{"id":629,"date":"2010-11-05T10:30:32","date_gmt":"2010-11-05T09:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/?p=629"},"modified":"2010-11-05T18:43:07","modified_gmt":"2010-11-05T17:43:07","slug":"was-it-good-for-you-dan-wheeler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/2010\/11\/05\/was-it-good-for-you-dan-wheeler\/","title":{"rendered":"Was It Good For You: Dan Wheeler."},"content":{"rendered":"

Continuing the series profiling musical alumni of the University of Kent. This week, Dan Wheeler<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

—————-<\/p>\n

\"Dan<\/a>
Brass cheek: Dan Wheeler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When were you at Kent ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em>I was at Kent from 2005-08, although I never quite got around to leaving Canterbury…<\/p>\n

What subject did you study ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Law, although from about the second term onwards you would have thought I was doing a Music degree!<\/p>\n

What occupation are you now engaged in ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The civil service, occasionally making use of my degree!<\/p>\n

If music is not your profession, do you participate in any musical experiences now ?
\n<\/strong>
\nHaving never left Canterbury I am still involved in music at the University; singing in the University Chorus whilst also playing tuba and bass guitar in the University Concert and Big Band. I also sing regularly with St Stephen’s church choir (based in the Hales Place area) in weekly services, occasionally covering Evensong services at Canterbury and Rochester Cathedrals.<\/p>\n

How were you involved in music whilst at Kent ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In almost every way possible! I have sung in Chorus and Chamber Choir, played tuba in Concert Band and Orchestra and playing until recently in the Orchestra. In my final year I completed the set by running the Music Society as president.<\/p>\n

What did you gain from your University music experience, and has this helped you in any way since leaving Kent ?
\n<\/strong>
\nWithout my University music experience I would not have had the confidence to be where I am today, leaving home and starting a new life in Canterbury. I would not have met all the wonderful people I have come across during my time in numerous rehearsals and made some great friends along the way!<\/p>\n

What was your most memorable musical experience at Kent ?
\n<\/strong>
\nPerforming the solo in Cornelius’ Three Kings<\/em> to almost 1000 people in Canterbury Cathedral in the 2006 carol service; that and sitting through my debut Big Band gig after my guitar broke on the first note…!<\/p>\n

What would you say to current musical students at the University ?
\n<\/strong>
\nI would encourage all musical students to get involved in as much as possible, it is much more enjoyable than the degree (although admittedly this is coming from a law graduate) and from extensive experience of job hunting (!) I invariably end up being asked more about my musical activities than the degree itself!<\/p>\n

—-<\/p>\n

If you’re an alumnus and would like to be featured, get in touch via the Music Department websit<\/a>e: we’d love to hear from you!<\/p>\n