For those of you potential Music majors out there in internet land...here is someone you should definitely visit campus to meet. COME VISIT HIM! This man welcomes you. Our music department welcomes you.
But WAIT! Even if you are not anywhere at all interested in music...read about this man. Why? He is an example of the kind of dedication and passion you will find here at UST when it comes to faculty (professors). Our faculty is awesome all the way across the board.
So let me introduce to you, the man of the hour.
The man: Dr. Brady Knapp
My personal opinion on him: He is the most AWESOME music professor/musician. He is dedicated to his students, truly wants you to succeed, and is one of the strongest vocal teachers I have ever encountered. This man is your musical advocate. Just read about him, and I guarantee you will want to meet him. I can further guarantee he wants to meet you!
The story: (also found at http://www.stthom.edu/Public/index.asp?page_ID=4420)
Opera Workshop in early October has electrified the air in the Department of Music, where students showed up in droves to get a part in the stellar, professional performance. Dr. Brady Knapp, assistant professor of music who revived the much-loved workshops last fall and spring, scrambles to find parts for every music student who shows up, as if he’s putting together a giant musical jigsaw puzzle.
And, judging from last year’s response, all four upcoming performances–Oct. 5, 6, 7 and 8–will be before a packed house, much as they were before the opera workshop was discontinued in the early 1980s. Everything is of professional quality: the stage set, the directing and performing. It’s not hard to close your eyes and swear you’re on Broadway rather than Cullen Hall on the UST campus.
It’s not just a labor of love–it’s a labor of passion. And it’s a beautiful outreach for UST to prospective music students that has greatly enhanced UST’s reputation as a music school nationwide, says Professor Tom Crow, chair of the Department of Music.
In fact, since Knapp, an accomplished musician, voice teacher and effervescent Renaissance man, began teaching at UST in 2005, enrollment in vocal and choral music has doubled or even tripled, Crow said. “The man can teach stones to sing,” he said laughingly.
Knapp exudes unflagging enthusiasm. “My students are smart, talented and sophisticated,” he said. “My job is a real joy.”
And his schedule is really packed. He teaches private, one-hour voice lessons to 21 students and directs UST’s two choirs, both of which have grown exponentially during his two-year watch. He created the choral workshop. When he took the job, he took on what two professors used to do. Oh, and one more tiny detail. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights–and most of Sunday–he serves as co-director of music at Palmer Episcopal Church with his wife Courtney, who is director.
In addition to teaching private voice for more than a decade before coming to UST, Knapp served on the faculties of Rice University, where he received a doctorate of musical arts in voice performance, and at Kenyon College in Gambler, Ohio, and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. He also served as the upper school choirmaster for the Columbus School of Girls in Columbus, Ohio.
Although he enjoyed all those jobs, none can compare with his work at UST. “I was built for this job. It’s the best job in the world.” And Knapp says, UST is the best place to be. “I believe in small, private, liberal arts education."
“The curriculum here is so attractive to me,” he said. “The professors are at the highest level of education, and they teach at the highest level of education. The cross-pollination of coursework means a music major or pre-med student is going to have had classes in art history and English. If you are a vocal major, you’re not going to be just a singer in this place.”
A big part of his job is networking. Locally, he judges high school music competitions, and nationally, he spreads the UST gospel.
“The Basilian tradition is a humble tradition,” Knapp said. “They’re not going to be tooting their horn. People around the country know more about St. Thomas than people in Houston. I consider getting the word out as part of my job.”
Knapp has talked almost non-stop for almost an hour about his love for his job, his family, UST in general, music and his life. But it abruptly comes to a close as the hour approaches for a voice lesson.
“Whoops, there’s my student and he looks ready to go,” he said. Pausing for a split-second, he adds one more thing. “People say, ‘How do you do it?’” I say, ‘How can I not do it?’”
....................
So tell me...don't you want to be taught by a professor who has this true kind of a passion for teaching? Not just teaching in general, but teaching YOU? This man is dedicated. Your classes of 4-6 students...taught by him. Your one-on-one voice lessons...taught by him.
And he is just one example of hundreds of professors here at UST who have this strong of a passion for teaching and helping their students succeed. Our professors believe in UST, it's mission, but most importantly, they believe in their students.
I know I've experienced it first hand. Whether it was in the Political Science, Environmental Science, English, Philosophy or even Math department...I experienced this passion and dedication inside and outside the classroom. I really hope you contact me so you can experience it for yourself!
Visit UST. Period.
Goodnight and goodluck from the Holiday Inn Express in San Antonio.
