Cynthia Moeller Stiehl, '89

Between the stairwells of Shattuck Hall and the Music-Drama Center, a trumpet, contra bass, saxophone, cello, organ, and nineteen pianos vibrate simultaneously. Snatches of Bach, Copland, Monteverdi, and Stravinsky accompany a Chopin nocturne. Heterophony and cacophony exist at once.

The same phrase from Mozart returns as if someone lifted the needle off a recording and set it back down over and over again. Upstairs, a singer repeats an arpeggio with the teacher's voice assisting. Gentle arguments echo outside a piano studio: "I don't want to play it slower," followed by "Play it slower anyway."

Our choirs, orchestra, band, and jazz band fill the Chapel with more than sound. They foster joy, fulfillment, inspiration, edification, and brilliance. How fortunate we are. Music expresses the best of life. And we have two buildings resounding with it.

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