Friday Profile: Thurnau Professor Michael Haithcock

This individualized attention correlates to Haithcock's philosophy of conducting. He regards the ensemble rehearsal as a collaborative exploratory endeavor. His colleagues in Music describe him as a "master classroom instructor," a conductor who uses rehearsal time not only to prepare excellent performances but also to assess how well students are learning, to attend to the growth of each student musician and adjust his pedagogical practices accordingly. His students attest to the shared sense of responsibility he cultivates among members of the Symphony Band, and they are inspired by his remarkable example of "preparedness, discipline, responsibility, and respect" as he establishes a "cycle of trust" that motivates student musicians to play their very best.

Haithcock has also actively facilitated U-M music students' global engagement. When he planned the Symphony Band's historic trip to China in 2011, for instance, he organized not only an ambassadorial experience but also a richly educational one. He and the student travelers prepared for the trip with seminars in Chinese language, culture, and history. During the trip, he facilitated students' interactions with Chinese citizens and arranged visits to a range of important cultural sites. As a result, as one of Haithcock's colleagues describes it, "Our students grew as artists, they grew as cultural citizens, and they grew as human beings."

To learn more about the Thurnau Professorships, click here [3].  To learn about other outstanding teachers at the University of Michigan, click the "Friday Profiles" tag button below.