Reprinted from the Rutgers Music Education Newsletter, Fall 1998 issue
Inspiring Thoughts from David Holsinger
by
William Berz
As most of you are aware, David Holsinger appeared at our NJMEA conference last February [1997], and I was fortunate to be able to spend some time with him during his visit. I also attended his clinic with the fine J.P. Stevens High School Band, and watched him rehearse and conduct the Rutgers Wind Ensemble. I again reflected on this experience having had occasion to read two articles in the April, 1998 edition of The Instrumentalist.
Both at his clinic at the convention and in rehearsal at Rutgers, he conveyed a story about his playing in college as an undergraduate under Vaclav Nehylbel; this is re-told in The Instrumentalist interview conducted by Heather Pettit (pages 30-31,100). In the interview he describes his experience after the final performance under Nehylbel's baton, "at the end of the three days, I sat in the back of the stage in Kansas City, Missouri after the audience and the band had left and cried for a half-hour because I realized suddenly all I had been missing: the passion of making music--not just playing music but making music." It was this powerful experience that led him to his career as a composer.
After conveying this story at the NJMEA/J. P. Stevens clinic, he gave a rather impassioned speech about the value of music education in bringing special experiences to one's life: while trophies might be tangible signs of success, it is the musical and social experiences that remain memorable once the dust has begun to settle on all of the metal in the trophy case. Music teachers can bring a special excitement to our students' lives.
Rarely have I seen anyone so committed to the cause of music and music education as is David--his enthusiasm is truly inspiring. Amid the distractions of the chaos of the school day, it is easy to forget the joy of music. I would encourage all to read the April The Instrumentalist. Even if you do not like his music, I think that you will find his commitment to music and his enthusiasm for life in general to be inspirational.