Music Composition – Houghton STAR

By Jiana Martin ('26)

Two senior composition recitals are coming up with Citlali Sanchez-Acosta’s (‘24) occurring on Monday Feb. 19 and Kaitlin Kleinau’s (‘24) recital on Wednesday Feb. 21. Both will be in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall at 6:30 p.m., and each hour-long performance will feature the artists’ original works.

Sanchez-Acosta is a music composition major who transferred to Houghton University from her local community college and has enjoyed her time in the Greatbatch School of Music program.

“It’s a really good program. It’s pretty close-knit, which is really nice and everyone supports each other,” Sanchez-Acosta reflected.

Her recital will include eight to nine pieces, most of which she has written while at Houghton, which will be performed by around 20 performers. It will be a mix and match of solo instruments, smaller ensemble pieces and vocal songs.

Inspiration for her music comes partly from need-based occasions and partly from pure inspiration.

“Inspiration comes and goes and sometimes I just start messing around. This recital is a little bit of both necessity and inspiration,” Sanchez-Acosta commented.

Although there is no overarching theme, identifiers for the pieces are developing skills and time passing. The recital is a culmination of everything she has written.

“The pieces themselves are not a series of anything,” Sanchez-Acosta explained, “there are a bunch of different themes and motifs. I’m bringing back a lot of my old works. One thing I know I’m definitely going for in this recital is seeing the progression.”

She likes keeping the original versions of her old works and then later refine them to see how she’s progressed and improved. During her time at Houghton, the community and her professors have greatly influenced her.

“My professors have definitely been a part of [influencing me]. Dr. Magin and Professor Ashbaugh have been super helpful in guiding,” Sanchez-Acosta thoughtfully said, “and community has definitely helped motivate.”

Kleinau is also a transfer student pursuing a music composition major with an additional vocal performance minor. The theme for her recital is “Woman Becoming: Love Letters” which deals with the idea of love in different forms, especially grief and love. Her inspiration for this theme came from an interest in different types of love such as familial and agape love, and wanting to explore more of it.

“I usually come up with a cool title and see how that works out,” Kleinau explained.

One of the pieces, “Echo” talks about a lost love and begging him to return while another piece, “Daffodils Never Die” is about her grandmother who passed away.

Kleinau’s recital will include eight pieces that are both vocal and instrumental ranging from choral pieces to a piano solo to a flute piece, and more. She will be performing in “Daffodils Never Die” and many classmates will help bring her music to life.

“Most of them have been so gracious and willing,” Kleinau gratefully said.

Reflecting on her time at Houghton, Kleinau considers it being a sort of rebirth as she has grown so much since she started. Kleinau attributes inspiration for her music to classes, professors and music she has listened to. Helpful advice she received from Dr. Carrie Magin was to listen to a hundred pieces before writing an original.

“Theory classes and music history are helpful. A lot of times it [composing] comes from listening and from what you want to write and hear. It is creativity paired with prior knowledge,” Kleinau noted.

For Kleinau, a valuable part of being in the Greatbatch School of Music program is that she is seen as a person first and a musician second. She’s experienced grace and care as a person and has been encouraged to become the best musician she can be.

“I see music as an expression of one’s soul; therefore, you want to do it in a way that honors God,” Kleinau expressed. “You want God to be a part of that. It’s not for my own glory, but for God’s glory.”

Dr. Magin, Associate Professor of Music Composition and Theory, has enjoyed working with both Sanchez-Acosta and Kleinau, and watching their growth. As a professor, she loves hearing how audiences react to her students’ compositions.

“I look forward to the final product as their work is shared with our community,” Dr. Magin commented. “It’s a unique gift to be able to create something that moves people, and even more special to help bring that ability out in student composers. These students have worked very hard to put on their recitals, and it’s a great joy seeing and hearing it all come together.” ★

Eight professors are joining Houghton faculty this semester. Newly minted profs. Aikens, Bate, Hutchings, Luebke, Murphy, Poythress, Suzano, and Taylor are all excited to be a part of the school.

