As the Department of Music’s director of performance and a lecturer in choral and orchestral conducting, Shou-Ping Liu loves directing the Union College Choir and Orchestra. She feels inspired by her students’ dedication. She is especially grateful to these students because they stick with these two ensembles in rain or shine, even during Covid. Liu says, “I will never forget the days when we stood 12 feet apart with masks and still tried to make music together.” She is excited that the choir has been invited to sing with a professional orchestra in Berlin this year. “With Union students, the possibilities are unlimited!”
Shou-Ping Liu, center, the Department of Music’s director of performance and a lecturer in choral and orchestral conducting, at a dinner with Posse students.
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FIRST APP YOU LOOK AT IN THE MORNING:
I honestly try to avoid looking at any apps in the morning. Keeping a clear head helps me to feel more inspired for the rest of the day. I can tell you though, that the app that I use the most is Google maps…simply because I am terrible with directions! How I wish there were a “Union app” to direct me between different buildings.
ONE BOOK YOU HAVE READ MULTIPLE TIMES:
“Crime and Punishment.” I can never get enough of it.
BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED:
One of my teachers once told me that we all need to learn to be the best wine; the older the better. My goal is that the longer people know me, the more they will like me. I do not need to make a stunning first impression. Time will tell.
FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS:
The creek adjacent to Yulman Theater. Every morning, when I walk from the parking lot to the Taylor Music Center, I am always reminded of how lucky that I am to work on this beautiful campus.
GO-TO BREAKFAST:
Two eggs and a cup of coffee, both homemade!
NETFLIX OR AMAZON:
Neither. I try to avoid Amazon if I can. I love supporting individual businesses.
FAVORITE PODCAST:
“The Easy German.” I find myself listening to it all the time when I am about to visit Germany.
ONE SKILL YOU WISH YOU HAD:
If time goes backward, I will really study harder for math…
ANOTHER SUBJECT YOU WISH YOU COULD TEACH:
Definitely not math! I used to think I would teach only courses related to music. But I teach SRS here every year, and I enjoy my students tremendously, even though I usually have them for a term.
MOST CREATIVE EXCUSE YOU HEARD FOR A LATE ASSIGNMENT:
Too many of them. I can think of a few off the top of my head that make me chuckle. “The power went out, and I have no access to the internet. (Um...we live in the Unites States, so you must have some alternative.) “Nexus does not work.” (Well, OK, but how come Nexus always happens to be down during midterms and finals?) Lastly, “I don’t feel well.” (I sincerely trust my students, but I always wonder why I get this kind of email only on Mondays!)