Alumni Spotlight: Nick Strobel ('99)

How did WWU prepare you for your career?

I spent three years at WWU, first completing my master’s in music education, then completing the coursework for a music teaching certificate.  

What courses, classes, or experiences at Western helped prepare you?

Music History with Dr. Mary Terey-Smith|
"The Dynamics of Teaching" with Bob Keiper
Music Theory with Ed Rutschman

Is there a particular moment or memory that stands out in your mind about your Western experience? Soloing with the Symphony Orchestra as a concerto competition winner in 1999 during my master’s degree work. Preparing the concerto, doing the audition, and then playing with the orchestra was a big challenge but very rewarding.

Did you have any favorite professors or experiences you’d like to share? 

Mary Terey-Smith was a huge Influence In my education at WWU both in my music history work and also through Collegium Musicum, a historic performance ensemble she directed. She was a master at making whatever collection of students she had available sound great by finding appropriate repertoire for the skill level of the group. She was a bit brusque but had a tender side as well. She was supremely knowledgeable about baroque music and baroque performance practice and was well-known and well respected in the field. A favorite memory is traveling to Hungary and Italy with her and the Collegium for 3 weeks in 2000.  We played dozens of concerts across both of those countries and learned so much about the history and culture of the places we visited.   

What is your favorite career achievement?

I am proud that three of my former students are playing music professionally and especially proud that two of my students are either teaching music or studying music education in college. I am also proud that many of my students continue to play after high school.

What kinds of hobbies do you have? What do you do in your free time?

I enjoy reading a lot, especially dystopian future science fiction and fantasy. My wife and I are avid gardeners and urban farmers. We have converted about half of our back yard to garden beds and raise a flock of eight chickens. I also teach four adult cello students and direct a community orchestra in Bellingham. When I'm not gardening or teaching, I enjoy camping on Whidbey Island.

Do you have any advice for current students?

Work hard now while you can and try to get everything you can out of your education. Keep playing your instrument or pick up new ones and play music with others.