Later this month, I will begin my fourth and final year as an undergraduate at Wheaton College. The fact that I can finally say that I am a senior music major is staggering. I have so much to be grateful for from the first three years, and plenty to look forward to in this last year. It is this letter set that I want to focus on in this post.
Within the last week, I have ordered all of my textbooks and other course materials. I generally enjoy placing these orders, believe it or not, because I just plain like the feeling of knowing that I am growing my professional library. In any case, placing the order for this fall’s course materials got me thinking about this fall’s courses. In terms of credit hours, this semester will be the lightest load I have had yet. However, nine of those hours are in 400-level classes, and the other five are 300-level. However once again, some of these upper division courses are the culmination of my entire music education curriculum.
One of these courses is the music senior capstone course. Dr. Kathy Kastner, one of my favorite professors, teaches this half-semester seminar. I have heard good things about it from music majors in classes ahead of mine. The essence of these comments are that this course is a chance to put together all of our experiences as music majors and consider how it is all part of God’s work of redeeming the fallen world. Or at least, that is what I hope the class is, but I suspect I am not far off the mark.
The other of these culminating courses is instrumental methods. Quite simply, the seven senior music education majors in this course will study just how to administer a school music program, in preparation for student teaching and then on to professional teaching. Dr. Tim Yontz, who has been my advisor, band director, and boss during my time at Wheaton, teaches this course.
Also on my schedule for the fall are two conducting courses: instrumental conducting, with Dr. Dan Sommerville (I am really looking forward to this challenging course), and honors conducting (a fantastic opportunity Dr. Yontz offered me to have a real conducting experience as I rehearse and conduct in concert a piece with the Symphonic Band). The last two courses are theological ethics (I really enjoyed my Christian thought class last fall, so I am glad that I was able to fit a theology elective into my final year), and my private trombone lessons.
Speaking of trombone, this fall I will also have my senior recital. Early in November, I will culminate the performance studies component of my undergraduate work with this event. I will always be grateful that the music curriculum at Wheaton has such a strong performance component, because I doubt that I would push myself as hard as I have in this area if it was not required. I have been excited about the opportunity to present a senior recital since late in my sophomore year, and while I know that I still have a bit of work ahead of me, I really am looking forward to the challenge.
Of course, life at Wheaton is never just about the academics. I will also continue to be heavily involved in the extended concert performance activities of the Conservatory of Music. The sixty-first season of the Artist Series kicks off on October 9 with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, and six other exciting events follow. Among these events is the November 20 John Nelson event, which is part of the sesquicentennial celebrations. John Nelson will conduct the band and choirs in the world premiere of a new work, and then conduct the orchestra and choirs in Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem. I feel very privileged to have the role of head stage manager for this season.
One other exciting event this year is College Union’s presentation of Keith and Kristyn Getty in concert this November. I was very excited when I saw this event on the main events calendar (yes, I do use the phrase “very excited” too much).
Probably the most significant event this year for the institution as a whole is an event that also carries much significance for the larger Christian academic community: the inauguration of Philip Graham Ryken as President of Wheaton College. I have been already heard a few things about the plans for this multi-day occasion, and it looks to really be an exciting time for everyone in the Wheaton College community.
Once all the challenging yet fun fall semester is over, I will have the usual three weeks off for Christmas and to sleep, and then I begin another challenging semester, yet in a whole different way. Next spring I will complete my student teaching, the culmination of the education side of my major. Now that that experience is less than half a year away, I find myself (gratefully) looking forward to it. I hope to blog much more about that in the coming months.
But if asked what is the number one reason I am looking forward to this coming year, the immediate answer is and always will be because of the people at Wheaton College. This year is, quite literally, the last time I will be within walking distance of all my Wheaton friends on this side of heaven. There are so many amazing people there who have had such profound effects on my life in the last few years, both peers and faculty and staff. May 8, 2011, Commencement Sunday, will be a bittersweet day.
But that day is not for another nine months. Plenty of time to make more good memories.
This is Rubio, over and out.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Wheaton's Eighth President, Part II
I had the chance last Monday to meet Dr. Phil Ryken, Wheaton’s eighth president, who just took office two weeks ago. I was on campus, working, and decided while en route to call the President’s Office and inquire whether Dr. Ryken had a few free minutes when I could come by to say hello. His administrative assistant, Ms. Polansky was very helpful, and on my way to lunch I stopped by Blanchard Hall for my first-ever visit to the private office of Wheaton’s chief executive.
