In 2010, 莎拉·拉哈斯基,15岁 attended the Bass Coalition Summer Workshop at Shenandoah. 工作坊期间, she had the opportunity to meet the bass studio as well as work with Instrumental Division Professor 多诺万斯托克斯 and former professor Inez Wyrick.
“When I was on campus for that program, everything felt like home,拉哈斯基说. This is why she chose to continue her education at Shenandoah. “I visited several other larger universities, but I didn’t have the same feeling of belonging that I did at Shenandoah,拉哈斯基说.
Lahasky’s fondest memories of her time at Shenandoah are serving as a student mentor for Associate Professor Religion and Philosophy 梅瑞迪斯部长的 一年级研修班, playing in the bass ensemble and chamber music performances and taking group trips to New York City with President Tracy Fitzsimmons, ph.D. She also enjoyed her weekly bass lessons with Instrumental Division Professor 多诺万斯托克斯, who helped her not only become a better musician, 而是一个更好的人.
Lahasky is an assistant professor of music in ethnomusicology at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. 彼得,明尼苏达州. 在这个位置, she teaches western music history, ethnomusicology and general education courses (ex. 第一届任期内的研讨会). Prior to this, Lahasky was a visiting assistant professor of music at 卡尔顿大学 在明尼苏达州的诺斯菲尔德. 在这个位置 she taught various courses in ethnomusicology studying the music of the African Diaspora, Latin America and Minnesota. With these courses, she has been able to bring an international perspective to her classroom. Lahasky had an ethnomusicologist in South Africa present to her class via Zoom along with several artists working in the South African hip hop industry. Moments like these are very rewarding experiences for her.
Outside of the classroom, she currently performs with the Charles Gorczynski Tango Quartet. Lahasky has also performed on double bass with the Twin Cities Tango Collective 在明尼阿波利斯. Lahasky even brought her students to one of the collective’s milonga events so they could hear live tango music.
“I have really enjoyed returning to a smaller, liberal arts setting and being able to get to know students on an individual level, similar to my own experiences as a student at Shenandoah,拉哈斯基说.
Shenandoah prepared Lahasky for her career because it made her see the world through a more global perspective. She went attended the university’s 全球公民计划 到特立尼达和多巴哥 Global Experiential 学习 trip to Rosario, Argentina, studied abroad and toured Spain with the 谢南多厄音乐学院 Symphony Orchestra. “These travel experiences (and those after graduating from Shenandoah) have informed my teaching in the classroom; My primary course objectives center around helping students to become global citizens themselves through our discussions and participation in music from around the world,拉哈斯基说.
The incredible mentorship she received from her professors at Shenandoah also prepared her for her career. Lahasky learned from these experiences how to encourage and prepare her own students for successful careers. She is especially thankful for the guidance she received from 文学院 & 科学 Associate Dean and Professor of Hispanic Studies 安德里亚米. 史密斯, Ph.D. and Department Chair and Professor of Hispanic Studies 布莱恩Pearce-Gonzales, Ph.D.
“I hope to pay forward their generous donation of time and advice to my students,拉哈斯基说
Lahasky’s advice to students is: “Don’t limit yourself to only your major study. Take advantage of every opportunity to travel during your studies. 你的经历, the people you meet and the new perspectives on your place in the world will be worth it later! Seek out mentors in your fields of study to help you prepare for the job market.”