Alma College hires new choir professor

NAYONIKAA SINGHAAL
STAFF WRITER

1/29/2024

Following the retirement of Dr. William Nichols, Secrest Professor of Music, Alma College introduced its new visiting choir professor for the winter ‘24 semester, Dr. Christopher Cock. 

With the wealth of experience in his 40-year music career and abundance of talent, Dr. Cock brings a fresh perspective to music at Alma.

The previous choir professor, Dr. William Nichols, was a beloved instructor to all his students and his absence was not taken lightly. Everyone knew that filling his steps would be a tough job, but Dr. Cock made the transition effortless.

Between his extensive experience and the abundance of passion he holds for both music and teaching, it is understandable what a great asset he will be to students and Alma College overall, and students are already commending his efforts in the weeks of his employment. “The choir has started to sound better as a whole,” said choir-student Chris Ulysse (’27).

Dr. Cock was a tenured professor at the Valparaiso University founded Bach Institute in 2004. He believes that his time at Alma will only be for this semester of winter ’24 and wishes to continue gaining knowledge in the musical arena with the research project he has undertaken. 

His research is focused on music areas related to Johann Sebastian (JS) Bach and his predecessor, Heinrich Schütz. Dr. Cock’s research is heavily concentrated on the period in which these composers lived because at the time there were no recorders which makes it impossible to collect the evidence necessary to bring the works of these artists back to life. 

“So, one can only surmise and make judgments based on the scores that they were given, or the anecdotes or based on the obituary his sons gave,” said Dr. Cock.

Dr. Cock has always been musically inclined, but what truly made him desire to pursue a career in this art form was an experience dating back to his childhood. “I heard the performance of a choir, and it moved me a great deal and that immediately became my goal,” said Dr. Cock. 

He expressed gratitude to the great teachers who guided him since elementary school, taking notice of the talent in him and pushing him to not just achieve his full potential but also gain a sense of his true purpose in life. 

Organization, pace and energy are the three virtues with which he teaches his class. He believes in setting goals for his students over the week to help them best attain the knowledge that each of them wishes to obtain. He believes in moving with a fast pace when teaching his students, reasoning that it will aid in the synchronization of the sound of the choir as well as efficiently utilize the time they have together. 

“He goes a little bit faster, and I like that he goes faster as I can understand stuff quickly,” said Ulysse. 

Dr. Cock believes that for the Alma Choir to improve and achieve the level of mastery and excellence he wishes, the students must be active listeners and work with and for one another. His teachings and desires for the students truly exemplify that the Alma College Choir is in the right hands. 

“A musical ensemble is always telling a story and if everyone is one hundred percent committed to telling that story… you’re going to get something where the sum is greater than its individual parts,” said Cock.