Student snapshot: Emily Dorr explores music education, French

Emily Dorr, a junior from the Twin Cities, first found Lawrence through the Minnesota Allstate Band Program, where she met Andrew Mast, the Conservatory's Kimberly-Clark Professor of Music and director of bands.

After speaking with him about the music degree programs at Lawrence, she decided it would be a perfect fit. Originally intending to study clarinet performance, Dorr found a love for teaching after taking the Intro to Music Education course, and eventually ended up switching her major to the music education track with a general music emphasis.

Outside of her time in class, she enjoys taking advantage of the many cafes near campus, as well as participating in several music ensembles.

Dorr said she enjoys serving as vice president of a local chapter of the National Association for Music Educators. She notes that NAfME comes up with biweekly meeting topics and invites guest speakers to work with students. She is also looking forward to studying abroad in France, hoping to combine her interest in the French language with her love for teaching.

In her time in the clarinet studio, Dorr has been able to grow as a musician and educator, as well as being able to find a family of sorts.

“We are very supportive of each other and we all really want to see each other succeed," she said. "It’s a very welcoming community.”

Following her time at Lawrence, Dorr plans to get her teaching license, hoping to one day be able to combine her interests in French and music education.