My name is Julia Markotay. I am a senior graduating in 2011 as a Music Education major with an emphasis in piano.
I grew up in a small town called Sparta in Southern Illinois, about an hour and 20 minutes south of Greenville. Learning the piano was something that I wanted to do for as long as I can remember. Not until Christmas after my tenth birthday was I able to start taking lessons. Unlike most testimonies of young piano students, I practiced all the time and I loved it. My aspirations of playing hymns for church morphed into the desire to perform classical music for recitals. It is no surprise that I became a Music Education major. As the years went by and I became more involved with music and learned several other instruments, it became clear to me that music was not only my passion, but also a part of my purpose in life. I felt that the best way to share my love of music was to teach others about it so they too could have the opportunity to experience what has become a large part of my life for the last twelve years. The fact that Greenville College is renowned for its music and education programs as well as its Christian and Liberal Arts heritages made my college decision easy. Greenville has definitely been the right choice for me.
To me, the best thing about the Music program at Greenville College is that the class sizes are small and the professors are exceptionally personable. I have a personal relationship with every professor in the Music Department and I know that they all care about me and my growth, not only as a musician, but also as a person and a Christian. The professors are top-notch performers and educators; not only do they know their stuff, but they can also convey it to students in the most meaningful way.
The Music program also has numerous performing groups and opportunities for students to get involved from the Greenville College Choir and Concert Band to Rock Ensembles and Worship Arts Ensembles. No matter what your musical preference is, Greenville has an opportunity for you to be involved. During my time here, I've been involved with the Greenville College Choir, Choral Union, Keyboard Ensemble, Concert Band, and I've accompanied dozens of vocal students and the Greenville College Choir. The Music program also provides the unique opportunity to meet other talented musicians and to form lasting relationships with them, an invaluable learning experience that goes beyond the classroom.
