Danae Palmer

“I chose Carthage because of the small educational environment. I come from a small town, and I value small class sizes and connecting with most of my class and professors. I knew I would thrive in the educational environment that Carthage provides. I also enjoyed the Music Department. I met a few of the professors in the department before committing, and they excited me about my future in music. The professors are here to connect with all of their students and help them build their love for learning. My grandparents attended Carthage when the campus was in Illinois. I felt attached to this campus and the music program because of my grandma’s love for music. Everything felt right.”

“The faculty here at Carthage has only made me love my education more and more. These professors are here to connect with you and widen your experiences within your passions. They have made an impact in that they have given me the strength and power to continue what I love through all my doubts. Peter Dennee, Matthew Hougland, and Dimitri Shapovolav guided me through these doubts. They have helped me not be afraid to do what I love and what I am meant to do. Their passion for music is contagious, and they have proven the power of music to each student they have come across.”

“I love Music Theatre Techniques with Professor Matthew Hougland. I am always excited to walk into this class and experience my love for music. We prepare songs and perform them in front of our peers. We then receive coaching based on our performance and discuss how we feel about our performance. After the coaching, our peers give us commentary. Each class is different, and that’s what makes me so excited to go to this class. You learn to love yourself as a performer each day.”

“Aural Skills has been the toughest class for me by far. I had little experience with aural skills before coming to Carthage, so it took me a while to feel confident in this course. You have to trust your ear and not doubt yourself. It is hard to trust your ear and comprehend it on manuscript paper. As hard as it was, it has improved my singing abilities.”

“I have recently become a member of Lambda Kappa, a music fraternity, here at Carthage. I have loved becoming more involved in the Music Department at Carthage and am even more excited to see the opportunities Lambda Kappa will bring in the future. I am also a member of the Carthage Treble Choir. I hope to join a sorority this spring and become a resident assistant for my junior year.”

“This January, I will travel with the Carthage Treble Choir to tour various European countries. These countries include Germany, Prague, the Czech Republic, and many more. I am very excited to experience new culture and music in a country I have never visited before. Music brings people together, and creating music with members of choirs in Europe is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will forever cherish.

“I have been working for the Office of Residential Life at Carthage for about nine months. This gives me experience in working with customers and communicating over various topics. It also allows me to gain experience in working with computers and organizing paperwork.”

“I currently work for the Fine Arts Box Office. I gain experience working with audience members and behind the scenes of performing. I also get to sit in on many music events here at Carthage, giving me more experience in learning more about music and performing.”

“I am hoping to combine my love for performing and communicating. In the future, I hope to have a management job within the public relations department of a theatre. I will most likely have two jobs at once: one performing in musicals and one dealing with public relations for a theatre.”

“My favorite spot on campus is the Recital Hall. It is a place where some of my best work as a performer has happened, whether it be for a class or when in the choir. I am always happiest when I am in Recital Hall. All my outside worries disappear, and I can enjoy the music created there.”

“My favorite Carthage moments and memories are singing the national anthem at the Men’s Volleyball Division III Championship and then watching them win. Dancing with the dance team at football and basketball games during my freshman year. I can’t forget about bingo. Bingo will always be a favorite of mine. I always make the best memories at bingo. I have also enjoyed the activities provided during the first week of classes. They make a great start to the new school year.”

“I was very cautious of musical theatre because of how much involvement it requires, but I have been proven wrong. I initially started the year as a musical theatre minor and quickly changed to a major after I began taking classes. The support in the department is amazing, and it only lifts you. The amount of improvement you make as a performer is extraordinary. You receive the best treatment from every student and staff member in the department. My advice for you is to do what you love. There is always something out there in the real world after college that you can use your degree for. Don’t let caution or fear of the future stop you from doing what you love.”

“I saw myself playing softball and becoming an educator. Most of my family are educators, which is all I saw myself doing when I grew up. There are times now when I think that I could still do education, but I have never hung on to that idea for longer than a day. I hadn’t found out that music was something I wanted to do my entire life, but a lot of the activities I did for fun were music. I would sing and dance to music from my iPod nano and sing along with karaoke videos on YouTube. I would even ‘write’ songs.”

“I have received the Harshman Scholarship, Highest Honors Scholarship, and Music Scholarship. Receiving these scholarships has made me feel proud to be a student at Carthage. I feel proud of the work I have done to receive these scholarships that symbolize who I am as a student and person. These scholarships motivate me to continue performing my best as a student.”