Scholarship Inspires Student Musicians

Harriet Simons, FA'57, knew from a young age that she wanted a career in music. Growing up in Stuart, Iowa, she sang in her church choir and watched her mom, an excellent pianist, give lessons in their home.

Simons chose to attend Drake because she believed "everything important that was happening in music was happening at Drake."

She participated in band, orchestra, and choir, and Sigma Alpha Iota, a music fraternity for women. One of her most meaningful experiences in college was traveling with her fraternity's chorus to a convention in Washington, D.C., where the chorus performed under a national conductor who became her mentor.

After Drake, she studied with Nadia Boulanger, a famous French musician, and received a master's degree in choral conducting and a doctorate in opera conducting at Indiana University. She taught choral music at a number of institutions, retiring as director of choruses from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

In 2012 she created the Dr. Harriet R. Simons Scholarship for Music at Drake to assist aspiring musicians. Her estate will further enhance the gift.

"It is important to support musicians," she says. "Music can be an expensive career to go into."

Tanner Nielsen, AS'18, is one of the musicians who received her scholarship. Nielsen attended Drake because his audition demonstrated how passionate the Drake music faculty were about teaching. Although he ultimately pursued a career as a software engineer, the music scholarship gave him the opportunity to continue to learn about his craft.

"I am really glad I studied music because being able to work with the music faculty at Drake was really incredible," says Nielsen.

The scholarship was also influential for Anna Steenson, AS'19, JO'19. Anna studied music and digital media production and uses skills from both majors in her work as a video and audio producer. On the side, she performs the cello at weddings and other events.

"Scholarships made it possible to go to Drake, but also to explore and improve my skill set in both my majors, and that is something I am really grateful for," says Steenson. "It's inspiring to receive a music scholarship, especially from an individual who is really involved in music and passionate about it. It's almost like you have a little cheerleader who is excited about the music program and career path and created one step to help you get there."

Are you a cheerleader for the next generation of Drake students? Support their academic endeavors with a planned gift to Drake University. To learn more, please contact John Amato at john.amato@drake.edu or 515-271-2849.