Feature Stories
Monica Zsolt, '08
As a senior in high school, Monica Zsolt, ’08 couldn’t wait to study
at GVSU under the direction of clarinet music professor Dr. Arthur
Campbell, the recipient of the April 2013 Outstanding Educator Award
presented by the Alumni Association. She was so confident that she
would thrive in the program that she didn’t even audition at any other
universities. This same confidence is what got her through an
aggressive sinus surgery, a challenging rehabilitation process, and
all the way to a performance at Carnegie Hall.
During her final year at Grand Valley, Zsolt was planning her
wedding, setting up a student teaching position at Grand Valley, and
plotting to move to Nashville. She was also dealing with constant and
crippling sinus and tonsil infections that multiple consultations and
eleven rounds of antibiotics wouldn’t fix. The only other option was
to undergo an invasive sinus procedure that would put her talents as a
clarinetist at risk.
After weighing the pros and cons, Zsolt gave the green light to
her surgeon in the summer of 2008. The procedure cleared and expanded
her sinus cavities, straightened her deviated septum, and removed her
tonsils. Although the surgery was a success, Zsolt still had a long
recovery ahead of her.
“It took me at least nine to 12 months to bring my playing back
up to par,” she said. “I had to teach myself how to play all over again.”
She and pianist husband Alex moved to Nashville the summer
following her surgery and the city welcomed them with opportunity. She
began teaching and playing clarinet and the couple built connections
within the music community. Two years to the day after the surgery
that could have ended her career, Zsolt auditioned for and won the
principal clarinet position with the Nashville Praise Symphony, a
musical organization that performs benefit concerts for non-profit
ministries. Through this organization, she was contacted by renowned
conductor Camp Kirkland and asked to accompany him to the debut
performance of the Annie Moses Band at Carnegie Hall. She played first chair.
“Sitting on that stage knowing who had performed on that very
spot throughout the decades was humbling and amazing all at the same time.”
Zsolt says that this experience wouldn’t have been possible
without her guidance from Dr. Campbell and the education she received
at Grand Valley.
“My degree in Music Education is a key factor in my employment in
the Nashville school system, as well as my teaching ability with my
private students and church orchestra. I am thankful for the faculty
who shaped me as a musician and helped me refine the skills I needed
to do the things I am doing today.”br />While at Grand Valley,
Zsolt had the honor of joining the GVSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble at the
Michigan Music Educator Conference as well as the Laker Marching band
to Florence, Alabama to watch the football team take home the national
championship title in 2003.
When she’s not performing in big city music halls, Zsolt can be
found either at Hermitage Hills Baptist Church where she serves as
Orchestra Director, Williamson County Schools where she teaches middle
school band, or instructing in her own private clarinet studio. She
and Alex still reside in Nashville.
Updated April 2013.
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