 years and track and field during my senior year, as well as managing varsity boys basketball. I was involved in band, handbells, and an extracurricular brass choir. I also worked with the AV club Sight and Sound to live-stream chapel, home sports events, and record theater productions. The primary purpose of the school is to prepare students to go into the public ministry by attending Martin Luther College, and although that’s not the path I’m taking, I have definitely acquired skills that will be useful in my career, wherever that may be, and in my life as a layperson in the church.
College
Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI
I am currently a junior at WLC pursuing a music major and a digital marketing minor. So far during my time, I have participated in many ensembles, including the Concert Band, Jazz Band, Wisconsin Lutheran Choir, Chamber Choir, and Chamber Brass Ensemble, along with some other small groups here and there. I have played piano and organ for chapel, and I enjoy learning other instruments and writing my own compositions in my free time. I am also involved in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Marketing Club, Investment Club, and Outdoor Recreation Club. I work on campus in the Center for Performance and Arts, soon to be serving as a Team Leader for the Fine Arts department.
Graduate School?
Obviously, we’re not at that stage of the game yet, but I would like to go into a Master’s and maybe even a Doctorate program for music composition after my time at WLC. For a long time, my dream career has been writing music professionally, whether it’s for various ensembles, church music, film scores, or electronic productions, but I am also considering other paths to supplement that. For instance, with my digital marketing minor, I am looking into the music business side of things, such as publishing. Additionally, I continue to refine my instrumental skills, so someday I might find myself performing with professional orchestras and ensembles. Although I quickly left the education program at WLC because I couldn’t see myself teaching, I have a feeling I might end up in a teaching position at some level in the future.