Making Their Mark is a Newscenter series of profiles celebrating members of Rochester’s graduating class of 2019.
Three questions
Favorite class? “Program of Dance and Movement. You didn’t have to be a dancer, per se. We worked on developing movement activities that anyone could do, and some visual art as well. Then, we went into five local high schools and worked with students.”
Favorite tradition? “Eastman’s Holiday Sing. It’s the last Friday of classes in December before final exams. Student groups perform a short song in a concert in Lowry Hall with a big Christmas tree.”
Favorite spot on campus? “Any nook I find that is sunny and quiet!”
Hannah Dick ’19, ’19E knew she wanted to pursue a college degree in music. But that wasn’t all.
“I’m a very curious person,” she says, noting that she wanted to explore other academic pursuits in addition to music.
She found the best of both worlds at the College, where she is a brain and cognitive sciences major, and the Eastman School of Music, where she is a percussion major.
“I’ve become great friends with the Red Line bus that runs between Eastman and the River Campus,” she says. “I almost have the schedule memorized.”
Dick grew up in Schenectady, New York, surrounded by music. Her dad filled the house with classical songs, and all five children played an instrument. Hannah’s sister, Erin Dick Over ’11, taught her piano, but she grew to love percussion because of the variety of instruments she could play.
“I wanted a drum set,” she says, “but the house could only hold so many instruments. I already had a marimba, snare drum, and two timpani.”
She has filled many roles during her time in Rochester: four-year member of Eastman’s InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (with a leadership role the past three years), resident advisor, member of musical ensembles, and captain of an intramural ultimate Frisbee team with fellow Eastman students. Dick also was cochair of the Student Advisory Committee for the University’s presidential search.
“That was quite an honor,” she says, “and I’m thrilled with the selection [of University of Wisconsin provost Sarah Mangelsdorf].”
Dick received a Fulbright US Student Grant, sponsored by the State Department, and leaves for Sweden in August to study improvisation and performance and pedagogy, with the goal of teaching and performing in the community one day. While based in the city of Örebro, she will be directing a high school percussion ensemble.
“I’ve known since I was in high school that I wanted to use music to help people,” she says. “I considered music therapy, and I definitely envision myself being involved with music in the community.”
