Opening of the Adams School of Music and the Arts

Music and art are everywhere. When was the last time you walked around the Quad without listening to music? How often do we pass by the art that hangs in the halls of the buildings we roam? Note how often you walk past Phillips Music Center and hear rehearsed pieces leaking through the windows. God designed us to be creative creatures, He designed us to be drawn to music and art. Not all of us consider ourselves active creators, but for those of us who do, the new Adams School of Music and the Arts is a place we can consider home. Within this new school we can find a place to grow in our disciplines, fellowship, a way to glorify God with the gifts we have been given and display our talents. 

The mission of the Adams School of Music and the Arts is titled “Cultivating Faithful Creators.” The school strives to cultivate “musicians, artists, designers, performers and storytellers to become lifelong creators and purposeful contributors to society, faithfully serving communities throughout the globe with excellence and integrity, for the glory of God,” according to their mission statement. No matter what type of creator you are, there is a place for you in the Adams School of Music and the Arts. Whether you have a major or a minor within the school, or find yourself involved in concerts or performances, you will have the opportunity to grow in your field and experience other areas. Professors and faculty are committed to investing and pouring into the students they preside over. 

Dr. Sarita Kwok herself, the Dean of the Adams School of Music and the Arts, has a very warm and encouraging spirit towards students and those involved with Music and Arts. She wants the students of the Music and the Arts to know that “their gifts are relevant and valuable.” She recognizes that these talents are “valued in God’s kingdom. God is honored by the way we use our creative gifts, but also that the college values them.” She hopes to see students “grow and find the path that God has for them so that they are creating for the rest of their lives. We want them to be lifelong creators and to acknowledge where their creative gifts come from.” She hopes that through her and her faculty’s action, they will be good role models for this. Her goal to see “joy and passion and creativity modeled in what we do, not just in us teaching them but in our own personal creative lives.” 

The separate departments of both Music and Art have existed within Gordon for a long time, but the new joining of the two under the same school will allow for a level of fellowship and cooperation that has never been seen on campus before. Collaborations between the Music and the Arts will be possible in unique ways that will showcase the holistic talents of students and professors on campus. With the departments linked more closely, the departments can better foster support and comradery.  Students and professors will be able to interact with those from other departments, challenging them to use their talents to further themselves and each other, enriching campus culture. 

Not only does the new Adams School demonstrate Gordon College’s investment in the Music and the Arts, but it shows our investment in our call to be stewards for His Kingdom. When we use our gifts and talents, this can be an act of worship to God and an act of care for those around us. As created creators, we are honoring God by using the gifts He has given us. In addition, we are pouring back into our environment for the benefit and enjoyment of those around us. The new creation of the Adams School will magnify our opportunities to serve God while serving others. Dr. Kwok hopes to see the impact of the Adams School spread not just around campus, but to our broader community. 

The Adams School of Music and the Arts was officially dedicated during chapel on Friday, October 4th, 2024. Within this special memorial chapel, each department within the Adams School got to share the spotlight. Starting with a processional accompanied by the Gordon College Choir, the service kicked off and was followed by a speech given by President Michael Hammond. A touching dedication video titled “Light in the Darkness” was presented to inspire the audience and was produced by previous Communication Arts alumni.  

Later, the Theater Arts were highlighted both when a professor participated in a reading and when a scene from Godspell was performed by members of the cast. A few pieces of art were displayed at different points of the service. When the ceremony ended, the Gordon College Jazz Ensemble, also known as the Coy Pond Piranhas, gave us another taste of the music department with their energetic take on “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho.”  

If you are not already involved in the Adams School of Music and the Arts, there are places for you. You do not have to have a major or a minor in the school to be involved in its opportunities. Musical and artistic groups are open to all who are interested. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit https://www.gordon.edu/adams. 

A special thanks to Mrs. Adams for her donation of her family name to be used for the new school.