Though this was my first in-person meeting, I had once corresponded with Dr. Ryken. Upon learning of his selection as president in February, I emailed him, briefly introducing myself and offering my prayers for his family in their time of transition. He replied almost immediately with his gratitude (I guess I caught him at the time of day when he checks email). Since then I have made a point to familiarize myself with his ideas, through reading current interviews as well as one of his published works, Art for God’s Sake (see my post from March of this year, “Wheaton’s Eighth President”).
In person, I found Dr. Ryken to by a very warm and easygoing man (and I will also say that he was taller than I had expected). He welcomed me into his office and showed a genuine interest in my experiences and plans for my senior year, and at the close of our brief meeting prayed for me. I was glad to have those few minutes to interact with him, and I look forward to further interactions with him over the next year as a student and then as an alumnus.
I found out later in the day that Dr. Ryken had been interviewed that morning on Moody Radio Chicago. Dr. Ryken had some good things to say about "his vision for the school and his thoughts on the status of the American church." I encourage anyone with an interest in either topic to listen online.
This is Rubio, over and out.
Though this was my first in-person meeting, I had once corresponded with Dr. Ryken. Upon learning of his selection as president in February, I emailed him, briefly introducing myself and offering my prayers for his family in their time of transition. He replied almost immediately with his gratitude (I guess I caught him at the time of day when he checks email). Since then I have made a point to familiarize myself with his ideas, through reading current interviews as well as one of his published works, Art for God’s Sake (see my post from March of this year, “Wheaton’s Eighth President”).
In person, I found Dr. Ryken to by a very warm and easygoing man (and I will also say that he was taller than I had expected). He welcomed me into his office and showed a genuine interest in my experiences and plans for my senior year, and at the close of our brief meeting prayed for me. I was glad to have those few minutes to interact with him, and I look forward to further interactions with him over the next year as a student and then as an alumnus.
I found out later in the day that Dr. Ryken had been interviewed that morning on Moody Radio Chicago. Dr. Ryken had some good things to say about "his vision for the school and his thoughts on the status of the American church." I encourage anyone with an interest in either topic to listen online.
This is Rubio, over and out.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Summer Reading 2010
Like many people my age, who spend the better part of the year in school, I like to use the longest annual break, summer break, to read for leisure, something for which time is hard to find during the school year. Since returning from my study trip to London (see my previous four posts), I have read three books, with more planned, so another post may be coming before the next school year starts in a month and a half. All of these first three books, by the way, I highly recommend.
The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (1997)
John Ortberg
John Ortberg was the Sesquicentennial Commencement speaker at Wheaton. I had read one of his other books, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get out of the Boat, during high school, and had found it thought provoking, so I was interested to hear him speak at Commencement. Ortberg’s message was equally thought provoking and convicting, even though it was not addressed specifically to me. Upon returning from London, I looked for another of his works to read, and found The Life You’ve Always Wanted. After several chapters discussing spiritual formation in general, Ortberg spends a chapter each on the disciplines themselves: celebration, service, confession, humility, meditation, and perseverance. The two chapters I found the most significant to my own life were “The Practice of Celebration,” a discussion of the role of joy and rejoicing in a Christian’s life, and “The Practice of Slowing,” on the value of living an unhurried life and taking time for purposeful solitude.
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress (1838)
Charles Dickens
When in London earlier this summer, I saw the 2009 West End revival of the 1968 musical adaptation of Dickens’ famous and second novel. I decided upon returning to the States to read this novel, of which I knew nothing but the iconic line “Please, sir, I want some more.” Oliver Twist is only the third Dickens novel I have read; the others were A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations.
I enjoyed it from the start. I particularly enjoyed coming across references to names of streets, neighborhoods, and landmarks in London that I recognized, having just been there. And I found both the story and Dickens’ writing style very engaging.
The Hand of God: A Testimony of the Lord’s Provision and Protection (2004)
Hudson Armerding
I found this short book among the other books I had packed up at school and unpacked after returning from London. I vaguely remember the Chaplain’s Office at Wheaton College or a similar office giving away copies of the book at some point during the school year. The author, of course, is Wheaton’s fifth president, the late Dr. Hudson T. Armerding. This book is a collection of anecdotes and stories from Armerding’s life, grouped as testimonies to God’s provision, protection, guidance, and comfort, with an epilogue of thanksgiving stories. I read it straight through in less than an hour; in addition to finding the stories very encouraging, I enjoyed the insights into the history of a man who had such a profound role on the development of Wheaton College.
=======
This is Rubio, over and out.
