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MHC Choral Director Featured in Hampshire Life (Originally published in Hampshire Life, part of the Daily Hampshire Gazette on Friday, September 14, 2007). Kim Dunn says she used to be a dance and musical theater "junkie," someone her high school classmates viewed as the "strange girl" who would practice singing in school bathrooms. But that obsession must have paid off, because these days Dunn, at just 26, has compiled an impressive musical resume that now includes teaching conducting and directing all choral programs at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley. Dunn, a Pennsylvania native, has played violin, cello, piano, and other instruments but now focuses on voice and conducting. She began conducting, in fact, in high school, and recalls it as a magical moment: "Words don't describe how thrilling conducting was--and still is--to me. Music has the ability to evoke, clarify and transcend so much, and the opportunity to elicit a musical/emotional response from a choir or audience is a blessing." Dunn has led choirs and singing groups at Oberlin College, Yale University, and the University of Wisconsin. She's also used her bachelor's degree--in religion--to good effect, directing and performing music in churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Connecticut. Full name: Kimberly Ingrid Dunn People know you as: My family still calls me Kimmie, but mostly I go by Kim. There was a brief period where my students called me Kiggedy Kim. Date and place of birth: April 9, 1981, outside Philadelphia, Pa. Address: Holyoke Job: Choral director and visiting lecturer in music, Mount Holyoke College Children: No children, but I have six plants I love dearly. Education: North Penn High School, Lansdale, Pa., 1999; Oberlin College, B.A. in religion, 2003; Oberlin Conservatory, B.M. in vocal performance, 2003; Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music, M.M. in choral conducting, 2005; University of Wisconsin-Madison, D.M.A. (in progress/on hold) Books you'd recommend to a friend: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," by Mark Haddon; "Pure Drivel," by Steve Martin; "Einstein's Dreams," by Alan Lightman Favorite movies: Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" is beautifully done, and "This Is Spinal Tap" is a hilarious parody. "A Muppet Family Christmas" is incredible--all of the Muppets, the entire Sesame Street gang AND the Fraggles? Brilliant! Favorite television shows: "Star Trek," "Deep Space 9" Favorite singer or group: There are too many performers and composers I admire to only pick one. My favorites include Sylvia McNair (solo singer); The Swedish Radio Choir (choir); the Beatles and Radiohead (bands); Purcell, Mahler, Monteverdi and my latest obsession, Knut Nystedt (composers) What do you waste your money on? Cooking/foodie magazines, chocolate and coffee Guilty pleasure: Corny television shows--such as "The A-Team" or "Golden Girls" Life-changing experience: The first time I conducted a choir. From the moment I lifted my hands in song, I knew that it would become my lifelong vocation Funniest memory: I had just spent two grueling weeks at a conducting seminar at Westminster Choir College. After our final session, the class sat down to recap the experience. Then the teacher handed each of us a fortune cookie with the promise that the fortune would reflect something we had just learned. Strangely enough, as each person read aloud, their fortunes reflected what they'd struggled with. However, mine read "You would make a good lawyer" Dumbest thing you ever did: Plenty I'd rather not remember. One classic: tripping and falling flat on my face when performing with a choir at Carnegie Hall, in front of a sold-out audience One product, trend or fashion you'd like to see return: Tie-dyed anything What really sets you off? When people don't listen to each other or themselves Celebrity encounters? None (sigh) One thing you would change about yourself: I can't say no. I'm always involved in three projects too many because I love what I do Whom do you most admire? My childhood piano teacher and choir director, Kirsten Olson. She taught us music was a gift that was meant to be shared Parting shot: "You must be the change you want to see in the world"--Gandhi --Compiled by Steve Pfarrer Related Link: Kimberly Dunn Music Department Profile Copyright GazetteNET.com
Permanent link to this story: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/story/5458875
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