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Andrea Leuenberger ’06 (Hershey, Pa.), a neuroscience major and music minor,has been accepted to an intensive program this summer in the Advanced Piano Division of the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina.
Brevard is a highly respected program dating back 67 years, with faculty comprised of music professors and orchestra musicians from across the United States. Leuenberger was accepted based on her audition recording of Beethoven’s Sonate, “Allegro” (first movement) Op. 14, No. 1, and Etude in Ab Major, Op. 25, No. 1 by Chopin.
From July 18-Aug. 8, Leuenberger will take lessons from piano faculty, attend master classes, and work with fellow students. She may also take courses in piano literature or related subjects. Leunenberger says that she loves to play the piano, and the program will allow her to spend more time on it without the distractions of school and work.
Although the program is six weeks long, Leunenberger signed up for only the second half-session so she can work this summer as an EXCEL Scholar with Wendy Hill, Rappolt Professor in Neuroscience. They will collaborate on research involving estrogen and extra-pair matings in female zebra finches. In Lafayette’s EXCEL Scholars program, students assist faculty with research while earning a stipend. EXCEL has helped make the college a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year share their research through academic journal articles and conference presentations.
Until then, Leuenberger is keeping busy with her courses, piano lessons, and involvement as an officer in Lafayette Society of Neuroscience, volunteer in the Kids in Community program through Lafayette’s Landis Community Outreach Center, and member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Leuenberger has been taking piano lessons from Lafayette music instructor Alexis Fisher since she arrived on campus, continuing instruction that began with other teachers at age five.
“She has definitely helped me to become a better pianist,” says Leuenberger. “She has helped me to focus on technical aspects of playing the piano, like working on scales, arpeggios, and exercises that will improve my playing. She has also helped me to be able to hear for myself the things I need to improve to make my playing better. She expects a lot of me, but only because it helps me to improve.”
Leuenberger plays with confidence and control of the instrument, says Fisher.
“She combines that with an understanding of the sound capabilities of the piano and is able to create a technically clean and musically well-thought out interpretation of the repertoire she plays,” she notes.
“Though Andrea is a neuroscience major, she approaches her piano study as a piano major would,” adds Fisher. “She practices efficiently, takes joy in shaping the music, and shows an active interest in the world of piano performance. Her musical and technical growth over the past two years has been impressive. It is a delight to work with a student who is able to incorporate ideas and easily blend them into the technical and musical fabric of the piece.”
Leuenberger has taken two classes toward her music minor and found both to be “very informative and interesting.”
One is the World Music Traditions course taught by accomplished percussionist Larry Stockton, professor and head of music, who considers her a “fantastic” student.
“Andrea demonstrates a wonderful combination of natural talent and motivation,” he explains. “She is a very solid performer as a pianist, always very well prepared. As a student this semester in my World Music Traditions class, she has also shown her ability to accept new musical challenges — she is becoming an excellent Djembe (African hand drum) performer.”
As for neuroscience, Leuenberger considers it a well balanced major that combines a variety of sciences, fulfilling her interests in psychology and biology.
“Overall, I think Lafayette has a great neuroscience program,” she says. “I’ve found that it requires a lot of effort to be successful, but I feel like I am learning a lot that will be helpful to me in the future.”
A graduate of Hershey High School, Leuenberger is unsure of what career she will pursue, but has a strong interest in working in a health-related profession or teaching. She also wants to have the option of teaching piano lessons.