President’s Column for Traill County Tribune
October 15, 2016
Faculty Spotlight – Dr. Cody Hunter
We at Mayville State University are blessed with many great colleagues. These faculty and staff members are making an impact at the university, as well as in the community and beyond. From time to time, I feature someone from the faculty or staff so that you can learn a bit more about them. This week I have chosen to feature Dr. Cody Hunter, who joined the Mayville State family as a member of the faculty this fall semester.
We were very fortunate to have Dr. Cody Hunter join the faculty at Mayville State in August, as Assistant Professor of Music. In his position, he directs the university’s flagship music ensembles of concert band and concert choir. He’s also instructing other music courses in theory and appreciation.
Dr. Hunter’s background has been centered in both music education and orchestral performance, and he has been quite fortunate to have professional experience with both. He has taught sixth- through twelfth-grade music programs in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and West Virginia. He has also taught theory at the University of Memphis and applied bassoon at Harding University. As a bassoonist, he has played with various professional ensembles and regional orchestras.
In his new position at Mayville State, Dr. Hunter’s primary goal is to continue to put the Mayville State University music department on the map of where great things happen. He says, “Though our department is small, it provides musical outlets and opportunities for all students who are interested. I would like to see our music minor program grow and reach the level of returning a music major program to Mayville State once again. There is a great amount of musical talent in our area, and Mayville State could provide just the right atmosphere for students wanting to begin their careers in music.
In his short time at Mayville State, Hunter has learned that Mayville State is clearly a college that cares for its students and their success. He says, “The attention that students receive from the faculty and staff is unparalleled when compared to larger institutions with much larger student bodies.”
Dr. Hunter feels that the opportunity to work with the talented students he has in his Mayville State’s ensembles has been a tremendous honor. He says that collaborating with Mayville State’s other music faculty member, Greta Paschke, has been a fantastic experience.
According to Hunter, “Music at Mayville State has been, and will continue to be, a strong and respectable program. Through continued community support and collaboration with our Music Makers booster club, the sky is the limit for what our music program can achieve. Best of all, it will put our students right in the spotlight of all its success.”
We enjoyed wonderful performances by the concert choir, concert band, and a jazz ensemble at the music department’s traditional homecoming concert last weekend. Dr. Hunter, together with accompanist Greta Paschke, directed a delightful program for all to enjoy. We hope you will mark your calendars and plan to partake in the music department’s remaining 2016-2017 concerts, coming up on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, March 5, 2017, and May 7, 2017.
As part of his duties, Dr. Hunter is also heading up the MSU and Community Fine Arts Series. This year’s concert series features extraordinary performers who have earned accolades both at home and abroad. We are pleased that we can continue our tradition of bringing high-quality concerts to the stage of MSU’s Classroom Building Auditorium. From the first performance in October through the final concert in the spring, audiences will hear some of the finest performers on the musical scene today.
The concert line-up for this year is as follows: Oct. 24, 2016 - Chiara String Quartet; Jan. 23, 2017 - Luminus Piano Trio; Feb. 6, 2017 - Gilles Vonsattel, piano; Feb. 27, 2017 - Pius Cheung, marimba; April 3, 2017 - Amit Peled, cello.
All concerts are held in the Mayville State Classroom Building Auditorium. The auditorium is handicapped accessible. Front-row seats are available for the visually and/or hearing impaired. For more information, call 701-788-4742 or email cody.hunter@mayvillestate.edu.
At “The School of Personal Service,” our people are our greatest asset. We are happy that Cody Hunter has joined us in our endeavor to provide the best possible educational experience for our students. We know that he has a wealth of knowledge to share not only with his students, but with the people of our community. Please join me in welcoming him to Mayville State University.