This would not have been possible without the love and support of my family, friends, and colleagues.
Lately, I have been thinking about what it was like to be a freshman here at the University of Illinois, not comfortable in my own skin. I wanted to make music, make friends, and make a difference. I am proud to say, at the end of this final semester of classes, I think I've achieved all three.
I have to begin by thanking my family. Mom, Dad, Margot and Meghan: thanks for putting up with my crazy ideas, including this one. Sometimes I've found just having someone to listen to my musings is all I need.
Mom, I know I've had instruments, sheet music, scores, and random pieces of my stuff lying around your house for the past eight years... thanks for putting up with me. I know I'm a lot, but thanks for giving me space to make my music even in times where the five of us alone made enough noise!
Dad, thanks for making me reeds since I knew how to play the oboe. It's the best kept secret... my dad makes the best oboe and English horn reeds of anyone I know. The countless auditions for ILMEA, ensemble placement, and other ensembles were grueling, but you listened and provided me with immensely helpful feedback--even when I didn't know I needed it. I'm happy to say I'll be out of your hair with those for a while. You were my first-ever oboe teacher... you did pretty well, old man.
Margot, I remember crying after you played your concerto during your senior year of high school. I am so freaking proud of you. I'm so glad you played with me on this recital and I'm so lucky you've been around for 20+ years as my very first best friend.
Meghan, just spending time around you makes me more musical. You're going to surpass me with your musicianship and I hope you know that every day of watching you do exactly what you love to do makes me want to teach 100% more than the day before. You inspire everyone you meet... including me.
To Grandma, thanks for letting sit in that high chair and sing when I was little. You gave me a voice and continue to every day. I love it when you ask about what I'm up to at school. You've been supportive of my career since I decided to do it and I am eternally grateful.
To Granddad, the first inspiration for this career and for the love of this art form. You began this wonderful University of Illinois legacy in our Pierce family and I would not be here if it were not for that decision that you made. Thank you for the stories about your times in marching band, how you met grandmom, and the offer to do conducting lessons with me. I promise we're going to have one soon.
To my aunts, uncles, cousins, and relatives that have watched my progress in person at concerts, on Facebook posts, or via video, I appreciate you more than you know. Having people like you makes everything I do worth it. I only hope that my music making has helped us grow closer over the past eight years and I cannot wait to make more memories with each of you in the decades to come.
Next, to my teachers and mentors.
To Mika Allison Valenzuela and Suzanne Segredo, my most impactful oboe teachers. You helped me find my voice and my tone on this beast of an instrument. Thanks for being amazing role models and carrying me through tough auditions, failures, and victories. I am able to sound pretty on the oboe thanks to you, and I hope to see you both grow and flourish in your careers as girlboss oboists. Go be amazing!!
To Bev Sheridan, my mom's piano teacher, my piano teacher, and my sisters' piano teacher. I was a stubborn little kid, not wanting to read notes. And somehow you ran with me... for over twelve years!! There is absolutely no way I would have been able to read music without your tutelage and patience. Thank you also for encouraging me to experiment with music off of the page, while also making sure I was playing some really hard music really well for all of those AIM tests. I passed college music theory thanks to you, as well as my ear training and basic piano tests. You were there to teach me as I grew into an adult... no other teacher has known me for as long as you have. I am so eternally grateful that you were there to watch and help me grow as I went from five, to ten, to fifteen, to eighteen years old. I hope we keep in touch for many, many years to come.
To Elaine Ellis, my very first band director and formal oboe teacher. You were so darn patient with us! Thank you for teaching me what being in a band meant and encouraging me to play the oboe from day one. The great foundation that I have developed on this instrument is because of you.
To Daryl Beese, my beloved middle school director. You put up with... a lot. I remember middle school so, so, so fondly and I am almost positive it is because you let me explore my musicianship in all its forms (yes, it eventually did move past playing "Defying Gravity" over and over again on the piano). I came up with crazy ideas and your first answer was always "sure, go for it." You opening that door allowed me to open my world up to the possibility that someday I could be just like you... and look, it happened! Thank you for helping me truly become a band kid, embrace every aspect of who I was, and continuing to this day to have my back and teach me so much about what it means to be a really damn good teacher.
