Faculty Highlight •
EVOLVING AS A
MUSICIAN, TEACHER,
AND HUMAN BEING
Christine Guter
CURRENT POSITION:
Director of Vocal Jazz
“Christine is her student's biggest fan. We are forever
grateful for the wisdom she has shared with us, and
pass it along to our students.” -Honey Whiskey Trio
In addition to being an accomplished musician, you are a
lecturer, adjudicator, clinician, private teacher. Where do
you get your passion for teaching? I’m cultivating artists, I don’t want them to go out in the
world and have anger and intimidation in their music . . .
that they’re pouring out in the world.
I think it’s a combination of my passion for music and for
helping people. I mean, art was created to uplift and inspire
humanity. In teaching young people to do that . . . [in] forming
ensembles and doing performances, we’re giving something
back to the world. What are some of your proudest moments as an educator?
I feel like the perfect people came into my life at the perfect
times . . . and I feel so blessed and honored and don’t take
the responsibility lightly that now I get to be that for other
people. It’s such a privilege and an honor to be able to walk
part of the life journey with these amazing students. Some of my proudest moments are when I see a student
break their own barrier. That’s one of the most beautiful
things to see. They’re evolving, not just as musicians, but as
human beings.
Pacific Standard Time is your incredibly successful jazz
ensemble. What is the competition like to get into the
group? I’m picturing intense practice sessions, like Whiplash.
It’s not like that at all [laughs]. I feel like I teach with
enthusiasm and positivity, but I’m always honest. And so if
it’s not good I’ll say, “that wasn’t good, let’s do it again.”
But there’s always a smile on my face.
I really don’t like competition in music, but the proudest
moments are in performance. When I see students achieving
such a high level of mastery and musicianship and honesty
and vulnerability on stage.
What would you hope that your legacy would be?
That the students will pass this on. Pass it on. I know this
sounds really hippie and kumbaya, but it’s really true.
Remembering the motivation behind why we’re doing this.
We forget that. In academia, we forget that. It’s remembering
why we do this in the first place: because it brings us joy
and other people joy. That’s why art exists.
Come see Pacific Standard Time on April 28, 2018 at the
Daniel Recital Hall!
SPRING / SUMMER 2018
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