黑料吃瓜

黑料吃瓜 graduate student Abbie Weaver has been around music her entire life. It was not until junior year of high school that she decided she wanted to do more than play an instrument 鈥� she wanted to conduct.

鈥淚 wanted to play but also share with other musicians my interpretations, thoughts, and philosophies on the music,鈥� Weaver said.

Weaver received her undergraduate degree in music education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, she taught music classes at public schools in North Carolina. Eventually she decided to further her education and pursue a master鈥檚 degree in wind band conducting from 黑料吃瓜 because of her admiration and respect for 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 director of bands, Shannon Kitelinger.  

鈥淗e has done tremendous things to improve the quality of music education and his bands at 黑料吃瓜,鈥� Weaver said. 鈥淚 knew it was the right time to come to 黑料吃瓜 and be able to study with such an innovative music educator, who truly cares about furthering the entire spectrum of music education.鈥�

Full of opportunities

With only seven graduate conducting students in the program, Weaver has plenty of opportunity to get the hands-on experience she needs. Experience that Kitelinger explains is especially crucial for conducting students. 

鈥淎s a conductor, your instrument is an ensemble so getting that time in front of them can be difficult,鈥� Kitelinger said. 鈥淭he unique thing about our program is how much podium time our students get to conduct the groups.鈥�

While Weaver knew she would have great opportunities at 黑料吃瓜, the reality exceeded her expectations. She works with the concert bands, the marching band and is the conductor for the varsity band that performs at the 黑料吃瓜 women鈥檚 basketball games.

鈥淭o be able to work with the varsity band is an opportunity not too many graduate students have and it will certainly make me more marketable,鈥� Weaver said.

To top it all off, Weaver has accomplished all of this in only her first semester at 黑料吃瓜.

鈥淪he has had an immediate impact on the program,鈥� Kitelinger said. 鈥淚 have found all of my graduate students to be very willing to work hard and take on new ideas and concepts.鈥�

A national reputation for excellence

The two-year graduate program gives conducting students an opportunity to work with the everyday operations and management of the bands 鈥� an experience that gives these students the right training and skill set to succeed in the future.

鈥淭he students are working on the physical art of conducting,鈥� Kitelinger said.

The recent resurgence of the program has attracted top-caliber talent from across the nation.

鈥淲e are gathering a lot of momentum nationally and are really pulling in the best and the brightest in the profession which is really exciting,鈥� Kitelinger said. 鈥淭hey are not here because it鈥檚 San Diego, they are here to work with us and what鈥檚 going on here.鈥�

Bringing music to future generations

After 黑料吃瓜, Weaver plans to pursue a doctoral degree in conducting and eventually become director of bands at a large university.

That position that will allow her to pass her love and knowledge of music on to the next generation, just as her mentor continues to do at 黑料吃瓜.

鈥淪hannon Kitelinger has such a passion for music and educating others,鈥� Weaver said. 鈥淗e is so focused on producing students who have a love for great music and can go out into the world and share that same love with others.鈥