Dorian Park, '26 BMus

Dorian Park, Performance-Based Pedagogy

Dorian Park’s love of music, especially band, grew throughout junior and high school, and he knew he wanted to pursue those passions further upon entering university. As he was from Camrose, the bachelor of music in performance-based pedagogy at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus was a great fit! 

We caught up with Dorian as he graduates and looks forward to entering a two-year education after degree with the U of A’s Faculty of Education. 

Congratulations, Dorian!

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at Augustana?

I was one of the first five people in the room in my first university class. I realized that all the desks were folding half-tables attached to chairs, not actual desks like in high school. I went to grab a left-handed desk and move it a bit and somehow proceeded to knock over two or three more desks in the process. The professor looked up and said, “So you must be Dorian.”

Honourable mention: My graduating recital. Performing for so many of my friends, family, professors and former teachers was a super-fun moment, and I learned a lot.

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

Probably AUMUS 239: The Child Voice with Dr. Ardelle Ries. We got to see kids of different ages, play games with them, see how they reacted to different songs and activities, and learn how music affects their brain and how their voice develops. It was a very interactive class, which made it more enjoyable than a typical lecture. Any class with any of the music professors is usually a fun time!

Did you take on any leadership roles while you were a student, either on campus or in the Camrose community? 

In my first year at Augustana, a group of friends and I decided that we wanted to start a jazz ensemble. I helped run the group in Year 1, and we started to turn it into a club the next year. I was elected president in my second and fourth years. Jazz club was one of the top highlights of my time at Augustana. Knowing there was a time once a week when I could just go meet up with friends, play music and joke around really made everything a lot easier to handle. It was a really valuable experience, letting the execs and me work closer with the music faculty as well as other community organizations like The Bailey Theatre, where we performed our year-end concert in collaboration with École Camrose Composite High School this past April!

How did you get where you are today?

Staying focused, following my passions, not giving up and not being afraid (sometimes, at least) to go out of my comfort zone. Helping start the Augustana Jazz Club and eventually stepping into a leadership role was something relatively new to me, but it was a one-of-a-kind experience that taught me more about being a leader. It also taught me when to just be a member of the band. That and trying to build a reputation as someone who is reliable and dependable helped me get to where I am. 

What advice do you have for current and future students?

Make sure you're allocating time to what needs to be done. It can be pretty stressful realizing you have to write nearly 3,000 note names that are due the next morning for your first-year theory class. Don't spread yourself too thin, and take things one step at a time.

Four years seems a lot, but it flies by. Take opportunities to join a club, even if it’s just for a year, and get to know some people that are in your program or share interests with you.

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

Celebrating with family and friends!

What's next after graduation?

I’m going to do a two-year after degree in education, with a focus on wind band, at the U of A’s North Campus.