Vocal Sessions
Kimberly Regis
As a child, Kimberly Regis was mesmerized by her father’s piano playing. Later she was inspired by the great Mexican vocalist Vicente Fernández. Today, the music major is making a name in her own right, thanks in large part to her experience at EWU. “Eastern was a really good choice on my part. The people here, the faculty here, are just amazing. I don’t think I’d be where I am now, if it weren’t for them,” Regis says. “It baffles me how much I’ve grown in three years.”
Carmyn Parks
Carmyn Parks, a music education and performance major from East Wenatchee, Washington, admits she arrived at Eastern as a complete musical neophyte. “When I tell you I came in to Eastern with no musical knowledge, I mean I didn’t have any,” Parks says. That changed quickly thanks to what she describes as a uniquely welcoming learning environment. “It’s about collaboration, cooperation and growth; it’s not about competition. It’s about, ‘how can we make music together?’”
Aries Maier
Coming from a family with a musical background gave singer Aries Maier, a vocal performance major, a leg up when she arrived at Eastern. But it didn’t mean she was free from the challenges associated with formal study, subjects like music theory and reading music. “I was struggling,” she says. “But the faculty here supported me in a way that allowed me to grow… I never once felt lost: I always had someone holding my hand, guiding me to where I needed to go.” Now comfortable across a range of genres, Maier says she often urges others to follow her path. “We have a great community, and we would love to have you.”
Featured Faculty Mentor
Kristina Ploeger-Hekmatpanah
Professor, Choral Studies. Director, Spokane Symphony Chorale. Former faculty: Spokane Area Youth Choirs, St. George’s School, Everett HS, Ephrata HS, and AC Davis HS. Adjunct faculty: Whitworth University and Gonzaga University. Clinics and/or adjudication at many Music Educator’s events.
Take the Next Step
The EWU Music Program will award $150,000 in scholarships this year to help make the dream of becoming a professional musician a reality for students across our region.