Realizing both of your childhood dreams after being out of school for just two years seems like a pretty great feat.
But that is just what Luke Bahr accomplished when he joined Hillsdale’s faculty as an adjunct instructor of music at the beginning of this semester.
“I always had a dream of being a college professor teaching music,” he said. “I’ve always loved music, my family was a very musical family. And I always wanted to sing opera, ever since I was 12.”
Bahr earned his undergraduate degree in music at Brigham Young University and his master’s degree in music at the University of Utah. During and after his time as a student, Bahr had many individual performance opportunities in Salt Lake City, Utah.
While pursuing his master’s degree, Bahr tried the full-time pursuit of opera, but soon decided that as a father of six, he could not pursue an operatic career.
“I did want to have a career in it, but then I realized I don’t like to travel without my family,” he said. “I was two summers away from my family. And it was extremely difficult. I was in Italy, and I was depressed.”
Bahr’s move to Michigan after his graduation in 2013 was an unexpected and perhaps not a happy one. He had a different teaching job lined up in Utah, but he and his family moved to Michigan to be closer to his mother-in-law, who was diagnosed with cancer.
Bahr spent two years teaching Spanish and art at Litchfield High School until he learned about a job opening at Hillsdale College.
Melissa Osmond, director of voice studies, said that finding Bahr was an answer to prayer.
“We’ve had the hardest time finding somebody for this adjunct position that will stay,” she said.
The adjunct voice instructor position was vacated at the end of last semester by Kate Nadolny. Osmond, who was out of town for almost the entire summer, said she needed to find someone very quickly to fill the position. After contacting friends at the University of Michigan and Michigan State and coming up empty-handed, she found Bahr through a mutual friend.
“I put it on Facebook, and one of my friends wrote me back and said, ‘Oh, there’s this guy at my church and that’s what he’s been trying to do,’” Osmond said. “So I got his contact information, and we met over the summer, and thought it would be a really good fit.”
Bahr indicated that it has indeed been a good fit.
“It’s been amazing,” he said. “I love the students, I love the college. I love everything about it.”
Junior Christian Wiese has spent the semester taking lessons from Bahr.
“He’s been a great teacher,” Wiese said. “I am a beginner, and it can be intimidating to try out new techniques and vocal skills. Luke has given plenty of encouragement and insights along the way and has been very supportive.”
Bahr said that he is very interested in staying at Hillsdale College long-term. He hopes to pursue his BMA at Michigan State University sometime soon while commuting from Hillsdale.
Osmond said that, because she and Bahr are both so busy, she hasn’t had much of a chance to observe his teaching style herself. According to her, feedback from his students has been entirely positive.
“I keep asking kids, ‘How are your lessons going?’ and everybody seems to have a very positive response,” she said. “So I think he’s fitting in really well. I hope he feels the same. I think it’s a good fit for him too.”
