Contributing to Something Larger Than Myself: For the Love of Music

Westminster Conservatory holds an extraordinarily special place in my heart. Every time I walk on campus and hear the faint sounds of people practicing through the open windows, I'm enveloped in its charm and lively spirit. I spend most of my weekend there in the pre-college division, as well as for several rehearsals leading up to events and recitals. 

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One day, I was talking to the former director of the program and asked why she chose to step down from the position. She's the type of person that smiles easily and is quick to hug. And yet, she gradually grew emotional as she confessed that, with the whole issue of lawsuits against Rider University, which merged with Westminster Choir College, and the financial complications that slowly arose from it, the conservatory part of Westminster was struggling with finances and adminstration. I had always known that music is usually not the most funded study at many academic institutions and that there are certainly people who do not understand the intense value of music, but the realization that these struggles were impacting people so close to home really hurt me.

 

The second time I heard about Westminster’s financial problems was at a piano camp at Rider, by a professor who used to teach on the Princeton campus, but was moved to the Lawrenceville campus once the merger happened. He is usually dynamic, energetic, and full of life. It is difficult to describe the powerful impact his passion for learning and teaching music had on me. And yet, our conversation was solemn as he resignedly explained to me that, well, losses happen, and that he, along with the other faculty who had been moved or chose to leave the school, would simply continue their lives without Westminster.

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Not only that, but I heard from friends in smaller departments, such as in classical guitar, that there has been a clear struggle with debts and teacher resignations. I was crushed. More importantly, I realized that there is such a thriving community with such niche programs that, in addition to me, still has so much love for the school, even if it has not been able to adequately sustain them.

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My teachers sigh that it is "difficult to face adversity" and that this is the life of a musician in this country. Most recently, one of my mentors revealed that she isn't even under a contract at the conservatory for her classes, because that's how unstable everything has been. She simply must trust that she will get paid. We even shared how we were both glad that it is my senior year, so I experienced the highs of the past and will not have to deal with the current lows of the conservatory for much longer. Still, I don't want to leave without helping in some small way.

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I often feel hopeless in these situations. It seems like there is no way to help, but I believe that we are not entirely powerless. As a community, these struggles can be relieved, even if only a little. We need to remind teachers and students at the conservatory that there are people who care for them. 

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I urge you to donate at https://alumni.rider.edu/supportwestminsterconservatory