Assistant Professor of Physics, Dr. Kurt Aikens finished his undergraduate degree at Houghton in 2009. After which, he attended Purdue University where he earned his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. “My research interests are in the area of computer simulations of fluid flows and specifically involve improving predictions of – and ultimately reducing – jet engine noise,” said Aikens, “Teaching at the undergraduate level gives me the opportunity to have a more broad educational background and study a wider range of topics. At the same time, I am also able to continue in my area of research. I get the best of both worlds.”

Dr. Brandon Bate joins the mathematics department after a year of postdoctoral research at Tel Aviv University. Like Aikens, Bate is a Houghton graduate, having completed a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science. He received his masters from Boston College in 2007 and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 2013, both in mathematics. He is married to Juliet Bate, also a 2004 Houghton graduate, and has an exuberant 4 year old son.

Dr. Sarah Hutchings, Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition, takes on a full-time position this year after having served two semesters as an adjunct. Hutchings received her bachelors at Western Carolina University in 2007, masters at Florida State University in 2010, and her doctorate of musical arts at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 2013. Asked about her position at Houghton, Hutchings said, “I feel so blessed to be able to work at a place that supports my professional development and gives me the opportunity to instruct the next generation of artists in their craft. But, most importantly, I consider it a calling to show students how God can use them as a witness in their own careers and lives.”

Dr. Adam Luebke has taken on the positions of Associate Professor of Vocal Music and Conducting as well as the Director of Choral Activities. Luebke received a bachelors of music at Olaf College in 2002, masters of music at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in 2004, and Ph.D. at Florida State University in 2010. Luebke has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Smetana Hall. Said Luebke, “In the first week of school I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my students, particularly those in College Choir, and learning about how music and faith intersect in their lives. It was also quite exciting for me to get the year off to a start performing for the opening chapel service.”

Prof. Madison Murphy joins the communication department as Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Visual Communication. Murphy received her bachelors at Houghton in 2011 and her masters in fine arts at Savannah College of Art and Design in 2014. “During this first week of classes I’ve been talking with the students in the lab, and I’m impressed to see the kind of work they’re doing and the enthusiasm they have for that work; a drive to push their skills to the next level,” said Murphy.

Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. Ransom Poythress received his bachelors from the California Institute of Technology in 2006. Following this, he attended Westminster Theological Seminary as a special student in apologetics and philosophy. He earned his Ph.D. in molecular biology from Boston University in 2013. “My goal is to show students that they are Christians who study science, not scientists who happen to be Christians,” said Poythress, “Houghton provides a real opportunity to transmit my exuberance for biology in a way that is thoroughly consistent with the Christian underpinnings of the entire scientific enterprise.”

Dr. Armenio Suzano, Associate Professor of Music History, hails from Brazil. He played clarinet in the Rio de Janeiro House Symphony Orchestra for 9 years. His term there began after winning a competition and joining as their youngest member at age 16. Upon moving to the U.S., Suzano engaged in multicultural ecclesiastical work with Portuguese-speaking communities in Massachusetts and Spanish-speaking communities in Texas. He received his bachelors at Austin State University in 1997, masters of music at Northwestern University in 1998, and his doctorate of musical arts at the University of Michigan School of Music in 2002.

Prof. Alicia Taylor joins the school as an Assistant Professor of Art. She received her bachelors at Roberts Wesleyan College in 2009, her Certificate in Arts Management and masters of fine arts at SUNY Brockport in 2013. “I am energized by the opportunity to be a part of someone else’s process in finding their voice, within their work and in the world,” said Taylor, “This year, I’m excited to engage with students during this process and foster an environment of freedom, productivity and expression in my classroom through which we can all learn and grow.”

The college is very excited to bring so many new professors on board as it experiences new growth in attendance. As the year begins, be sure to take some time and welcome these professors to Houghton.