The Goshen College Music Department is saying farewell to 28 active seniors. At the recent Earthtones concert, seniors gathered at the front of the stage to sing “Woyaya (We are Going)” by Sol Amarfio, a symbolic moment that left 25 underclassmen standing behind them, ready to carry their legacy. 

Scott Hochstetler, professor of music and director of Vox Profundi and Chamber Choir, said that all of the seniors have “provided an immense [amount] of enthusiasm, talent and joy,” and he feels “grateful for their love for eachother and this place, their camaraderie and their deep involvement in campus activities.”

Dontaye Albert, a senior theater major with a music minor, remembered his first year, saying “I was watching Birch Baer sit behind the drum set … I was infatuated.” He continued, “From that moment on, I was like, I can’t wait until I do my senior feature and be there on that stage.” 

Albert has been part of many groups within the music department including Lavender Jazz, Vox Profundi and Chamber Choir. On his involvement, he said, “I think what I’m going to miss is the people that I make jokes with.” He continued, “Like randomly we would just start singing ‘Glory’ [part of Vox repertoire] but like really operatically, and it was really funny.”

Fatima Rhana, a senior music and theater double major, has been a part of Chamber Choir, Voices of the Earth, The Queen Singers and has been involved in every GC theater production since she started. 

Rhana commended Gloria Bontrager-Thomas ’22, a senior theatre major during Rhana’s first-year, for her involvement in GC theater and music. She stated that Bontrager-Thomas was a member of Parables and “they were the group to be in.” Rhana then joined Parables her sophomore year.

Víctor Vegas, a senior music major, has been a part of Chamber Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Lavender Jazz, Vox Profundi, The Maple Tones, and the chapel singing team. Vegas said a highlight of his experience at GC has been his involvement in theater. He stated that the theatre department is “probably where my emotional weight is distributed the most,” and “combining music and theater is my thing and it bares my soul every single time.”

Underclassmen are already feeling the weight of the seniors’ departure. Lucca Kauffman, a sophomore social work major, said, “I feel like there’s such a wealth of talent in this particular senior class, and such energy that they bring that is very unique to that class and will be very greatly missed. I’m trying to think to myself like ‘how can I bring that?’” 

Alina Bergstresser, a first-year psychology major, expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “I know that especially in the music department, it’ll be a big gap and there’s lots of space to fill that it just won’t feel the same. But I’m really glad that I was able to be here for their last year and to learn from them.” 

Rhana said, “I think it’s inspiring that we had so many people in our class involved in music and theatre.” She continued, “I hope that their example can lead other people to join and express themselves.” 

Vegas took a moment to say thanks to Solomia Soroka, his violin professor and professor of music, describing Soroka as “sweet and amazing.” Similarly, Albert stated that Hochstetler “has been a very important aspect of [his] musical career.” Vegas closed by saying, “Everyone admires the love that we have for eachother and the support every single person offers each other,” Albert added, “That’s what Goshen College does best. Love.”