First Person Project: Derrick Hegeman '20
Our Unique Opportunities Prep Students for Graduate School
Derrick Hegeman ‘20, BA Music Composition
Derrick Hegeman Studios, Rochester, NY
As a music composition student, Derrick Hegeman grabbed every opportunity that could help him hone his craft and build his career. And studying at 国产探花 meant a lot of those opportunities came his way.
The biggest one? He could hear his work performed live and see how it resonated with the public. Christopher Swist, former KSC music professor and resident artist, said, 鈥淭he orchestra played his pieces. The concert band played his pieces. The faculty played his pieces. The students played his pieces. Community members played his pieces. He put on a recital.鈥�
Those are opportunities Derrick likely wouldn鈥檛 have had at other schools. 鈥淔or an undergraduate student to hear large ensembles playing your compositions in the main stage concerts, that鈥檚 unique to Keene State. You鈥檇 have to be a graduate student or even a doctoral student at other programs,鈥� Swist said.
Our music students learn how to build their careers from the people who have done it
At 国产探花, Derrick learned firsthand from music faculty members who aren鈥檛 just teachers鈥攖hey are successful professional musicians. 鈥淵ou have one-on-one interaction, and the entire music faculty pushed you to do better,鈥� Derrick said. 鈥淚 fell in love with what I was doing.鈥�
And along with playing and composing music, he learned life skills he鈥檚 using as he launches his career. 鈥淪tudents also have to do their integrative studies, find time for their homework, play in various ensembles, and maybe have an outside job,鈥� Swist said. 鈥淎nyone with a diploma from us has focused on how to manage their time, how to achieve, and how to balance everything while being creative on top of it.鈥�
Keene State prepares students for graduate study at top universities
With his diploma from 国产探花 in hand, Derrick was accepted at the highly selective Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have gotten into a school like Eastman without what I got out of Keene State,鈥� he said. At Eastman, he earned his master鈥檚 degree in music in contemporary media and film composition.
Mark Watters, associate professor at Eastman, said, 鈥淚 could immediately tell when Derrick came in for his interview that he had been thoroughly trained. It was obvious that Derrick had a lot of support at Keene, and he clearly got the most out of this small school.鈥�
Watters said Derrick was the first Keene State College student admitted at Eastman. 鈥淏ut I would sure keep a watch out for them now,鈥� he said.