The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (1997)
John Ortberg
John Ortberg was the Sesquicentennial Commencement speaker at Wheaton. I had read one of his other books, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get out of the Boat, during high school, and had found it thought provoking, so I was interested to hear him speak at Commencement. Ortberg’s message was equally thought provoking and convicting, even though it was not addressed specifically to me. Upon returning from London, I looked for another of his works to read, and found The Life You’ve Always Wanted. After several chapters discussing spiritual formation in general, Ortberg spends a chapter each on the disciplines themselves: celebration, service, confession, humility, meditation, and perseverance. The two chapters I found the most significant to my own life were “The Practice of Celebration,” a discussion of the role of joy and rejoicing in a Christian’s life, and “The Practice of Slowing,” on the value of living an unhurried life and taking time for purposeful solitude.
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress (1838)
Charles Dickens
When in London earlier this summer, I saw the 2009 West End revival of the 1968 musical adaptation of Dickens’ famous and second novel. I decided upon returning to the States to read this novel, of which I knew nothing but the iconic line “Please, sir, I want some more.” Oliver Twist is only the third Dickens novel I have read; the others were A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations.
I enjoyed it from the start. I particularly enjoyed coming across references to names of streets, neighborhoods, and landmarks in London that I recognized, having just been there. And I found both the story and Dickens’ writing style very engaging.
The Hand of God: A Testimony of the Lord’s Provision and Protection (2004)
Hudson Armerding
I found this short book among the other books I had packed up at school and unpacked after returning from London. I vaguely remember the Chaplain’s Office at Wheaton College or a similar office giving away copies of the book at some point during the school year. The author, of course, is Wheaton’s fifth president, the late Dr. Hudson T. Armerding. This book is a collection of anecdotes and stories from Armerding’s life, grouped as testimonies to God’s provision, protection, guidance, and comfort, with an epilogue of thanksgiving stories. I read it straight through in less than an hour; in addition to finding the stories very encouraging, I enjoyed the insights into the history of a man who had such a profound role on the development of Wheaton College.
=======
This is Rubio, over and out.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Arts in London 2010 - Commentary and Reflections 4
The first month of my summer is given to Arts in London, one of the Conservatory’s two alternating “Wheaton in the World” summer programs. Eighteen students, including me, and a handful of faculty chaperones will spend just under four weeks primarily in London but with excursions to nearby locales and also a weekend in Paris. I will post about a week’s worth of commentary and reflections at a time.
Monday, May 31
The fourth week began with Bank Holiday in Britain and Memorial Day back in America. In keeping with the national holiday spirit, we had no classes today. After a later breakfast, I spent much of the day (productively) doing homework, but with a fair amount of relaxing also. I went to an excellent evensong service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the late afternoon.
In the evening was the fourth and final show to see as part of Musical Theater, Hair, at the Gielgud Theatre. I had played a medley of tunes from this show in junior high band, so I was somewhat familiar with the music and the setting. I have to admit that I came into the show with low expectations because the hippie culture is not something that interests or attracts me. Despite some offensive content, however, I was surprised at how fun the show was. Not my favorite of the four that we saw for class, but still a good way to round out the field experience part of the course.
Tuesday, June 1
The first day of the month was the first time I used my umbrella on the trip. The day had two business items for me. In the morning Musical Theater class met. We debriefed Sweet Charity and Hair and then discussed current trends in musical theater, based in part on this year’s nominees for Tony Awards. After class, we had the opportunity to meet and greet two Wheaton alumni. Dr. Payne had contacted Wheaton alumni in the area and invited them to come meet our group at St. Bart’s during our time here. I always enjoy meeting Wheaton alumni, because they are always genuinely interested in my experiences at Wheaton, and this occasion was no exception.
In the late afternoon, World Music met for the third and final time at SOAS for a set of recitals. This time, we heard Latin American music, specifically from Cuba and Colombia. It was Western instruments; the style was non-Western.
Wednesday, June 2
I had a rare weekday free of required activities, so I used it to be both productive and fun. In the morning, my Musical Theater project group met to finish up our final project. We were quite productive (more about our project on Friday, the day of the presentation, below).
I had the afternoon off, so I used it to relax and take a much-needed nap. In the evening, Emily (L) and I went to Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End to see The Phantom of the Opera. I had not planned to see any more shows, but Emily had been looking at breakfast for someone to join her, and I had a free evening and was mildly interested in the show, so I decided to go. I was glad I did. The singing and design of the show were all fantastic, and I was most impressed by the pit orchestra. It was larger than that of the other West End shows I had seen, and its sound was in proportion.