To Janene Kessler, my role model, mentor, and girlboss: you are the reason I wanted to be a band director. There was never any doubt in my mind it was possible to conduct and direct the way you do because of your confidence, musicianship, and leadership through a myriad of times. I will never forget having a candid conversation with you about what it's like to be a woman in this field. You not only do "the thing" every day, you inspire kids like me who come through Lake Forest High School to want to do "the thing" as fiercely as you do. Thank you for letting me explore my limits, make mistakes, have a shoulder to cry on, and support me beyond college. You molded me into a secure and mature musician, and I would not be here today without you.
To Dr. Elizabeth Peterson, the first "celebrity" band person I ever became obsessed with. You made me feel welcome the second I set foot in your ensemble during my freshman year, and I can say you are probably the best conductor I have ever worked with (I love you Dr. Mr. and Professor Houser!!!!). Your conducting class helped me open up my heart and brought my musicianship to a new level. Working with you during my tenure as president of NBA taught me how to grow as a leader. I only hope to teach as well as you taught me. Thank you for the inspiration, the kindest of words, and the best three years of college band. I miss you immensely.
To Dr. Stephen Peterson, one of the best musicians I have ever--and probably will ever--encounter. Working under your baton completely changed the way I hear music... I can hear intonation, phrasing, tone, and balance so much better because you pushed every single one of us to do the same. I think the most terrifying performance of my life was the Mozart Gran Partita during the COVID chamber ensembles... I was so afraid of messing up in front of you that I practiced every day for weeks to try and get the last movement exactly right. Little did I know that I not only would go on to play that performance well, but gain practicing and technique skills that would carry me through the rest of college. You helped me grow as a musician and encouraged me to become a teacher. Thank you for all of the laughs, the tears, the musical moments, and the wonderful, wonderful memories. I miss you dearly.
Finally, to Barry Houser. You are so many things to so many people, but I will always see you as the greatest leader that I've ever seen. You have taught me what it means to lead, to be strong in times of stress, and enjoy life as it comes. You have said yes to me in my time here at UIUC, and those yeses have all been opportunities for me to grow. Thank you for guiding me through the leadership certificate program, mentoring my work in the Marching Illini, and helping me take on this massive recital. I hope you know that people think you are so amazing because of how much you give to this university and those around you. Your smile on a daily basis, even if forced some days, brings us so much relief and joy even on our hardest days. What a lucky person I am to know you and have had the chance to work with you so closely the last four years. I am going to miss seeing you every day in Harding and in that tower on that field. You change each of our lives, Professor, with your reminders that we are enough and we matter. I hope you know that you matter so, so, much to all of us.
To the many music education faculty I have had the privilege of working with: Dr. Bridget Sweet, Dr. Adam Kruse, Dr. Jeananne Nichols, Dr. Stephen Fairbanks, Dr. Donna Gallo, and all of my TA's. Thank you for showing me what it means to be a really darn good teacher AND person. I am so glad that I chose to come to this school, as I would be lost as a person and as a teacher if I had not met each and every one of you.
To the new bands faculty, Dr. Kim Fleming, Dr. Hannah Rudy, and Dr. Kevin Geraldi: welcome and thank you for the wonderful semester that I spent with you in rehearsals, classes, games, and many moments in-between. I'm very excited to see what is to come with Illinois Bands after I leave. Thank you especially to Dr. Fleming to pushing my conducting skills to beyond what I thought possible and giving me skills that will serve me well when I go out into the world and make music with students. I am well prepared, thanks to you.
To Victor, Tomás, Sam, Max, Sydney, Wesley, and all of my music and music core teaching assistants from the past four years... I am not sure how the heck I survived all of that material, but I know I couldn't have done it without you. I remember our sections fondly because of your great teaching, musicianship, and abilities to keep things interesting. You molded me into the musician I am and hope I continue to be.
To all of the music core faculty, including Dr. Andrea Soyla, Dr. Stephen Taylor, Dr. Michael Silvers, Dr. Eagen-Jones, Professor John Dee, and others. You are so overlooked when we music education students think about who helped us survive college. I would not know what my scores mean, how they are supposed to sound, where they came from, or what their conductor intended if it was not for each of you and your classes. Thank you for giving us the best possible experiences in your respective fields--I always admired each of you and greatly appreciate everything you do for us undergrads and for the greater good of music and musicology.
