After an absence of nine years, Ellsworth Community College is bringing back their music department.
Cindy Lin was hired back in August to serve as the music director at the campus in Iowa Falls. Lin will also serve as music director at Grinnell College and Marshalltown Community College.
“It’s been a privilege to be a new director of music here at Ellsworth. My job is to oversee the music program across Iowa Valley. So you know my job is to teach online and in-person music appreciation courses, as well as in-person band and choir. So you know here at Ellsworth we have not had any music program for the past nine years. And you know our school and the foundation of ECC wanted to bring music back to the campus so that the community members and the students at ECC can be part of it and to make music and to enjoy music.”
The music department performed during the annual E.C.C. foundation holiday luncheon Tuesday. Lin says numbers are low right now but she says with help from the community and the college, the program will grow.
“Well, you know, we are trying to make things from scratch. OK, we start nothing three months ago. At first, you know, I have only five students who registered for my band. So, you know, I was very worried and nervous. How can I start with a band with just five people? So, you know, I just continue to call people, call the community, and it’s by word of mouth. You know, my students, they brought in their friends and their neighbors. And I also reached out to the local band directors at a high school and some retired band directors as well. I’m new in town, I know nobody here in town. So that, you know, they kind of help me bring people together. And now we have expanded our group from five to about 16 people.”
Stay tuned to RadioOnTheGo as we plan to air the performance from the college’s foundation lunch Tuesday at a date and time to be determined.
Photo courtesy of Duane Carstens.
Pictured: Cindy Lin (left) performing a piano duet with Lynette Evans (right) during the ECC foundation holiday luncheon.
