Music kickoff
Gathering celebrates new department
A kickoff event took place Monday, Sept. 14 commemorating Liberty University’s recent addition of the department of commercial music to the growing list of music programs offered within the school of music.
Meeting — Students gathered for the kickoff ceremony Sept. 14. Photo provided
The event marked the first official gathering of all who make up the department of commercial music.
According to Dr. David Hahn, chair of the department of commercial music, the newly completed department has various departments within it. Some of these include artist development, songwriting, film scoring, jazz studies, and recording and producing.
“This is something students have asked for,” Hahn said. “Specifically, our area addresses music in a different dimension than the performance areas that we have. … Each of our areas are distinct in the final projects students do.”
Hahn said each of the professors are award-winning within their specific fields, which is also a unique aspect to the new department.
“One of our desires is to help our students in their calling, to reinforce the calling that God has on their lives and to help them chase after that dream with all of their might,” Hahn said.
Hahn explained that the department is still in the launching phase. However, four of the areas now offered were already available before the creation of the department within the school of music. The different programs have been building together in different schools, but now they are being brought together under one department.
“We hope to establish conferences within each area that would draw professionals from the field and allow our students to interact directly with them in their specific areas,” Hahn said.
Junior artist development student Joshua Dodd has seen how the department has assisted in his growth as an artist.
“The department has benefited me by allowing me to be involved with other students with similar passions so that I have a motivation to … strive to be the best artist that I can be in response to the calling God has given me,” Dodd said.
The new department hopes to also send students and faculty to conferences outside of Liberty so that they can have an influence outside of the Liberty community. Hahn said the overall goal for the school is to join with the industry in order to make an impact that has eternal value.
“When you think of an event such as the Emmy’s, you know it’s fun to shoot for that award, but it is so much better to shoot for the eternal reward (of drawing people to Christ),” Hahn said.
“Our goal is to be able to express a Christian worldview within public arenas at a high level. … God has given us a message to tell, and we need to do it really well,” Hahn said.
The department wants to see collaboration across disciplines, and professors are being very intentional with this goal, both within and outside the department of commercial music.
“We want to equip students, motivate them and help build them in their passion,” Hahn said.
Sherrill is a news reporter.