To the bands TA's that I have had the chance to meet and connect with over the last four years, including Michael Chapa, Bailye Hendley, Becca Frederick, Jacob Arche, Andrew McGowan, Reid Lasley, and Nate Maher. Thank you for your amazing insight into the crazy world of marching band. You all showed me how to be professional musicians while also having tons of fun doing it. I loosened up over the last four years with your genuine joy for being in band and the love you have for our school and our program.
To each and every player in this ensemble: good lord, are you talented. I am so grateful that you said yes when I asked if you would play this massive program, and I hope to make it up to you by helping celebrate your musicianship every day. I hope you know that you each inspire me to be a better person, inside class and out. Those of you who are going to be performers are going to be the best in your field. Those of you going to teach are going to be adored by your students. Those of you who aren't studying music are going to change the world. Bringing you together to play this music was a privilege. Thank you.
To Isaac Brinberg and Jeremy Sison. I can't wait to graduate alongside you in May, and thank you for your enthusiastic conversations, the leftover scores, the impromptu philosophical musings, the music, the laughs, and the memories. I can't believe that I'm not going to see you next semester. I'm going to miss you so darn much.
To Michelle Bell--for encouraging me to take a leadership course with you, helping me get this recital off the ground, always saying yes to what needs to be done, and for being a fantastic mentor, colleague, and friend. Lady, you do it all. I look up to you so darn much and remember thinking last year that "damn, I hope I can do what she does someday, she's so confident!" I am going to miss hanging out with you in Harding, exploring new personality tests, sharing crazy stories, and just talking. You are going to do some amazing things and I am your #1 fan. Please never stop being your awesome self.
To all of my friends who have seen me at my best times and my worst. I love you. Thank you for loving me and putting up with me. I know I would not have made it this far without your support, smiles, jokes, and laughs. You all are going to be the best in your fields and I can't wait to cheer you on. Gosh, am I a lucky girl.
To the late Darci Johnson and Sally Emrich Pierce: may you both rest in peace and know that my music making is for you. I hope I am making you both proud.
To those who doubted me, think I'm "too much," or never believed I could, well, I did it. I'm going to do it again and again. And you're not going to stop me.
Alright, my mother would say that this is getting too long and too dramatic, so I will wrap it up by saying this: the things that I always believed to be out of reach were never too far away. I just had to grow taller to reach them. And man, I can't wait to keep growing.
Love,
Katie
I have to begin by thanking my family. Mom, Dad, Margot and Meghan: thanks for putting up with my crazy ideas, including this one. Sometimes I've found just having someone to listen to my musings is all I need.
Mom, I know I've had instruments, sheet music, scores, and random pieces of my stuff lying around your house for the past eight years... thanks for putting up with me. I know I'm a lot, but thanks for giving me space to make my music even in times where the five of us alone made enough noise!
Dad, thanks for making me reeds since I knew how to play the oboe. It's the best kept secret... my dad makes the best oboe and English horn reeds of anyone I know. The countless auditions for ILMEA, ensemble placement, and other ensembles were grueling, but you listened and provided me with immensely helpful feedback--even when I didn't know I needed it. I'm happy to say I'll be out of your hair with those for a while. You were my first-ever oboe teacher... you did pretty well, old man.
Margot, I remember crying after you played your concerto during your senior year of high school. I am so freaking proud of you. I'm so glad you played with me on this recital and I'm so lucky you've been around for 20+ years as my very first best friend.
Meghan, just spending time around you makes me more musical. You're going to surpass me with your musicianship and I hope you know that every day of watching you do exactly what you love to do makes me want to teach 100% more than the day before. You inspire everyone you meet... including me.
To Grandma, thanks for letting sit in that high chair and sing when I was little. You gave me a voice and continue to every day. I love it when you ask about what I'm up to at school. You've been supportive of my career since I decided to do it and I am eternally grateful.
To Granddad, the first inspiration for this career and for the love of this art form. You began this wonderful University of Illinois legacy in our Pierce family and I would not be here if it were not for that decision that you made. Thank you for the stories about your times in marching band, how you met grandmom, and the offer to do conducting lessons with me. I promise we're going to have one soon.
To my aunts, uncles, cousins, and relatives that have watched my progress in person at concerts, on Facebook posts, or via video, I appreciate you more than you know. Having people like you makes everything I do worth it. I only hope that my music making has helped us grow closer over the past eight years and I cannot wait to make more memories with each of you in the decades to come.
