It’s not every day that a Tony Award-winning composer visits the likes of DePauw, but from September 19-21, DePauw students got the chance to experience the musical genius of theatre and opera composer-lyricist Adam Guettel.
After getting his start as a young soprano vocalist on New York stages, Guettel, a Yale University graduate, went on to compose the music for numerous works. He has won two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and is best known for his musical, “The Light in the Piazza.”
Mark McCoy, dean of the School of Music and President Brian Casey discovered Guettel last fall at a gala hosted by The Dramatist Guild. When McCoy and Casey spoke to him about collaborating with DePauw, Guettel was more than enthusiastic.
“They asked me to be a part of this traveling masters program, which I said yes to because I love teaching,” Guettel said. “I’ve heard about DePauw and that it has a good music program.”
Graduate intern and musician Emily Smith also played a part in organizing Guettel’s activities on campus.
“He was looking to get as involved as possible with the students,” Smith said.
On campus, Guettel interacted with students through instructing coaching sessions, master classes and performing a free concert alongside student musicians during DePauwpalooza.
In preparation for DePauwpalooza, students learned a few selections from each of Guettel’s three latest productions: “The Light in the Piazza,” “Floyd Collins,” and “Myths and Hymns.”
Sophomore Yazid Pierce-Gray was excited about the opportunity to work closely with Guettel.
“It was great to work with him,” Pierce- Gray said. “He held the music close to his heart, and it meant a lot to be able to perform it…I feel like when he left here, he was very satisfied with the outcome of the concert.”
Sophomore Julia Strauser, took part in a DePauwpalooza performance and also had much to say about working with Guettel.
“It’s great to know that you’re doing justice to a role for a character that someone has written,” Strauser said. “He seemed very proud of the work we had done.”
Sophomore Dana Hart enjoyed the material, but found it challenging.
“The pieces were very difficult, and very different than anything I’ve ever done before,” Hart said. “But he gave us a lot of good advice.”
The composer held a lunchtime talk to pass along advice to aspiring musicians. He talked about the skills necessary to have in the music world today. He stressed how students should be open.
“He seemed very grounded, and he knew how to communicate how important it is to be able to do more than one thing because he didn’t make any money from his music until he was in his thirties. That was the most beneficial part for me,” said sophomore Annie Chase.
As Guettel rounded up his last master class, he said he was really impressed with student’s participation.
“The work is good here,” said Guettel. “They’re well prepared, and they’re excited about doing it, and that’s not always true-some places you go, they’re not like that.”
He is incredibly passionate about teaching and about the music itself. He hopes students can really take something away from the sessions.
“This kind of work can be remunerative, spiritually, and it can make it possible to have a life that pays you something and gives you a kind of family of like-minded people who want to put something beautiful into the world,” Guettel said. “It is possible to have a life like that, you just have to work at it.
When asked if this was the last time he would be visiting DePauw, he simply smiled and said, “I hope not.”