KEITH STONUM, TENOR
Senior Student

There are two main reasons why I chose to study at the Shepherd School of Music. The first reason (and one common among the students that end up coming here) is my primary instructor, Stephen King. He is a great resource and a wonderful vocal mentor. He is very patient and understands that young students must be allowed time to discover their own voice. Aside from benefitting from his incredible talent for teaching young singers, I have also benefitted from the environment in which I learn. The educational philosophy of this school is my second reason why I chose to study here. Shepherd provides students with some of the best music professors in the nation in an intimate and intense setting. It has been advantageous for me to be able to contact Arthur Gottschalk, my theory professor, for help with a problematic counterpoint exercise, or to discuss how better to narrow my topic for a paper on early 20th century opera with Walter Bailey, my Modern history teacher - all without feeling rushed, or thinking that I was consuming too much of their time. While the professors at Shepherd are all very different in their approaches to teaching music, they all agree that their students benefit most from the large amount of one-on-one time that is available to every student in their class.

Of course having a small student-teacher ratio also means that it is relatively easy for professors to keep track of students' progress, both academically and musically. The professors here have very high expectations for their students, and hold us accountable for our work and attendance. Since most have worked in professional musical environments that have been many times more unforgiving than Shepherd, they are a great resource to the young musician who is curious about what life is like as a musician in the "real world." The Opera Studies program, headed by Richard Bado, is exceptional in preparing young singers. Through masterclasses, live performances, voice seminars and the challenging Opera Workshop class, we are being equipped with the tools to have a successful career in music. The program is carefully crafted so that we are exposed to a wide repertoire while the main focus remains that we sing well.

Rice University is located in the heart and artistic center of Houston, Texas, the fourth largest city in the nation. This is perhaps what I like best about my choice. I am able to study and work inside Rice's hedges, always with the option of venturing out to discover the many surprises this warm-hearted city has to offer. Rice is adjacent to and works closely with many of the art and science museums that make up the nearby Museum District. Also located across the street is the Texas Medical Center, one of the largest and most prominent in the world. It makes for a nice break to take a stroll in the scenic Hermann Park, also across the street, or to shop in the Rice Village, located just west of the school. A few minutes' ride north on the Metro Rail takes me into the heart of downtown, filled with eateries, coffee shops, theaters, and not to mention the venues for the world renowned Houston Grand Opera and Houston Symphony, both of which have very close ties with the Shepherd School. The city of Houston has become an important part of both my undergraduate experience. Being able to step away from the practice room and experience what is literally in Rice's backyard has been extremely fulfilling. Art thrives in this city, like its mosquitos in mid-August. I have lived here my entire life, and am surprised when I think back on my senior year in high school and remember that I actually considered leaving. I stayed, however, and I am glad I did.