Music at Aquinas

Olivia Vargas '18

"I was in almost every choir," said Olivia Vargas '18. A liturgical music graduate, 瓦格斯是这个项目中唯一一个用她的声音作为主要乐器的学生. 巴尔加斯热衷于通过唱歌来探索她的信仰，她是大多数人中的一员 of the on-campus singing groups, as well as off-campus churches and organizations. 为了成为一名音乐总监，巴尔加斯对音乐和信仰做出了承诺， looking to guide others in their own musical and faith journeys. 

作为底特律人，巴尔加斯最初被十大赌博登录官网的商业项目所吸引 entered the College as a dual major in music and business. However, after just one semester, "I fell in love music and less with business," said Vargas. Realizing a passion that had been rooted in singing in her home church's choir. "I really enjoy the messages that are coming from the music," she said.

在高中加入唱诗班后，她成为了教会青年小组的一员 巴尔加斯最终创作了自己的基督教音乐，她寻求对基督教的更深的理解 worship through music. These experiences "really propelled me into discovering this faith on my own," said Vargas. "I just wanted to know more." So, when faced with switching her major to focus solely on music, the decision was a no-brainer. What came next was the hard part.

作为礼仪音乐专业的一部分，学生需要指定一个小学 instrument. "It was a very difficult decision," said Vargas, who noted that most students choose piano or organ. "For me to be a voice emphasis is really not normal," she said. 再一次，瓦格斯跟随自己的心，成为节目中唯一的声乐音乐家， choosing to continue to hone her piano and eventually her organ skills as well. In the meantime, she began joining choir groups with fellow vocalists. 

瓦格斯很快成为了AQ大学合唱团，AQ大学歌手，AQ女子合唱团的重要成员 合唱团和布考斯基教堂合唱团，除了在她自己的当代演唱 Christian band, Islands of Mercy. She also serves as the choral librarian for Dr. 马克·韦伯，音乐副教授，她的四个合唱团中有三个是他指挥的 as well. 

"Olivia stood out for a few reasons," said Dr. Webb. "First is her natural talent 她是一个有天赋的音乐家——嗓音出众，钢琴技巧好，谱曲优美 songs. She was a tireless worker, and basically lived at the AMC, practicing (piano and voice) and studying."

这种职业道德，加上她对通过音乐探索信仰的热情，让她得到了认可 Vargas to be involved in so many groups, even holding an internship at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Grand Rapids. Despite this experience, Vargas noted, "I have so much to learn."

但对于一个有着深厚天主教根基的音乐项目来说，“在十大赌博登录官网学习让它变得相当 easy to incorporate faith and worship in choir," said Dr. Webb. "Most of the music that we learn has sacred texts, which we can discuss quite freely."

音乐学位是一个多方面的和引人入胜的路径，利用许多学习方法 to investigate everything we recognize as Music. The great 20th Century American conductor 作曲家伦纳德·伯恩斯坦说过:“音乐可以命名无法命名的事物，并与之交流。 the unknowable.” While some degrees (such as the Bachelor of Arts) may be less of 与十大赌博正规平台在线(Aquinas College)提供的其他职业道路一样，定义独特的职业道路 音乐教育学士学位或音乐专业文学学士学位 在教会音乐，爵士乐或表演)，这些研究的性质包括 音乐理论，钢琴，历史和文学，独奏和合奏，教育学 指挥、爵士乐等使学生能够培养雇主所需的技能 今天，自我指导、团队合作、解决问题、批判性思维、毅力、 verbal and written communication, and creativity. 

在十大赌博正规平台在线，许多追求音乐以外专业的学生都渴望 继续他们的音乐参与和发展后，高中:制作 Music their Second Major; adding Music as a Minor; participating in Performing Groups for General Education credit; taking other Fine Arts or Humanities courses offered by the Music Department; or taking Lessons for credit - Private or Group Instruction -在钢琴，人声，吉他，铜管，弦乐，打击乐，竖琴，爵士乐等领域 Organ. Learning music is a meaningful and gratifying experience for people of all ages.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Throughout the school year, the Music Department hosts many concerts and events. All events are FREE and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

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Contact music@lzbcy.net if you’d like more information.

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Contact: Barbara Witham McCargar, M.M.
Office: Arts & Music Center 126
Phone: (616) 632-2417
FAX: (616) 732-4487
Email: Barbara.McCargar@lzbcy.net

Art & Music Center, Aquinas College 
1700 Fulton St. E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49506 

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