Department of Music - Meet Anna and Emlin

Anna ’24

In 2020, Anna made a decision that changed her life.

“Hope College was not my top choice,” the senior piano performance major says. “I had my heart set on attending another school until I auditioned at Hope College and knew it was where I was meant to be.”

Starting with her audition, Anna began to build strong relationships with her future professors. She was surprised at the strength of the Hope community. “The immediate intentional connections with my professors assured me that Hope College was the best place to cultivate my art and grow as a person,” Anna states.

Without these personal relationships, Anna believes that she would never have reached her full potential. “I truly do not think that I could find a similar experience anywhere else,” she says. “Throughout my time at Hope, I have known that my music professors would always be there for me as an individual and a musician.”

“I am truly blessed to have made the decision to come here almost four years ago,” adds Anna, whose instincts to come to Hope have been richly rewarded.

She’s been challenged at Hope, dedicating her time to endeavors like the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Performance Competition, the Concerto Aria Auditions, Hope College Orchestra, Hope’s jazz combo, and work as an office assistant for her department. Perhaps most importantly, she has valued her music theory research with Dr. David Keep and applied lessons with Professor Lora Kolean.

These opportunities have led Anna to discover her next chapter: preparing for grad school auditions. If her success at Hope is any indication, she’ll excel at this next level as well.

Emlin ’24

If you’re a fan of the arts at Hope, chances are you’ve seen Emlin perform.

As a recent senior vocal performance graduate, she kept busy with recitals and performances in the Musical Showcase and Concerto Aria Competition. She even studied piano, another one of her passions.

“I have a deep passion for music and have since I was young. I have been involved in music since a young age in different capacities and then studied voice privately, which led me to continue my passion in college,” she explains.

She credits her professors and classmates with a rewarding learning environment during her time at Hope. “I love the relationships I have formed with both other students and faculty,” she says. “In taking private lessons for two instruments, I have been able to form really close relationships with my professors and collaborators.”

Emlin also pursued a BA in Global French studies. She traveled to France to fulfill her French credit requirements.

One of her favorite memories during her time at Hope was when she appeared in an Opera Grand Rapids production of Aida in 2023.

She’s excited for the future because of all the opportunities her education at Hope has provided and plans to go on to graduate school. One can only hope we’ll get to hear her perform in West Michigan again.

Your Gift’s Impact

Your gifts have had a profound impact on students like Emlin and Anna.

If Anna could meet the music department’s donors, this is what she’d say, “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. My time here truly would not have been a possibility without the generous support of our donors, and I owe all the thanks for my successes to you.”

Emlin recognizes how important supporting the arts can be. “Thank you for giving to the arts,” she adds. “Music is such an important part of my life and has led me to the people who have become a part of my support system. You are helping support profound creativity and expression which is a much-needed art form in the world today.”

Will you commit to supporting the arts and providing transformational experiences for students like Anna and Emlin today?