Within the walls of the Phillips building here at Gordon College, there lies an office occupied by the Adams School of Music and the Arts dean, Dr. Sarita Kwok. She is a passionate and talented leader as well as a wonderful advisor to the students she guides through the whirlwind that are four years of college. Not only that, but she is also a mother, Violinist, friend and teacher as well as guest violinist with the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra.
For Dr. Kwok, this summer was a dream many young musicians only dare to reach for; a summer full of time with family and friends, while having the opportunity to play for one of the most prestigious orchestras in the greater New England area. Between meeting and collaborating with Yo-yo Ma, and sitting alongside many talented musicians, there is a larger depth to the orchestras that isn’t seen by sitting in the audience: the community built within the orchestras and the amount of time and effort put forth into any given performance.
Dr. Kwok believes that being in the orchestra makes her a better educator, especially in the way she can apply what she learns from her own musical experiences, like the lesson that “the show must go on.” It’s a well-known phrase in the performance world, but also a very real mindset. When playing live, it is important to know that even if a mistake is made, it’s best to just keep going instead of stopping, and that’s simply how show business works.
What some don’t see is that she also has a loving family who spent time with her at the Tanglewood Festival. Funnily enough, her children are used to being part of this kind of community. Kwok remarks that her children have met Yo-Yo Ma, spent many summer nights surrounded by the musical talent of brilliant musicians, and that this has become a frequent reality for them as their mother has been working with the BSO (Boston Symphony Orchestra).
Many people have not been in class with Dr. Kwok, but if you ever have the blessing of being taught by her, you can clearly see how her experience has shaped her teaching, her skill, and her passion for music as a whole. In fact, Kwok acknowledges that her professional work helps with the education of students here at Gordon. “Our [The Adams School’s professors’] professional experiences inform our teaching and make us better teachers.” Having professional experience, she believes, is a major contributor to providing a well-rounded education for the students as a part of the Music Program.
As with so many other faculty here at Gordon, Dr. Kwok is diligent in how she incorporates her faith into the professional world as well as in her teaching and advising. Of course, there is a difference between a Christian college campus and the professional world, but Dr. Kwok always upholds the same standards that many Christians hold no matter what space she is in. “God created us to create” is one saying she holds dear. As many artistic people feel, music performances provide a wordless expression of love that connects to the essence of God while serving a greater purpose in His kingdom. Music provides Dr. Kwok with a space to express her faith with others in rehearsal and in performance, and she expressed that she will forever be grateful for these opportunities and the communities that go alongside them.
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