After 29 years at Hillsdale, Professor of Music, Choirs, and Orchestra James Holleman will retire at the end of this semester.
Holleman came to Hillsdale in 1997 as the chair of the music department. He graduated from Michigan State University with a Masters in Orchestral Conducting in 1989. Holleman helped grow the music department both in student body and in facility size. He will retire at the end of the spring semester to his home in the Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Michigan.
“The program was almost non-existent. It was struggling,” Holleman said. “And the provost and the dean, when they hired me, they said specifically, ‘Fix it and don’t let anybody get in your way. We want music coming out of every pore on this campus. And if anybody tells you this is the way we used to do it, find a new way to do it.’”
Holleman said he knew Hillsdale’s music department would look different from bigger music programs. Rather than ignoring that fact, he said he used it to innovate.
“I thought, ‘Well, liberal arts. How do we create a model for liberal arts and, specifically, Hillsdale College liberal arts?’” Holleman said. “One of the main things was we opened our doors to every student. You do not have to have a major or minor in music to participate, and we will respect and work with you on your academic schedule.”
Holleman said opening the department to students from other majors is what makes the music program at Hillsdale both successful and unique. It serves high-achieving students who want music to be a part of their college experience without sacrificing other goals. Holleman said that this new model of collegiate music solves a problem he encountered when teaching youth orchestra in Jackson before coming to Hillsdale.
“My youth orchestra kids would say ‘I really love the cello, but I want to be a doctor,’ or ‘I want to be a lawyer,’ or they want to study this, that, or the other thing,” Holleman said. “And I thought, how can we be the school for those students?”
Holleman served as the department chair for 25 years before resigning the position in 2022, when he was appointed Music Director of the Hillsdale Arts Chorale. He conducted the orchestra and the choir, started the chamber choir, organized admissions and recruitment for the music students, coordinated with donors, and helped design the Howard Music Hall.
“Right now, I conduct seven rehearsals Monday afternoon to Thursday afternoon with four ensembles. Colleagues I have around the country think it’s crazy, but I love it,” Holleman said.
Senior Rachel Dunphey credited the success of Hillsdale’s music program to Holleman and his passion for music.
“I admire professor Holleman so much for his dedication to the programs throughout the years,” Dunphey said. “It’s not easy to come into a program that is barely something and make it so prominent in a college.”
Holleman said he is most grateful for the time spent with his students.
“The most rewarding thing is that I get to work with students who want to work hard. We get to develop together and we get to grow and present quality performances,” Holleman said. “We’re here for the students. So it has to be about them.”
Freshman Anastasia Dementyev, a member of the chamber choir, said she appreciates Holleman’s drive and his passion for his students.
“I’ve liked working with him, especially with chamber choir,” Dementyev said. “He’s very kind, and even though he’s not easy on us all the time, he’s supportive and points out the best parts of our performance.”
After his retirement, Holleman said he plans to live full time in his home in the Leelanau Peninsula with his partner, Nicole. He will conduct the Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra and hopes to do some guest conducting as well. In his spare time, he plans to cook, work on his property, and fish.
Associate Professor of Music Timothy McDonnell will take over as director of the orchestra and choir. Holleman said he hopes the department will continue to be welcoming to non-music majors.
“Keep the doors open,” Holleman said. “Work with every student that wants to participate, find a place for them, and make sure they have a positive experience.”