Thursday, June 3
The morning featured the final classroom session of World Music. Dr. Buis lectured briefly on methods and practices of ethnomusicology, and then turned the time over to presentations of assigned readings. We discussed a number of issues, including ethics in cultural studies, the value of musical training to musical listening, and the conservatory culture.
After a couple hours’ down time at the hotel, I received a call from Dr. Payne. He invited me to join him and his wife to meet with Charlie Siem, a British solo violinist on the coming season of the Artist Series, and his manager. Being who I am, I jumped at the offer, and we sat at a pub for a while, snacking and discussing some logistics of Mr. Siem’s visit but mostly his career and our program. Mr. Siem was a really friendly young man, and seemed very excited for the time he will spend in Chicago this winter.
Later that evening was the final World Music event: an informal Morris Dancing performance outside Westminster Abbey. We all sat on the ground of the abbey just outside the north transept watching the performance, and then returned to our hotel to relax.
Friday, June 4
The last class session of the trip was on the last morning: Musical Theater met to present final projects. Each of the two groups presented their scene from a conceptualized musical. My group based our story on the life of a woman trapped in the routine of life in London, whose life is given meaning again by an experience in a church (modeled after St. Bart’s). Our one scene took place on the London Underground, describing that experience. After the presentations, we had a last discussion about our experiences with musical theater in London. Taylor posed an interesting question as part of a return to our discussion from the first week of whether it is okay to go to a show simply for entertainment: he asked whether something can be considered art if its primary purpose is to bring joy to the audience. It is a question I think I might return to in my career as a Christian artist.
I said good-bye to Phil and the other friends at St. Bart’s, and then used the afternoon to rest. Seven of us went out for pizza dinner at an Italian restaurant not far from the hotel. Afterward it was back to the hotel to relax and pack.
Saturday, June 5
We were up early on the last day to get to the airport. We departed the hotel, transferred to Heathrow, and checked in with no problems, and then had a couple of hours to relax. We actually ran into the Wheaton in East Africa group, returning to Chicago via London on the same flight. Our flight back to Chicago was quite comfortable, as our outgoing flight had been. I cleared immigration and customs quickly (“Welcome home, Mr. Rubio”) and my parents picked me up to bring me back to Oak Park, where the first order of business was laundry.
===
Would I come back to London? Most definitely. I remember hearing once that when traveling, one should always assume that one will come back. I tried to keep that in mind over the four weeks as I planned activities. If I am a native of Chicago and have yet to experience everything Chicago has to offer, I have no chance of experiencing all of London’s offerings in such a relatively short time – trying to would have lessened the enjoyment of each experience. But I did get quite a broad taste of London: the performing arts, the government and history, and, most particularly, the worship scene.
What I enjoyed most about this particular trip, beyond all the fun performances, were all the Christians we met, both American-born Christians like Philip and David Erik (and Al in Paris), and British natives like Jeremy Begbie, Geoff Weaver, and Paul Knight. Arts in London is only my second trip outside my home country, but just as on my missions trip to Costa Rica five summers ago, I have seen God at work through these people’s presence in this part of the world.
It all comes back to God, if we think about it. He brought everyone in our group to Wheaton College from different places, and brought us together to travel to London. God has really blessed this year’s Arts in London group, from the gracious hospitality of Philip and St. Bart’s, to safety and lack of complications in travel, and in countless other ways. Soli Deo Gloria!
This is Rubio, over and out.
Monday, May 31
The fourth week began with Bank Holiday in Britain and Memorial Day back in America. In keeping with the national holiday spirit, we had no classes today. After a later breakfast, I spent much of the day (productively) doing homework, but with a fair amount of relaxing also. I went to an excellent evensong service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the late afternoon.
In the evening was the fourth and final show to see as part of Musical Theater, Hair, at the Gielgud Theatre. I had played a medley of tunes from this show in junior high band, so I was somewhat familiar with the music and the setting. I have to admit that I came into the show with low expectations because the hippie culture is not something that interests or attracts me. Despite some offensive content, however, I was surprised at how fun the show was. Not my favorite of the four that we saw for class, but still a good way to round out the field experience part of the course.
Tuesday, June 1
The first day of the month was the first time I used my umbrella on the trip. The day had two business items for me. In the morning Musical Theater class met. We debriefed Sweet Charity and Hair and then discussed current trends in musical theater, based in part on this year’s nominees for Tony Awards. After class, we had the opportunity to meet and greet two Wheaton alumni. Dr. Payne had contacted Wheaton alumni in the area and invited them to come meet our group at St. Bart’s during our time here. I always enjoy meeting Wheaton alumni, because they are always genuinely interested in my experiences at Wheaton, and this occasion was no exception.
