By: Marsia Johnson
From Choral Director to Music Dean, Dr. Brian Galante has become an even more prominent figure in the music department at PLU.
Music students have continuously praised Galante for the improvements he’s made in the department, also sharing that he demonstrates true artistry and passion in his work.
Galante said that he knows what structures have worked in the past and he is working on making things more efficient in the department.
He has conducted University Singers, Men’s Chorus, Chorale and taught many courses in the Choral Music Education sequence.
He says one class he misses teaching the most is Vocal Pedagogy, a subject he is passionate about.
Dr. Galante and Dr. Richard Nance, Director of the Choir of the West, are moving past the planning stage and are in full preparation for the Christmas concert season.
Dr. Galante and Dr. Nance have been rehearsing with the choirs since the end of October, and are working with the orchestra beginning this week. After Thanksgiving, it’s crunch time as they will be in the final stages of production.
One of the highlights of the holiday calendar this year is “Winter Rose, A PLU Christmas.” One of the performances will occur at Benaroya Concert Hall in Seattle, one of the most prestigious venues in the city.
“Right now it’s the crazy time, but it’s music that students enjoy,” Galante says. “I think everybody gets excited about the opportunity to perform onstage at Benaroya,[and] how quickly the concerts sell out for our home performances. Even though we are looking ahead to a very busy part of the semester, I think because of the spirit of the season, it really invigorates everybody.”
Galante has described “Winter Rose” as having many parallels to the spirit of Christmas and the events we have experienced in the world today.
“The winter rose is a rose that is able to survive in the coldest of winters at high altitudes. All of the light out of darkness, hope in times of despair, it just seems relevant to what we are experience globally, and much less nationally as well,” Galante said.
The Chorale is singing two movements from the piece that Dr. Galante himself wrote. The
first movement is called “It Was the Winter Wild” and the second “A Child, My Choice.”
The piece is about a journey alluding to the advent of Christmas and an individual, spiritual journey. Chorale members are excited to sing the piece that he wrote.
“He’s incredible. The spirit of music lives inside of him and he is such a giving mentor,”
says Chorale member Caroline Goodwin.
“He has so much to give and will only respond [to] what each student seeks, thereby inspiring them to grow and dive deeper into their own practice as a musician.”
