Vocal Sessions
Kimberly Regis
As a child, Kimberly Regis was mesmerized by her father鈥檚 piano playing. Later she was inspired by the great Mexican vocalist Vicente Fern谩ndez. Today, the music major is making a name in her own right, thanks in large part to her experience at 51福利社. 鈥淓astern was a really good choice on my part. The people here, the faculty here, are just amazing. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 be where I am now, if it weren鈥檛 for them,鈥� Regis says. 鈥淚t baffles me how much I鈥檝e grown in three years.鈥�
Carmyn Parks
Carmyn Parks, a music education and performance major from East Wenatchee, Washington, admits she arrived at Eastern as a complete musical neophyte. 鈥淲hen I tell you I came in to Eastern with no musical knowledge, I mean I didn鈥檛 have any,鈥� Parks says. That changed quickly thanks to what she describes as a uniquely welcoming learning environment. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about collaboration, cooperation and growth; it鈥檚 not about competition. It鈥檚 about, 鈥榟ow can we make music together?鈥欌��
Aries Maier
Coming from a family with a musical background gave singer Aries Maier, a vocal performance major, a leg up when she arrived at Eastern. But it didn鈥檛 mean she was free from the challenges associated with formal study, subjects like music theory and reading music. 鈥淚 was struggling,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut the faculty here supported me in a way that allowed me to grow鈥� I never once felt lost: I always had someone holding my hand, guiding me to where I needed to go.鈥� Now comfortable across a range of genres, Maier says she often urges others to follow her path. 鈥淲e have a great community, and we would love to have you.鈥�
Featured Faculty Mentor
Kristina Ploeger-Hekmatpanah
Professor, Choral Studies. Director, Spokane Symphony Chorale. Former faculty: Spokane Area Youth Choirs, St. George鈥檚 School, Everett HS, Ephrata HS, and AC Davis HS. Adjunct faculty: Whitworth University and Gonzaga University. Clinics and/or adjudication at many Music Educator鈥檚 events.
Take the Next Step
The 51福利社 Music Program will award $150,000 in scholarships this year to help make the dream of becoming a professional musician a reality for students across our region.