Kerzmann relishes career
By Michael Linnell
University Communications Director
michael.linnell@minotstateu.edu
MINOT, N.D. – Minot Public Schools choir teacher Lindsay (Emmett) Kerzmann ’02/’17 began her collegiate career at Minot State University dreaming of being a lawyer.
She only took her music classes as a way to earn a scholarship.
But early on — after a nudge from her music theory professor — she changed from history and pre-law to music education.
Kerzmann wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It wasn’t what I originally planned on doing, but I can’t imagine doing anything else. I don’t want to do anything else,” she said.
That’s good news for both Minot Public Schools and Minot State as many graduates of her high school program have gone on to MSU. In fact, her relationship with Minot State professors was an important facet she gleaned from a return to school to earn her Master of Education degree.
“I have a wonderful relationship with Minot State professors and I wanted to re-establish those after teaching for a few years,” Kerzmann said of her postgraduate work. “I’m the only vocal teacher in the high school so it was really valuable to work with other teachers, to be in a classroom with other music teachers.
Now, because of those relationships, my current students have those relationships with Minot State. I think that’s why a number of them have gone on to MSU.”
She also was thankful to gain one-on-one sessions with long-time Minot State professor DeVera Bowles.
“Being able to receive vocal lessons with DeVera was great,” Kerzmann added. “There were so many things I could work on with her in that setting and then take back to my class.”
Kerzmann has excelled in the classroom setting at Minot Public, but it’s the out-of-class experiences her students receive that distinguishes the program. The vocal group, Change of Pace, sang “The Star Spangled Banner” at North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum’s State of the State address at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall in January, her juniors and seniors traveled to New York City through World Classrooms for an education tour, and the Minot High band and choir traveled to Disney World for appearances and a national festival.
“We have the main group who is working on music for gigs, we gig a lot with them,” she said. “We do a lot of Christmas events at nursing homes and assisted living facility events, places we can get out and be a part of the community. We also put on concerts to showcase what the students have been working on all year.
“The New York trip this summer was awesome. We toured the financial district, Times Square, the 9/11 Memorial, and saw four Broadway shows. We also got to do a Broadway workshop with a member of the Wicked cast. The Florida trip, we’ve been taking that for 20-plus years. I did it as a student at Minot High. We performed at Disney Springs and had four different groups perform at a national festival. It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work for those kids.”
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Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 11/20/18 |
