Phase One renovations completed in Adrian College’s Spencer Hall for new Commercial Music Program
Posted Friday, December 13, 2024
Author: Mickey Alvarado
Adrian College’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Patrick Farver, recently announced during the annual President’s Dinner that the “College of the Future” initiative has introduced a new Commercial Music major and minor within Adrian College’s Performing Arts Department.
Farver said for the program to be successful, updates had to be made in Spencer Hall.
“With the help of our extremely talented and passionate faculty, particularly Kristin and Phil Clark, we have developed a two-phase project to renovate and update all of Spencer Hall, home of the Performing Arts,” Farver told the audience. “Phase One, converting an existing classroom into a ‘keyboard Mac lab,’ was recently completed thanks to some incredible donors.”
The Commercial Music program offers a B.A. in Commercial Music, as well as a minor. Kristin said it aims to provide students with the foundational skills necessary to succeed in the commercial music industry.
“Through the study of music theory, performance, music production, audio recording, songwriting, and music business, this program equips students with the artistic, technological, and entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive in the evolving music industry of the 21st century,” she said.
“I have had a passion for music my entire life, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with many Adrian College students, even recording music with a few, thanks to Pete Bishop, the founder and CEO of APG Audio Visual Mentoring right here in Adrian,” Farver said. “Through Pete’s expertise and a partnership with Sweetwater, a leading studio and recording equipment company, we have been able to transform one of the classrooms in Spencer Hall.”
Farver said the next phase of the project will connect all classrooms and studios in Spencer Hall to a main recording studio. Approximately $50,000 of the targeted $150,000 needed to complete the main recording studio project has already been donated. Adrian College hopes to have the project completed before the start of the next academic year.
“This will be very cool and innovative,” Farver told the crowd. “Soon, Bulldog Records will be launched, giving our students the opportunity to release their music through an Adrian College label.”
One of the students who has recorded music with Farver is Angel Dorris, an Adrian College senior majoring in Vocal Performance and minoring in Commercial Music.
Dorris developed a vocal health issue as a freshman that made her think her music and college career were over. However, with the help and support of Kristin, she was able to get back on track and resume performing her songs.
“Dr. Clark worked with me to rehabilitate my voice and get me to the point where I am today,” she said during the President’s Dinner. “I stand before you as a senior about to graduate in the spring with a degree in voice. I have performed countless solos here at Adrian. I sing with the women’s a cappella group, and I’ve even gotten to sing with the choir at Carnegie Hall. I also placed second in the Commercial Music category at a competition hosted by the National Association of Teachers of Singing in Ann Arbor.”
Most recently, through the Adrian College internship program with APG Audio Visual Mentoring, Dorris became a published artist.
“Check me out on all major streaming platforms!” Dorris said. “Look for Angelica Hayes and my new song ‘The Overthinker.’ None of this would have been possible without the help of Dr. Kristin Clark and Professor Phil Clark, as well as the incredible programs that Adrian College has to offer, including the new Commercial Music Program.”
Adrian College is now offering courses in musicianship, music production, songwriting, music entrepreneurship, performance, and recording studio activities.
The new courses include Music Production I-II, Songwriting, Bulldog Records: Studio Activities, and Music Entrepreneurship.
For more information, email Kristin at kbclark@adrian.edu or go online to adrian.edu.
