By Rebecca Worthington / Full360 Reporter
At an agriculture school like Delaware Valley University, students may not expect an active music and arts program. Yet, across campus students, staff and community members are part of a music program that offers dozens of opportunities to sing, play music, attend concerts, and perform.
“It’s just an opportunity for students on campus who are musicians or vocalists to be able to participate in something that they likely have participated in for a long time and then coming to DelVal maybe still wanting to keep that in their life even though we don’t have music majors.” Dr. Lauren Ryals said, a staff member of DelVal and the music department chair since the spring semester of 2023.
Despite not having music majors on campus, plenty of students attend weekly rehearsals to perform in concerts twice a semester.
“It gives people interested in music an opportunity to do their craft,” Senior Greg Gipe said. “If that’s singing, if that’s playing an instrument, if that’s in the jazz band or the concert band it really just gives you an opportunity and an outlet to do what you’re passionate about… I think if you’re passionate about something you should have an outlet here on campus to do it, just like clubs and organizations, and sports. If you’re passionate about it, I think you should have a spot here on campus to be able to do that.”
The music department offers a wide variety of ensembles one can participate in. Large ensemble groups like the University Choir, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band. But also, small ensemble groups like the Pep Band and Chamber Strings. Anyone can join.
Dr. Ryals shared the story of a graduating senior from last semester. When this student was participating in music in high school they felt like an outcast because they didn’t get leadership opportunities. While they still loved playing music and being a part of the high school music department, they just never felt fully accepted, because from their perspective they weren’t the most talented or most liked musicians in the group. Dr. Ryals said, “It turned out that being part of the band and just being able to non-pressure totally open that kind of thing… just show up and be who they are, and they were welcomed, and it was all good.”
To get involved in the university music department, all one must do is show up. Gipe said, “The music department gives me an opportunity to sing and interact with different people that I typically don’t on an everyday basis here at school.” The University Choir meets on Mondays at 7 p.m., Jazz Band on Tuesdays at 5pm., and Symphonic Band Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m., all meet in the LSB auditorium. This semester’s concerts are February 24 and April 28 at 7 p.m. for the University Choir, and February 25th and April 29th at 7 p.m. for the Instrumental Concerts. All concerts are held in the LSB Auditorium.