'Music is Light': Celebrating 150 years of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music

This story first appeared in the Fall/Winter 2024 edition of Lawrence magazine.

Picture this: a saxophonist stepping onto the campus of Lawrence University, wide-eyed and bursting with dreams. That was Javier Arau ’98 back in 1993, and his excitement was just the beginning.

“I was ready for anything,” he recalls, remembering the dedicated professors who welcomed him like family. “I never took this for granted, but I also didn’t really have an idea just how special this was until much later in my life.”

Fast forward, and Arau is now the mastermind behind the New York Jazz Academy, traveling the globe and sharing his love for music. His story is one of many that define the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music’s 150-year legacy.

A momentous celebration

As the Lawrence Conservatory of Music hits its 150th year, there’s a palpable buzz in the air. This isn’t just a celebration of the past; it’s a launchpad into the future. With more than 25 areas of study and 360 students ready to make waves, the Conservatory is a vibrant hub of creativity and talent.

“This is a momentous event,” said Conservatory Dean Brian Pertl ’86. “Throughout our 150 years, the Lawrence Conservatory has produced exceptional musicians, scholars, and educators whose influence has extended across the nation and across the globe.”

Celebrating 150 years: Conservatory of Music and LCMS

Throughout the 2024-25 academic year, performances are showcasing both current students and proud alumni who’ve carried the Conservatory’s spirit into the world. This includes Nicolas Bizub ’16, who contributed new compositions, including Musica est lux (“Music is Light”), to celebrate the spirit of the Conservatory.

“I think you start to really uncover at Lawrence this full picture of the musical field, and I find that extremely important in everything that I do,” Bizub said. “I work in marketing for the New York Philharmonic; I wouldn't be able to do that job without having gone through all of the musical training that I did because I think, fundamentally, Lawrence really teaches you how to think for yourself and develop your own voice.”

A tapestry of talent rooted in the liberal arts

Since its founding in 1874, the Conservatory has blended music into Lawrence’s liberal arts mission. Provost Peter Blitstein: “We are committed to developing the habits of mind and skills that prepare you for life after you leave here—for lives of accomplishment and personal fulfillment; for engagement with the world; for lifelong learning necessary in a world of constant change and uncertainty.”

Today’s Conservatory weaves together music performance, education, composition, dance, technology, and arts leadership. Students can explore modern recording, engineering, and production techniques and participate in ensembles that span classical, jazz, and world music. Internships at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall and the Lyric Opera of Chicago offer real-world experience, all within the supportive embrace of a liberal arts education.

Alexander York ’14, who now shines as Papageno in The Magic Flute in Austria, speaks to the transformative power of his experience.

“In addition to the world-class training in the techniques and theories of music, I benefited from a group of professors who really lifted me up and gave me the tools that I personally needed to move forward in my career,” he said.

Kirsten Lies-Warfield ’94, a retired trombonist from the U.S. Army Band, fondly remembers the supportive culture of the Conservatory. After graduating from Lawrence, she earned a master’s degree at Indiana University, then became the first female trombonist hired by the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.”

“The faculty and my peers gave me room to find my way and inspiration as to what was possible,” she said.

A legacy of excellence and innovation

As the Conservatory expanded from its early days, it became a vital part of both Lawrence and the surrounding Fox Cities community. Performances by Lawrence faculty and students, as well as visiting artists such as Marian Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Bell, and Marilyn Horne, have long been open to the public.

The past 50 years have seen significant evolution. The jazz program, launched in the ’70s, has gained national acclaim. The opera program, bolstered by generous support from a family foundation, allowed for the Conservatory’s first director of opera studies and has produced award-winning alumni who are gracing stages worldwide. Recent innovations like the Bachelor of Musical Arts degree, added in 2019, allow students to audition with non-classical repertoire and focus on jazz and contemporary improvisation.

The Conservatory’s Presto! tours have taken students to Chicago, the Twin Cities, and Houston for a blend of music-making and community outreach. Kaleidoscope concerts are held at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center to showcase the breadth of music within the Conservatory—the eighth edition was held in October as part of the 150th celebration. Dance instruction has been introduced, arts entrepreneurship has been embedded into courses, and world music instruction has expanded.

In addition, numerous community partnerships—most notably with the Mile of Music festival, the Music for All program, the Appleton Area School District, and two newly launched summer music programs—have added layers to the Conservatory’s relationship with Appleton and the wider Fox Cities.

Alumni voices

Conservatory alumni often praise how their experiences shaped their musical journeys. James Gandre ’81, president of the Manhattan School of Music and an accomplished tenor, highlights three key aspects of his time at the Conservatory: detailed faculty instruction, a broad exposure to music, and a culture of support.

“We all wanted everyone to succeed and flourish,” he said.

Alumni speak of their inspired journeys

Evan Williams ’10, a rising composer teaching at Berklee College of Music, wrote a commissioned piece for the Conservatory’s 150th celebration, reflecting his respect for Lawrence.

“I love the emphasis they’re putting on contemporary music and research and writing and entrepreneurship,” Williams said. “They’re learning how to be working, thriving musicians in the world today.”

Praise for the faculty is a common theme among alumni, whether they graduated 40 years ago or just a year ago. Schuyler Thornton ’14, a flutist with the Les Misérables North American Broadway Tour and a lecturer at Muhlenberg College, still feels the Conservatory’s supportive culture.

“It is rare to find the sense of identity and community that exists at Lawrence, especially in the Conservatory,” she said. “Many musicians have conservatory experiences that are cutthroat and competitive—Lawrence provided a nurturing environment that still pushed me to be my best.”

The Conservatory faculty also lead by example, performing nationally and internationally. Voice professor Estelí Gomez won her second Grammy Award in 2024 with the ensemble Roomful of Teeth, which returns to Lawrence for a performance on April 4 as part of the 2024-25 Performing Arts Series. Pianist Michael Mizrahi released his third solo album, Dreamspace, in 2024. Trombone professor Tim Albright is featured on acclaimed albums by Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, and The National. Catherine Kautsky regularly performs in major venues such as Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Recital Hall. Violinist Wen-Lei Gu balances teaching with a vibrant performance career, including appearances at Carnegie Hall’s Bach Festival and the Kennedy Center. The list goes on.

Student inspiration

Faculty achievements, like that of Gomez, inspire students like senior Damian Islas, who sees them as reminders of the dedication needed to push artistic boundaries.

“Aside from her nurturing persona, she has put in so much hard work into mastering the art of singing and knowing her voice and body inside and out,” Islas said. “With one beautiful soprano note, Prof Gomez shows us all that she has cracked the code.”

This spirit of inspiration and dedication also lives in students who are weaving together diverse passions. Annika Schmidt, a dual-degree student in cello performance and linguistics, embodies the Conservatory's commitment to fostering creativity and cross-disciplinary thinking.

“I found that analyzing language changes the way I think about music,” Schmidt said. “Thinking about music as speech ... analyzing how the phrase is put together or thinking about it in terms of words in a sentence.”

As we celebrate 150 years of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, it is clear that the heart of its legacy lies in the students—who, through their dedication and creativity, continue to shape the future of the Conservatory. With each new generation, the story of innovation, excellence, and limitless potential carries on.

That has been a familiar tune in the Conservatory for 150 years and counting.

Alex Alden ’25 contributed to this report.