Alumna in the spotlight

Hendrickson conducts across the world

Mia Gallagher Staff Writer

Very little in this world holds the same emotional, cross-cultural influence that music does. The melodies, harmonies, rhythms and inner complexities combine to create masterpieces that cross borders and boundaries, uniting humanity in truly remarkable ways.

Audiences hear it, performers play it and composers write it. Conductors, however, can experience all three. Alumna Karin Hendrickson ’99 does just that as an internationally acclaimed conductor.

Hendrickson began her musical journey at the age of three through piano performance. She fell in love with the musical arts, leading her to pursue majors in music and business while at the college with the hope of one day becoming a conductor. Following undergrad, Hendrickson would continue her education at George Mason University and the Peabody Conservatory.

Ever since, she has been traveling and working with musicians all over the world, conducting renowned orchestras and operas in the

United Kingdom, Germany, France and the United States.

“A conductor has a wide job responsibility. To the audience, it might seem like our primary job is to direct the orchestra with our physical gestures. But a lot of the work we do happens far before we stand on the podium.

I’m a catalyst for a lot of different elements musically and psychologically and in terms of leadership for the orchestra, the management and also the community, because when I step on the podium I represent the cultural presence of that orchestra in the home that is their concert hall,” Hendrickson said.

The full range of details Hendrickson manages truly brings music to life for both the musicians and the audience present. Not only must she intentionally study and understand the complexities of each piece she conducts, but she must also work with performers, artistic directors, crew members and management to prepare for performances. Throughout her journey, Hendrickson has faced many of the successes and setbacks associated with a career in the performing arts. Her time as a college marching

Conductor 9

I do or I don’t? Engagement timing concerns

Ring by spring is approaching, and I’m wrestling with timeline things with my girlfriend. The earliest we would get married is Fall 2024, and we’re both graduating. Is it worth it?

– Calculating Grover

Dear Calculating Grover, The question of engagement is always a difficult subject to consider. You both want to get married, but due to

Dr. Love

certain circumstances, you know marriage will have to wait a while. This leads to inevitable problems with planning your life around another person to whom you are not entirely connected yet. I’m not aware of the circumstances preventing you from getting married earlier, but if you both know about them, then I will assume they must remain.

DearOne possibility is to simply get engaged now. By committing to getting married, even if in the future, it makes more sense for you two to plan alongside each other, even if the end goal is a year and a half away. This is the quick answer that would give an easy solution, but I don’t think it is the best answer.

I am inclined to say that waiting to get engaged is the better option. Engagement is a relationship phase of its own, and I think you would do well to keep that boundary. In engagement, you are committing to marrying each other, and so this phase is about making all the final preparations necessary before you actually become one flesh. If you let this go on too long, even at distance, it could easily just feel like Dating 2.0, and you lose the joy or seriousness of looking at marriage. On the other hand, as you both look towards marriage, you might be tempted to move beyond the boundaries that exist between a brother and sister in Christ who are not yet husband and wife. Both of these extremes show the dangers of what is likely to happen with a prolonged engagement.

So, as much as social pressure might tell you otherwise, it is still wise, in my opinion, to wait on engagement. There are probably legitimate reasons that your wedding is so far in the future, and so you should respect those reasons and keep the engagement for the future.

If you have a follow-up question about how long you should be engaged, I can’t give a definitive answer. I know people who have had engagements less than four months all the way to two years. These marriages are all going fine. I am inclined to fall on the shorter end of the spectrum. Be engaged for enough time to plan the wedding and to have some breathing room, and no more. I think that is a wise course.

One final note: Communicate with your girlfriend. Keep her in the loop with your thoughts and make sure you know what she is thinking, too. Hope this helps you as you navigate this changing stage of life!