Next, to my teachers and mentors.
To Mika Allison Valenzuela and Suzanne Segredo, my most impactful oboe teachers. You helped me find my voice and my tone on this beast of an instrument. Thanks for being amazing role models and carrying me through tough auditions, failures, and victories. I am able to sound pretty on the oboe thanks to you, and I hope to see you both grow and flourish in your careers as girlboss oboists. Go be amazing!!
To Bev Sheridan, my mom's piano teacher, my piano teacher, and my sisters' piano teacher. I was a stubborn little kid, not wanting to read notes. And somehow you ran with me... for over twelve years!! There is absolutely no way I would have been able to read music without your tutelage and patience. Thank you also for encouraging me to experiment with music off of the page, while also making sure I was playing some really hard music really well for all of those AIM tests. I passed college music theory thanks to you, as well as my ear training and basic piano tests. You were there to teach me as I grew into an adult... no other teacher has known me for as long as you have. I am so eternally grateful that you were there to watch and help me grow as I went from five, to ten, to fifteen, to eighteen years old. I hope we keep in touch for many, many years to come.
To Elaine Ellis, my very first band director and formal oboe teacher. You were so darn patient with us! Thank you for teaching me what being in a band meant and encouraging me to play the oboe from day one. The great foundation that I have developed on this instrument is because of you.
To Daryl Beese, my beloved middle school director. You put up with... a lot. I remember middle school so, so, so fondly and I am almost positive it is because you let me explore my musicianship in all its forms (yes, it eventually did move past playing "Defying Gravity" over and over again on the piano). I came up with crazy ideas and your first answer was always "sure, go for it." You opening that door allowed me to open my world up to the possibility that someday I could be just like you... and look, it happened! Thank you for helping me truly become a band kid, embrace every aspect of who I was, and continuing to this day to have my back and teach me so much about what it means to be a really damn good teacher.
To Janene Kessler, my role model, mentor, and girlboss: you are the reason I wanted to be a band director. There was never any doubt in my mind it was possible to conduct and direct the way you do because of your confidence, musicianship, and leadership through a myriad of times. I will never forget having a candid conversation with you about what it's like to be a woman in this field. You not only do "the thing" every day, you inspire kids like me who come through Lake Forest High School to want to do "the thing" as fiercely as you do. Thank you for letting me explore my limits, make mistakes, have a shoulder to cry on, and support me beyond college. You molded me into a secure and mature musician, and I would not be here today without you.
To Dr. Elizabeth Peterson, the first "celebrity" band person I ever became obsessed with. You made me feel welcome the second I set foot in your ensemble during my freshman year, and I can say you are probably the best conductor I have ever worked with (I love you Dr. Mr. and Professor Houser!!!!). Your conducting class helped me open up my heart and brought my musicianship to a new level. Working with you during my tenure as president of NBA taught me how to grow as a leader. I only hope to teach as well as you taught me. Thank you for the inspiration, the kindest of words, and the best three years of college band. I miss you immensely.
To Dr. Stephen Peterson, one of the best musicians I have ever--and probably will ever--encounter. Working under your baton completely changed the way I hear music... I can hear intonation, phrasing, tone, and balance so much better because you pushed every single one of us to do the same. I think the most terrifying performance of my life was the Mozart Gran Partita during the COVID chamber ensembles... I was so afraid of messing up in front of you that I practiced every day for weeks to try and get the last movement exactly right. Little did I know that I not only would go on to play that performance well, but gain practicing and technique skills that would carry me through the rest of college. You helped me grow as a musician and encouraged me to become a teacher. Thank you for all of the laughs, the tears, the musical moments, and the wonderful, wonderful memories. I miss you dearly.
Finally, to Barry Houser. You are so many things to so many people, but I will always see you as the greatest leader that I've ever seen. You have taught me what it means to lead, to be strong in times of stress, and enjoy life as it comes. You have said yes to me in my time here at UIUC, and those yeses have all been opportunities for me to grow. Thank you for guiding me through the leadership certificate program, mentoring my work in the Marching Illini, and helping me take on this massive recital. I hope you know that people think you are so amazing because of how much you give to this university and those around you. Your smile on a daily basis, even if forced some days, brings us so much relief and joy even on our hardest days. What a lucky person I am to know you and have had the chance to work with you so closely the last four years. I am going to miss seeing you every day in Harding and in that tower on that field. You change each of our lives, Professor, with your reminders that we are enough and we matter. I hope you know that you matter so, so, much to all of us.
