Spotlight: Mark E. Goldin ’05

What do you find rewarding about performing? What inspires you, as a busy college student, to continue to participate in an art that requires such intense practice?

I’ve never really craved the limelight, so group performances have been my preference. The camaraderie among musicians is essential. I think music keeps me sane, or insane, or at least provides a balance to whatever conditions the stresses of life impose.

Briefly describe your creative process in preparing for a performance.

I’m not sure I have standard pre-performance rituals. Though, once as I was falling asleep the night before a physics final, I imagined the Beatles cheering me on while singing about magnetism. Um, yeah.

How have your years at Harvard affected you or your performance art?

There are so many creative outlets here that anyone can indulge a passion. I’ve been exposed to diverse artistic styles and unique personalities through my peers, by discussing tastes, swapping albums, and jamming on guitar.

Which do you prefer: performing your own material or playing a piece written by another composer? (Or are there merits of each?) Do you feel at all drained after performing a personal piece?

I think every person creates for him or herself, in the sense that you have to get certain stuff out of your head to prove you thought of it. Though, I’ve tried, with varying success (sorry, strings section!), to make my pieces fun for everyone to play. If you’re a musician, you really love all music on some level. I enjoy playing others’ works as much as my own, even when I only have one note.

Do you have any entertaining performance stories?

In fifth grade, I had to play a trumpet solo in front of the whole school, and completely choked. I quit band and renounced music. It’s funny—this solo that caused me to get so upset was a Charlie Chaplin piece called “Smile”.

It is unusual—and very admirable—for a student to have the chance to direct, as a conductor, a set of his peer musicians in a concert. Have you found that any of the students have a hard time to accepting musical directions from someone their age? What has been your experience with conducting?

It is a strange position having “authority” over peers. I don’t take myself too seriously, and I think the fun, cooperative ethic of the Pops is right in line with that. My peers in the orchestra have been supportive, especially in pointing out the mistakes in my scores.

Please describe the repertoire of the Pops Orchestra.

Our repertoire includes anything from Rossini to Gershwin to Weezer— serious classical works alongside jazz, show tunes, rock arrangements, and silent film and movie scores. We encourage student work, and do anything that’s fun and zany. Tonight’s concert, “Tooney Tunes,” features music from Looney Tunes, Disney, and beyond.