Picking one mentor in my life is difficult. There have been so many folks that have influenced me. I’m focusing on three right here, but there are countless more. Basically everyone at Florida State had some sort of impact on me. Likewise, colleagues at every place I’ve worked. I did not start this life as an old soul…one already filled with a well of wisdom and thoughtfulness. I basically learned by screwing up, and then having smarter people lead me to the truth, sometimes with a carrot, sometimes with a stick, but always with my best interest in mind.
Bruce was a huge musical mentor, and recently he has become my friend, too (something that you young conductors out there get to look forward to if you are lucky). One of my first foundational musical experiences was when he brought his professional choir, Choral Cross-Ties, to my high school (Ulysses S. Grant High in Portland, Oregon, where Rodney Eichenberger taught for a short time). The singing from that group was just out of this world. Hearing them sing was one of the top two or three foundational experiences in my life.
I later went to Portland State University for one year and somehow managed to make it into Dr. Browne’s PSU Chamber Choir. It was that year that really made me finally decide to be a conductor. We sang some incredible music…Ligeti, Distler, Brahms, Bach, and so much more. We also had as our guest conductor the one and only Eric Ericson. I was a young, stupid, freshman who could barely find his way around a Ligeti score, let alone have the awareness that I was in the presence of one of the greatest and most influential conductors of all time. The rehearsal were incredible. I remember him sitting at the piano to demonstrate a particular phrase in the Brahms, and being blown away by his musicality. That year of music making was prehaps one of the most memorable, and still influences me today.
So after that year I decided I wanted to be a conductor. There was some part of me that needed to get out of Portland, and so on the recommendation of Kenny Potter, I went to Florida State University. I wound up getting both my undergraduate degree in Music Education, and my doctorate from Dr. Thomas (Doc, for those in the know).
My experience at FSU made me the man I am today (and by the way there are a number of folks at FSU who could also be mentioned in this post…Judy Bowers and Kevin Fenton to start with). As I said before, I am not an old soul. I floated about, not really applying myself and making a lot of mistakes…I failed aural skills twice, mostly because I didn’t go to class.
Andre influenced me in different way than Dr. Browne. My rehearsal technique and demeanor are stolen almost note-for-note from Doc’s playlist (though no one I know can replicate the ‘Doc” stare. Ask around. It is a truly legendary look. You can see a version of it here). His ability to hold a room, to demand more from his singers, and to instill passion and devotion is unparalleled. Watching him work, either as a singer or an observer, is a truly wonderful experience. I’m not sure if there are many choir folks who haven’t seen him work, but for you young directors out there who haven’t, do yourself a favor and watch him work. Take notes. Steal his ideas. They are gold.
He also helped me by showing me how to really be a man and handle my business. He did so much tell me what to do (thought there was some of that), it was more through the model he presented. People rise up to do great things around him because of they see how he is, what he can do, and are inspired to push themselves. Plus, if you are around him and slacking, he’ll go after you hard! So there’s a little but of fear there, but it’s healthy. 🙂
Without Andre and also Judy, and Kevin, I wouldn't be here doing what I’m doing. Bottom line.
I got my Masters degree at Oregon State University with Steve Zielke. What I got from Steve was not so much musicality (though there was plenty of that), or “life skills,” though there was that too. What I got from Steve was the political, interpersonal, and opportunistic (in a good way) skills to help to expand and improve a program. Steve is talker. And he can talk to anyone about anything. He is great at observing the landscape of his department and community and finding opportunities to improve things. He knows how to find money. He knows how to get a kid excited and interested in coming to OSU. He thinks outside the box and comes up with thoughtful, creative ways to expand and grow his programs in a way that I haven’t seen from many folks. I learned a ton about recruiting from him, again, not so much by what he taught me directly, but by my observations of what he did.
So those are my mentors. I’d love to hear your feedback about the folks mentioned above, or your own mentors. Let’s share with the world the great people in our lives.
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