By David Gordon, Managing Editor
"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." It's no surprise that this quote from Victor Hugo can be found on senior Jared Berry's Facebook page.
Berry, who will be graduating this year with his Bachelors of Science in Music Education and attending graduate school for choral conducting in the fall, was initially on the fence about his major. "I was originally, while coming here, a business finance major. Then, I got to freshman orientation," Berry said. "I was on the line at that point between business and music education and was told that if I did music education, I had to do it from the get-go.
They said I would know right from the beginning if I wanted it or not, and before I knew it, first semester was over. I was loving it."
His work reflects his love. On campus, he has had leading roles in four productions with the Hofstra Opera Theater, "Le Nozze di Figaro," "Tartuffe," "L'incoronazione di Poppea," and this year's production of "Die Fledermaus." He also served as Chorus Master on ‘Poppea' as well as Assistant Conductor/Chorus Master on ‘Fledermaus.' This past fall, he was one of the co-conductors of the Hofstra Lab Choir. Berry is also a member of the Hofstra Chorale and Hofstra Chamber Singers.
Since the summer of 2007, he has served as the High School Choral Ensemble Manager at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan. He manages two high school choral ensemble groups, as well as the festival choir group. "I spend my summers there, which is an absolute joy, being fifteen minutes away from Lake Michigan."
Berry joined the Student Government Association his freshman year, and is currently one of organization's senior members. "My freshman year, I was the first in the class to get in, so I currently have seniority in SGA. Sophomore year, I was the Rules Chairman and then my junior year, I became Vice President." He is still on SGA, serving as a senior senator on the rules committee.
"It's been great to have both ups and downs and to learn from everything," Berry said of his time at the University. "Ups and downs in mistakes I've made and all the friendships I've made that will all carry through for the rest of my life."
Berry, in costume, mid-performance in “Die Fledermaus.” (Photo Courtesy Jared Berry)