After Amelia Lathem was encouraged to sing solo at church as a small child, she knew she wanted to spend her life bringing music to the world.
“I remember not feeling as nervous once I began singing,” the senior music education major says.
Lathem performed in church plays, excelled in music classes, and joined school choirs and musicals. As a teenager, she ventured into singing opportunities and even won a regional talent show in her senior year of high school.
“All of these experiences shaped me into the musician I was as I entered college and the person and musician I am today,” Lathem says.
Lathem says she didn’t get private lessons growing up, and she was grateful to have that experience at Brenau.
“I feel fortunate now to have such wonderful professors who challenge me but also care about me and lend a listening ear,” she says.
The camaraderie of music is also an important part to Lathem’s love of the craft.
“Music and singing allows you to make authentic memories and make a beautiful sound together with others,” she says. “Music allows you to work together for one common experience and goal. It takes immense work alone or with others to create a blended sound or to get everything just right and ready for performance.”
Brenau’s tight-knit music program offered Lathem a one-of-a-kind experience with ample opportunities to hone her skill.
“I have learned that making music with a smaller ensemble can mean just as much, if not more, as it would with a larger ensemble,” she says. “It also gave me close friendships and a more personal music experience.”
Lathem will graduate this spring, and she hopes to become a music educator. She is also interested in pursuing her master’s and doctoral degrees in choral studies, music education or conducting. Additionally, Lathem would like to serve as a clinician with the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Choir, which would allow her to work with young singers and help them build their repertoires.