In the late afternoon, World Music met for the third and final time at SOAS for a set of recitals. This time, we heard Latin American music, specifically from Cuba and Colombia. It was Western instruments; the style was non-Western.
Wednesday, June 2
I had a rare weekday free of required activities, so I used it to be both productive and fun. In the morning, my Musical Theater project group met to finish up our final project. We were quite productive (more about our project on Friday, the day of the presentation, below).
I had the afternoon off, so I used it to relax and take a much-needed nap. In the evening, Emily (L) and I went to Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End to see The Phantom of the Opera. I had not planned to see any more shows, but Emily had been looking at breakfast for someone to join her, and I had a free evening and was mildly interested in the show, so I decided to go. I was glad I did. The singing and design of the show were all fantastic, and I was most impressed by the pit orchestra. It was larger than that of the other West End shows I had seen, and its sound was in proportion.
Thursday, June 3
The morning featured the final classroom session of World Music. Dr. Buis lectured briefly on methods and practices of ethnomusicology, and then turned the time over to presentations of assigned readings. We discussed a number of issues, including ethics in cultural studies, the value of musical training to musical listening, and the conservatory culture.
After a couple hours’ down time at the hotel, I received a call from Dr. Payne. He invited me to join him and his wife to meet with Charlie Siem, a British solo violinist on the coming season of the Artist Series, and his manager. Being who I am, I jumped at the offer, and we sat at a pub for a while, snacking and discussing some logistics of Mr. Siem’s visit but mostly his career and our program. Mr. Siem was a really friendly young man, and seemed very excited for the time he will spend in Chicago this winter.
Later that evening was the final World Music event: an informal Morris Dancing performance outside Westminster Abbey. We all sat on the ground of the abbey just outside the north transept watching the performance, and then returned to our hotel to relax.
Friday, June 4
The last class session of the trip was on the last morning: Musical Theater met to present final projects. Each of the two groups presented their scene from a conceptualized musical. My group based our story on the life of a woman trapped in the routine of life in London, whose life is given meaning again by an experience in a church (modeled after St. Bart’s). Our one scene took place on the London Underground, describing that experience. After the presentations, we had a last discussion about our experiences with musical theater in London. Taylor posed an interesting question as part of a return to our discussion from the first week of whether it is okay to go to a show simply for entertainment: he asked whether something can be considered art if its primary purpose is to bring joy to the audience. It is a question I think I might return to in my career as a Christian artist.
I said good-bye to Phil and the other friends at St. Bart’s, and then used the afternoon to rest. Seven of us went out for pizza dinner at an Italian restaurant not far from the hotel. Afterward it was back to the hotel to relax and pack.
Saturday, June 5
We were up early on the last day to get to the airport. We departed the hotel, transferred to Heathrow, and checked in with no problems, and then had a couple of hours to relax. We actually ran into the Wheaton in East Africa group, returning to Chicago via London on the same flight. Our flight back to Chicago was quite comfortable, as our outgoing flight had been. I cleared immigration and customs quickly (“Welcome home, Mr. Rubio”) and my parents picked me up to bring me back to Oak Park, where the first order of business was laundry.
===
Would I come back to London? Most definitely. I remember hearing once that when traveling, one should always assume that one will come back. I tried to keep that in mind over the four weeks as I planned activities. If I am a native of Chicago and have yet to experience everything Chicago has to offer, I have no chance of experiencing all of London’s offerings in such a relatively short time – trying to would have lessened the enjoyment of each experience. But I did get quite a broad taste of London: the performing arts, the government and history, and, most particularly, the worship scene.
What I enjoyed most about this particular trip, beyond all the fun performances, were all the Christians we met, both American-born Christians like Philip and David Erik (and Al in Paris), and British natives like Jeremy Begbie, Geoff Weaver, and Paul Knight. Arts in London is only my second trip outside my home country, but just as on my missions trip to Costa Rica five summers ago, I have seen God at work through these people’s presence in this part of the world.
It all comes back to God, if we think about it. He brought everyone in our group to Wheaton College from different places, and brought us together to travel to London. God has really blessed this year’s Arts in London group, from the gracious hospitality of Philip and St. Bart’s, to safety and lack of complications in travel, and in countless other ways. Soli Deo Gloria!
This is Rubio, over and out.
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