I graduated from the University of Utah with my Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Cello Performance on May 2, which was awesome. I didn't think about graduating very much, just completely hyper focused on finishing my recital and defending my dissertation. By the time graduation rolled around, I don't think I had fully processed that I was DONE and all that I had really done to get there. Walking into the Huntsman center in my cap, gown, and hood for commencement is when it finally hit me. I'm not really a crying person, but I got kind of teary-eyed. And I guess I'm still not exactly sure why. The four years that it took me to get this degree were HUGE and life changing years for me. The summer before I started, I got engaged. Between my first and second semesters, I got married. In the middle of my second year, my mom passed away, and in the middle of my third year I found out that I was pregnant. During this degree, I was able to travel to Germany and England. I made a few life long friends, worked with a few people who I hope to never see again. I stretched myself and overcame hard things. I guess walking into the Huntsman Center for commencement was when I finally took a second to reflect on all of that. And I felt overwhelmed.
Lining up behind a bunch of vocal performance DMAs
I was the 4th to last one to graduate from the College of Fine Arts
This is me getting hooded by my awesome teacher and advisor, John Eckstein
Dr. Morris
Sweet Clementine conked out in the middle of the ceremony
A lot of people have asked me, "so, now that you have your degree, what are you going to do now?" The immediate answer is that I am going to enjoy the feeling of not constantly having something nagging in the back of my mind! I don't have to practice, I don't have to prepare a recital, I don't need to be working on my dissertation, I don't have any forms I need to get signed and turned into the music office, I don't have any Exceptions to Policy to submit. And that feels AWESOME! If I want to sit down and watch 5 episodes of Lost on Netflix, I totally can- guilt free!
The answer that I think most people are looking for when they ask me "what now," though, is sort of lame. For now, professionally, I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing for the past little bit. I'm going to keep teaching cello lessons at Salt Lake Community College, and starting in the fall, I will be teaching two sections of a class called Music In Culture. I'm also going to continue to teach my little cellists at the University of Utah Preparatory Division, and starting in the fall I will be teaching the beginning cello group class as well as a KidMusic class, if anyone signs up for it. And I have my little flock of private cello students whom I teach and love.
Besides that, I occasionally browse job listings for full time faculty positions at colleges around the country, and I may or may not have submitted a few applications. No takers yet- I think I'm still pretty young and inexperienced in the market. But it's fun to think about the future being open to new possibilities.
So for now, I'll just keep building my resume, accruing needed experience, and living life as a DMA graduate. That includes hanging out with my favorite baby, sitting in the back yard blowing bubbles all afternoon. And rocking her to sleep.