MAJOR
MINOR
LEARN BY DOING
- The Cuba Experience
- Musicians' Union
SUPPORT FROM DONOR PROGRAM
- Constance Stuart Larrabee Scholarship for the Arts
- Francis Waters Scholarship
Don't Stop the Music
Megan Dietrich
Class of 2021 鈥 Pylesville, MarylandMAJOR
MINOR
LEARN BY DOING
- The Cuba Experience
- Musicians' Union
SUPPORT FROM DONOR PROGRAM
- Constance Stuart Larrabee Scholarship for the Arts
- Francis Waters Scholarship
鈥淭he anthropology department and music department are actually pretty closely linked,鈥 she says. 鈥淲e are one of a very few colleges that has an ethnomusicology minor, which is approaching music from an anthropological view鈥攕tudying music from different cultures, how it evolves, how it鈥檚 placed in the culture and the society. And it鈥檚 always interested me.鈥
She鈥檒l dive more fully into that realm in January when she travels with music and anthropology faculty who lead the Cuba Experience, a 10-day trip to Havana during which students live with local families and fully immerse in the musical culture of the city and country. Students attend musical performances and religious ceremonies throughout the city, contrasting the intimate Santer铆a ritual drum and dance performances in private homes with church-sponsored carnivals and high-production commercial performances at such notable venues as La Cuerva y El Zorro, EGREM, and the Tropicana. Free to explore the city in the afternoons, the students鈥 home bases are just a block from the iconic oceanfront pedestrian walkway, the malec贸n, and Havana鈥檚 tourist and cultural centers, museums, and music clubs.
It鈥檚 another opportunity to expand her musical horizons that Megan has enjoyed.
鈥淚n the last couple of years, I鈥檝e really branched out into musical theater, some cabaret, folk, a variety of things. I鈥檓 open to everything,鈥 she says. Under the tutelage of Ken Schweitzer, associate professor of music, she鈥檚 studied music production, electronic music, composition, and recording methods.
The faculty, she says, 鈥渁re all just so helpful and they鈥檙e really passionate about what they do. And if you show initiative and you come to them with an idea鈥斺業 have this project that I really want to do, do you think you can make that happen?鈥 鈥 they will move heaven and earth to make sure you get the time and the resources you need. They just really want to see students thrive.鈥
As a member of the Musicians鈥 Union, she and other students volunteer their talents throughout the community. Among other things, they help out with Chestertown鈥檚 jazz festival and they鈥檙e frequent visitors to Heron Point, the local retirement community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just so much fun. A lot of the residents there have dementia and Alzheimer鈥檚, but seeing how music can just light up their faces, and they鈥檒l remember the lyrics and sing along. It鈥檚 just incredible.鈥
Megan will perform a recital for her Senior Capstone Experience. An hour-long performance, she will develop the themes, categories, and repertoire, as well as arrange and perform it. It will total between 20 and 25 pieces and include art songs and arias, musical theater, and cabaret.
And along with a broadened repertoire and an anthropology minor, she鈥檚 become a scuba diver while at WC. It happened when she was registering for an advanced class and advanced scuba popped up. 鈥淭hey have scuba here?鈥 she remembers thinking. 鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to scuba dive, I鈥檝e always loved the ocean and the water,鈥 Megan says. So, she took the beginner class, got her initial certification, and has moved on to the advanced open water class.