Michigan Muse Fall 2025 > Dean’s Reflection
Dean’s Reflection
This past spring, I had the privilege of spending a few days on tour with the University Symphony Orchestra (USO) in South Africa – an extraordinary experience in so many ways. From a purely artistic standpoint, the students in the USO, conducted by Kenneth Kiesler, were spectacular. Their playing was so refined and professional, and their level of musical commitment was inspiring. I’ve attended countless performances at SMTD, and I’m keenly aware of how gifted our students are, but this shared experience in South Africa seemed to bring out the very best in collaborative music-making.
Equally impressive was the way the students carried themselves, conveying a clear sense of joy and respect – and an awareness of how special this opportunity was. They understood that they were representing not just themselves or their ensemble but also SMTD and indeed the entire University of Michigan, and they did so admirably.
Dean Dave Gier
I’m certain that these students will think about this shared experience for the rest of their lives – not just the concerts, but the musical exchanges with South African students, the experience of traveling with each other, the knowledge that they came together to create something that was greater than the sum of its parts. I imagine that it has profoundly shaped their worldviews in ways they may not even realize yet.
The USO was not the only ensemble to go on tour in recent months – the Symphony Band, led by Jason Fettig, and the Jazz Ensemble, led by Ellen Rowe, both toured throughout the state of Michigan. The Michigan Marching Band, led by John Pasquale and a cadre of other faculty and staff members, traveled to Germany and Austria. The heightened experiences of these tours will surely stand as signature moments in the lives of these students.
While perhaps on a different scale from the tours, students’ day-to-day lives at SMTD are also full of exciting collaborations, deep friendships, and the gratification of coming together to work hard and create something amazing. The experience of studying in a performing arts program is markedly different from that of pursuing a liberal arts education. SMTD students get to know the other students in their cohort – their fellow clarinet players or actors or dancers – quickly and intensely. The educational process itself, which is so immersive and time-consuming, results in a unique experience. Students struggle together, they celebrate together, they go through the same emotional roller coaster that is part and parcel of becoming a performing artist. This happens with students in every corner of our school, and it creates a special kind of connection that is lifelong. Students share that connection with one another, and they share it with the many thousands of alumni who came before them.
Students leave SMTD having been changed by meaningful experiences, and it’s those experiences – along with a giving spirit – that draw them back as alumni. They want to be part of the next generation who are having the same transformative, immersive experience. In ways large and small, they generously share their knowledge, expertise, and support with current students. Making a life in the performing arts can be challenging, and SMTD students and alumni know they can rely on each other – and, significantly, on faculty – to help them survive and thrive.
I recently had the good fortune to witness a truly heartwarming expression of alumni support. Last May, I attended the New York City showcase for 2024 and 2025 graduates who had earned a minor in the Carole Caplan Lonner Musical Theatre Writing Program. Songs written by these students were performed for agents, managers, producers, and other industry professionals – and those performing the songs were alumni who are actively working in the field. Taking place on a Monday night – the only day off for performers on Broadway – this event demonstrated how committed our alumni are to one another. They came out to support their fellow SMTD grads, exuding joy, camaraderie, and support. Their enthusiasm for each other and the strength of their shared Michigan connection was palpable. These truly are the ties that bind, in the best way possible.
Be well, and Forever Go Blue,
Dave Gier, Dean
Paul Boylan Collegiate Professor of Music
School of Music, Theatre & Dance