John J. Cali School of Music Students to Make Beautiful Music

He sings and plays piano, flute, jazz flute, tuba, trombone, trumpet, and baritone horn. She double majors in French horn and voice/music education, minors in musical theater, and is also in the University Honors Program.

William “B.J.” Robinson and Krysta Mirsik are students in the John J. Cali School of Music. Both were part of the MSU Chorale, which performed Beethoven’s Ninth with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra in three season-opening concerts in October. The Star-Ledger called the MSU Chorale’s performance “vibrant.”

“I applied to a lot of different schools and got in, but I felt at home right from the beginning at Montclair,” shares B.J. “I love the campus. I like the diversity of the people, and we have close access to New York City. There are many opportunities available through the Cali School. Coming to Montclair State was the best choice I’ve ever made.”

Krysta looked all over the Northeast for a college, but chose Montclair State because of its combination of music performance and music education programs and because she “clicked” with horn teacher Jeff Scott, who gave her a free lesson when she was a prospective student. “I also wanted to study musical theater, and MSU is the only place in the area with a formal program.” She also liked the student-teacher ratio, which is 5:1. “Montclair State had so many opportunities for me here, like theater, Chorale, Chamber Singers. Another great thing is the small classes—you get to know everyone really well.”

Although the Cali School comprises mainly New Jersey students, its reach is international. Violinist Oksana Georgieva, a recipient of the John and Rose Cali Scholarship for the Arts, comes from Sofia, Bulgaria. “I wanted to study away from home to get experience,” says Oksana. “My mother said musicians are ‘people of the world.’” Now in her second semester at MSU, she was recruited in Bulgaria by faculty member Maria Radicheva.

“I’ve met lots of new people, like my professors and the Shanghai Quartet members, who are especially supportive of string players,” Oksana notes. “I am very grateful to the Cali family,” she adds. “I could not be here without the Cali Scholarship. I am happy I came to Montclair State.”

B.J., a sophomore, has a double major in vocal performance and music education. “I’ve found so many different ways to get involved artistically,” he says. He won the lead role of Saul in the Cali School of Music’s fall workshop of the Handel oratorio and the Ghost of Samuel role in the spring 2007 production. In addition, he performs with the MSU Singers. Krysta, also a sophomore, has a partial academic scholarship. This year she’s in the MSU Chorale, the MSU Singers, and the MSU Symphony Orchestra. Last year she was a member of the MSU Chorale, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, MSU Symphonic Band, MSU Harry Partch Ensemble, and Brass Quintet.

“This school puts high emphasis on performing and nderstanding your performance,” B.J. says. “Our classes really prepare us for that,” agrees Krysta. “They put us on stage for experience and practice. We get comfortable performing, starting the week with our Monday practicum, where we’re critiqued by professors and students.” Students are required to perform every semester of their five-year program.

Scholarships are really important, B.J. adds. “The more money you have to cover tuition, the more other opportunities you can take advantage of—such as more workshops and extracurriculars and extra lessons in the summer.”

Cali School students will benefit from their new facilities in the renovated Chapin Hall. “Practice spaces are gold,” B.J. says. “The first question music students asked when we heard about new building was, ‘How many practice rooms will there be?’ Now, when all the practice rooms are full, we have to use the hallways, outside, even the bathroom, just any space available.” B.J. once rehearsed in a downstairs hall in the Student Center. “There was much rejoicing among students for the new building,” adds Krysta.

And as for future plans? Krysta aims to be a high school band director. Both B.J. and Krysta will be K-12 certified in music education when they graduate. “Ultimately I’d like to do coaching, giving lessons to performers and selecting performers for shows,” says B.J. These students work very hard, frequently putting in 12- and 14-hour days. “It doesn’t feel like work when you love what you do,” enthuses Krysta