The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/277771
28 Spring 2014 PI is known for taking on the "Grand Challenges," pitting students against complex, real-world problems from day one. Last fall, after a reporter came to campus to watch the WPI Plan in action, the Boston Globe's Sunday Arts section devoted a full page to a different kind of challenge: an orchestral performance of Karlheinz Stock- hausen's 20th century masterpiece Gruppen. The complexity of Gruppen—which is scored for three orchestras, each with its own conductor, playing at independent tempos—is staggering. Noting that the piece had only been performed twice before in Massachusetts (by the New England Conservatory, and at Tanglewood), Globe correspondent Matthew Guerrieri wrote, "WPI might seem an unexpected member of that club—the school doesn't even offer a music major—but, then again, what better place for such a challenge than at an engineering school?" WPI does offer a music minor, and as students and alumni know, music at WPI is anything but minor. Under the WPI Plan, music is not an extracurricular activity—it's part of the academic cur- riculum, and the caliber of the department's course work and per- forming ensembles, in addition to the project opportunities, can be the deal-maker for applicants with a musical bent. An engineering diploma is not the usual ticket to musical star- dom. But WPI has made its mark—from the Paris Opera to Nash- ville, and in conservatories, jazz clubs, and community orches- tras, (see sidebar). There are even Grammy Award winners to be proud of. Although faculty are quick to name names of musically accomplished alumni, there's more at play here than just "WPI's Got Talent." Coordinator of music and associate head of Humanities and Arts Douglas Weeks says WPI students bring a high sense of purpose to everything they do. "They're smart, they're focused, they're com- mitted. They like to be challenged, and they are not intimidated." He sees his players working on laptops until the moment before the curtain goes up, and studying during breaks when students from other schools are socializing. Weeks notes one other WPI difference. "Even my lesser players can count. Gruppen has many diffcult time signature changes, but they few through it with more ease than most music majors. I don't have to explain 5/4, 7/4, 3/16—they already understand the concept." Professor Douglas Weeks collaborates with Samantha "Sam" McGill '09, assistant director of WPI's Concert Band. WPI_spring14_features1.indd 28 3/9/14 12:12 PM