For the third time in four years, Goshen College has hired a new orchestra director. 

Mark Douglass will be taking over the position after the departure of Jimin Seo, visiting assistant professor of music,  which was announced earlier this spring. Douglass brings a strong background in both music education and composition. He also drew attention to his experience as a performer, noting diversity as wide as “playing drums in a punk band to performing in a Broadway pit orchestra.”

Kate Roth, a junior music education major, spoke about the turnover at the position she has experienced during her three years at GC. “I’ve had to adapt to a lot of different teachers,” she said. Despite this, Roth has tried to see the positives. 

Due to the number of changes, she has had the chance to see a number of different directing styles in action, which, as a music education major, she has been grateful for. However, she also acknowledges that “most people aren’t in orchestra to observe teaching strategies.”

Douglass said he was drawn to GC because of his friendship with Solomia Soroka, professor of music. Upon visiting campus, he was struck by “the sense of community, the quality and openness of the students and the genuine collegiality among the faculty.” The theme of community was especially important to Douglass. “It felt like a place where people care not only about musical excellence, but about one another,” he said.

Matthew Hill, professor of music and the chair of the music department, expressed his appreciation of how quickly the hiring process was able to move forward. He also credited Soroka for bringing Douglass to the attention of the department. The chance to bring Douglass to campus and see him in action was a particularly valuable opportunity to Hill. 

Roth was impressed with his directing during his visit and had a chance to discuss the repertoire of the orchestra with him after the practice. They connected over their shared interest in working on classical pieces. 

Roth was excited at the prospect of working on more commonly-performed pieces. “We do a very diverse array of music, [but] we don’t always play things that would be on an audition for a grad school,” she said. 

Douglass expressed enthusiasm about beginning as the orchestra director and looks forward to getting to know the students better. He also hopes to bring more people into the Goshen College orchestra, “I invite everyone to enroll for an ensemble or a lesson; music is for everyone!” he said.

Roth echoed this sentiment, saying that she hopes that the orchestra will grow in numbers under Douglass. Hill drew attention to Douglass’ diverse musical background in conducting, education, jazz and composition, qualities that he thinks are highly valuable and representative of GC’s music department. “He is a versatile musician and teacher, which is exactly what you are looking for in a liberal arts department.”