Your awesome and oh so rad admissions counselor,
-Chrissy
But WAIT! Even if you are not anywhere at all interested in music...read about this man. Why? He is an example of the kind of dedication and passion you will find here at UST when it comes to faculty (professors). Our faculty is awesome all the way across the board.
So let me introduce to you, the man of the hour.
The man: Dr. Brady Knapp
My personal opinion on him: He is the most AWESOME music professor/musician. He is dedicated to his students, truly wants you to succeed, and is one of the strongest vocal teachers I have ever encountered. This man is your musical advocate. Just read about him, and I guarantee you will want to meet him. I can further guarantee he wants to meet you!
The story: (also found at http://www.stthom.edu/Public/index.asp?page_ID=4420)
Opera Workshop in early October has electrified the air in the Department of Music, where students showed up in droves to get a part in the stellar, professional performance. Dr. Brady Knapp, assistant professor of music who revived the much-loved workshops last fall and spring, scrambles to find parts for every music student who shows up, as if he’s putting together a giant musical jigsaw puzzle.
And, judging from last year’s response, all four upcoming performances–Oct. 5, 6, 7 and 8–will be before a packed house, much as they were before the opera workshop was discontinued in the early 1980s. Everything is of professional quality: the stage set, the directing and performing. It’s not hard to close your eyes and swear you’re on Broadway rather than Cullen Hall on the UST campus.
It’s not just a labor of love–it’s a labor of passion. And it’s a beautiful outreach for UST to prospective music students that has greatly enhanced UST’s reputation as a music school nationwide, says Professor Tom Crow, chair of the Department of Music.
In fact, since Knapp, an accomplished musician, voice teacher and effervescent Renaissance man, began teaching at UST in 2005, enrollment in vocal and choral music has doubled or even tripled, Crow said. “The man can teach stones to sing,” he said laughingly.
Knapp exudes unflagging enthusiasm. “My students are smart, talented and sophisticated,” he said. “My job is a real joy.”
And his schedule is really packed. He teaches private, one-hour voice lessons to 21 students and directs UST’s two choirs, both of which have grown exponentially during his two-year watch. He created the choral workshop. When he took the job, he took on what two professors used to do. Oh, and one more tiny detail. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights–and most of Sunday–he serves as co-director of music at Palmer Episcopal Church with his wife Courtney, who is director.
In addition to teaching private voice for more than a decade before coming to UST, Knapp served on the faculties of Rice University, where he received a doctorate of musical arts in voice performance, and at Kenyon College in Gambler, Ohio, and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. He also served as the upper school choirmaster for the Columbus School of Girls in Columbus, Ohio.
Although he enjoyed all those jobs, none can compare with his work at UST. “I was built for this job. It’s the best job in the world.” And Knapp says, UST is the best place to be. “I believe in small, private, liberal arts education."
“The curriculum here is so attractive to me,” he said. “The professors are at the highest level of education, and they teach at the highest level of education. The cross-pollination of coursework means a music major or pre-med student is going to have had classes in art history and English. If you are a vocal major, you’re not going to be just a singer in this place.”
A big part of his job is networking. Locally, he judges high school music competitions, and nationally, he spreads the UST gospel.
“The Basilian tradition is a humble tradition,” Knapp said. “They’re not going to be tooting their horn. People around the country know more about St. Thomas than people in Houston. I consider getting the word out as part of my job.”
Knapp has talked almost non-stop for almost an hour about his love for his job, his family, UST in general, music and his life. But it abruptly comes to a close as the hour approaches for a voice lesson.
“Whoops, there’s my student and he looks ready to go,” he said. Pausing for a split-second, he adds one more thing. “People say, ‘How do you do it?’” I say, ‘How can I not do it?’”
....................
So tell me...don't you want to be taught by a professor who has this true kind of a passion for teaching? Not just teaching in general, but teaching YOU? This man is dedicated. Your classes of 4-6 students...taught by him. Your one-on-one voice lessons...taught by him.
And he is just one example of hundreds of professors here at UST who have this strong of a passion for teaching and helping their students succeed. Our professors believe in UST, it's mission, but most importantly, they believe in their students.
I know I've experienced it first hand. Whether it was in the Political Science, Environmental Science, English, Philosophy or even Math department...I experienced this passion and dedication inside and outside the classroom. I really hope you contact me so you can experience it for yourself!
Visit UST. Period.
Goodnight and goodluck from the Holiday Inn Express in San Antonio.
Your awesome and oh so rad admissions counselor,
-Chrissy
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