To the many music education faculty I have had the privilege of working with: Dr. Bridget Sweet, Dr. Adam Kruse, Dr. Jeananne Nichols, Dr. Stephen Fairbanks, Dr. Donna Gallo, and all of my TA's. Thank you for showing me what it means to be a really darn good teacher AND person. I am so glad that I chose to come to this school, as I would be lost as a person and as a teacher if I had not met each and every one of you.
To the new bands faculty, Dr. Kim Fleming, Dr. Hannah Rudy, and Dr. Kevin Geraldi: welcome and thank you for the wonderful semester that I spent with you in rehearsals, classes, games, and many moments in-between. I'm very excited to see what is to come with Illinois Bands after I leave. Thank you especially to Dr. Fleming to pushing my conducting skills to beyond what I thought possible and giving me skills that will serve me well when I go out into the world and make music with students. I am well prepared, thanks to you.
To Victor, Tomás, Sam, Max, Sydney, Wesley, and all of my music and music core teaching assistants from the past four years... I am not sure how the heck I survived all of that material, but I know I couldn't have done it without you. I remember our sections fondly because of your great teaching, musicianship, and abilities to keep things interesting. You molded me into the musician I am and hope I continue to be.
To all of the music core faculty, including Dr. Andrea Soyla, Dr. Stephen Taylor, Dr. Michael Silvers, Dr. Eagen-Jones, Professor John Dee, and others. You are so overlooked when we music education students think about who helped us survive college. I would not know what my scores mean, how they are supposed to sound, where they came from, or what their conductor intended if it was not for each of you and your classes. Thank you for giving us the best possible experiences in your respective fields--I always admired each of you and greatly appreciate everything you do for us undergrads and for the greater good of music and musicology.
To the bands TA's that I have had the chance to meet and connect with over the last four years, including Michael Chapa, Bailye Hendley, Becca Frederick, Jacob Arche, Andrew McGowan, Reid Lasley, and Nate Maher. Thank you for your amazing insight into the crazy world of marching band. You all showed me how to be professional musicians while also having tons of fun doing it. I loosened up over the last four years with your genuine joy for being in band and the love you have for our school and our program.
To each and every player in this ensemble: good lord, are you talented. I am so grateful that you said yes when I asked if you would play this massive program, and I hope to make it up to you by helping celebrate your musicianship every day. I hope you know that you each inspire me to be a better person, inside class and out. Those of you who are going to be performers are going to be the best in your field. Those of you going to teach are going to be adored by your students. Those of you who aren't studying music are going to change the world. Bringing you together to play this music was a privilege. Thank you.
To Isaac Brinberg and Jeremy Sison. I can't wait to graduate alongside you in May, and thank you for your enthusiastic conversations, the leftover scores, the impromptu philosophical musings, the music, the laughs, and the memories. I can't believe that I'm not going to see you next semester. I'm going to miss you so darn much.
To Michelle Bell--for encouraging me to take a leadership course with you, helping me get this recital off the ground, always saying yes to what needs to be done, and for being a fantastic mentor, colleague, and friend. Lady, you do it all. I look up to you so darn much and remember thinking last year that "damn, I hope I can do what she does someday, she's so confident!" I am going to miss hanging out with you in Harding, exploring new personality tests, sharing crazy stories, and just talking. You are going to do some amazing things and I am your #1 fan. Please never stop being your awesome self.
To all of my friends who have seen me at my best times and my worst. I love you. Thank you for loving me and putting up with me. I know I would not have made it this far without your support, smiles, jokes, and laughs. You all are going to be the best in your fields and I can't wait to cheer you on. Gosh, am I a lucky girl.
To the late Darci Johnson and Sally Emrich Pierce: may you both rest in peace and know that my music making is for you. I hope I am making you both proud.
To those who doubted me, think I'm "too much," or never believed I could, well, I did it. I'm going to do it again and again. And you're not going to stop me.
Alright, my mother would say that this is getting too long and too dramatic, so I will wrap it up by saying this: the things that I always believed to be out of reach were never too far away. I just had to grow taller to reach them. And man, I can't wait to keep growing.
Love,
Katie