Melanie Bacaling
As a UE freshman in the top vocal ensemble on campus, Melanie Bacaling sang a piece of music that, years later, would help inspire her to spend a memorable summer abroad.
“Mozart has always struck me as an interesting character. His short life was full of success, and he created beautiful music from a young age,” said Bacaling, a double major in music performance and psychology. “I fell in love with his music when the University Choir performed Mozart’s Requiem. I could have worked on that piece for weeks without it getting old.”
Bacaling’s curiosity about Mozart, love of performing, and interest in research led her to apply for a unique summer study abroad program: the Mozart Project at Salzburg College in Mozart’s hometown of Salzburg, Austria. During the five-week session, students take voice lessons and conduct a research project, which culminates in a combined recital and lecture at the end of the program.
Before leaving for Austria, Bacaling completed UE courses in music literature and music history, which she says prepared her well for the program’s research aspects. Both courses, taught by assistant professor of music John Jordan, focused on the stories behind some of the world’s greatest composers and pieces.
“When I wrote research papers for those classes, I discovered that I liked uncovering those stories; it’s like putting together pieces of a puzzle,” Bacaling said. “For me, the process of doing the research is just as interesting, if not more so, than the final product.”
In Austria, Bacaling had vast resources available, including original manuscripts and letters from Mozart to his father. She also took two or three voice lessons a week, where she studied Mozart’s German Lieder and several arias that she sang in her recital. She credits UE assistant professor of music Gregory Rike for teaching her not only how to perform, but how to practice.
“Being a part of Dr. Rike’s studio has taught me self-discipline and the importance of a strong work ethic,” said Bacaling. “In Salzburg, I only had five weeks to work on a great amount of difficult music, so I had to be very disciplined in my individual practice time on top of my research.”
Bacaling returned home to Gurnee, Illinois, in late June with a new clarity about her passions and her future goals. “My time in Austria and work on the Mozart Project made me really fall in love with music,” she said. “I mean, I’ve always loved music, but now I’m certain that I would like to pursue a deeper knowledge of it with a master’s degree.” She is considering returning to Salzburg for her master’s and hopes to one day become a voice scientist: a field that combines performing, researching, and teaching.
