After years of discussion about holding a faculty music recital to raise money for the college’s first ever official music scholarly, Mercer’s Music Department was able to put the plan into action.
On Friday night, April 12, the faculty in different musical disciplines, from percussion to violin, presented a range of performances in varying musical styles. The majority of the department’s faculty, staff, and adjunct professors teamed up to perform multiple pieces as the Music Club members sold baked goods outside the door.
“It’s been literally over two years of talking and then finally just going ‘hey wait, we need to stop talking and do it,’” says Professor Scott Hornick, Music Club advisor and Head of the Music Department.
In order to create a more student involved community fundraiser, the music department had the Music Club host the event along with the help of the Student Government Association (SGA).
The scholarship itself is being offered to all MCCC Music majors and requires an essay to be written about individual need for the scholarship, their contributions to the department itself, their academics and community services, as well as their vision for their future career plans.
Professor Hornick says, “[SGA] created the parameters for the application…The executive board of the Music Club is collecting all of the essays. We’re removing names from them and numbering them to make them anonymous [so they are judged on the merits].”
Initially, the department set modest hopes of raising anywhere between $500-$600 from the event.
“My goal was there was no way we weren’t going to hit $500 if I had to cover it all myself…” said Professor Hornick. He continued, “but…we had some very generous people and we hit $1,400 dollars.”
Before the event Music Club president Matthew Gargullio, said, “The music department, especially in this school, is usually a small branch and its always overshadowed by STEM.”
However, after the successful fundraiser, Gargullio’s perspective had changed. He said, “I think this is a milestone into us being a real voice in the college.”
Gargullio added, “Now, it feels like we’re growing up. It feels like we’re going somewhere, finally.”
