True musical knowledge is a difficult commodity to come by, and unbeknownst to many, Santa Maria has played host to a mastermind in the musical arts for nearly a quarter century. Students uncountable have been helped by the priceless knowledge dispensed tirelessly by Dr. Marcus Engelmann, Fine Arts Department chair and music instructor at Allan Hancock College.
Born in Oklahoma, and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Engelmann began his musical education at the age of 9 by studying piano in the classical style. When he reached high school, however, he was temporarily lured away from classical piano by electric guitar when he played in a rock band.
“It was really useful to have been in a rock band,” he said. “I could relate later to different things as an educator.”
In his first year at the University of Connecticut, he set his sights on a degree in liberal arts; he was under the impression that he didn’t have the musical background necessary for a music major. After realizing he was doing better in music classes than most music majors, he took another look at his goals.
“That’s when I got serious,” he said. “I took a year off of school, worked a factory job at night, and practiced piano all day.”
Engelmann’s musical drive also comes from his gift and love of composition, a skill he used to write songs during his high school rock band days and developed along with
his education. He has many orchestral, chamber, vocal, solo, and electronic compositions under his name.
“I was most interested in writing music,” he said. “Then it got to the point where I needed people who could actually read music to perform my compositions.”
Engelmann transferred to Heidelberg College, Ohio, where he completed his bachelors degree in music composition and music education. He moved on to the Cleveland Institute of Music to earn his masters degree while studying with the American composer Dr. Donald Erb (1927-2008).
Engelmann completed his doctor of musical arts (D.M.A.) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he worked at the university’s Experimental Music Studio, the second electronic music studio in the United States. While working there, he had access to instruments and equipment, including some of the first modular Moog synthesizers. A selection of Engelmann’s work is included on the Experimental Music Studio’s 50th anniversary CD, which is also available to listen to at the studio’s website.
The University of Illinois also put Engelmann to work in the classroom. He taught and directed the music theory program for non-majors at the university, a task that was basically two-thirds the work of a full-time staff position and prepared him for his move to California and his work at Allan Hancock College.
Engelmann started as a full-time music instructor at Hancock in the fall of 1986, when he taught everything from musical theory, history, and piano to sound recording. Hancock hired Engelmann not just to teach at the college, but to help expand it.
“One of the main reasons they brought me in was they wanted to start an electronic music department,” he said.
The creation of the electronic music classes—which teach the history, terminology, and techniques used in the genre—paired with the development of the sound recording classes, led to the sound technology certificate, given to students who complete the electronic music and sound recording classes. It’s a valuable credential for anyone looking to enter the field.
The electronic music and sound recording classes enjoy a spring concert titled Soundscapes, which showcases the latest electronic compositions and musical recordings achieved in the classes taught by Engelmann. This year, Soundscapes is May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Allan Hancock College Forum.
Now in his third year as the Allan Hancock College Fine Arts Department Chair, Engelmann acts as an intermediary between the various disciplines in the department and the administration. He’s also helped develop the floor plan for the new Fine Arts Department building, slated to start construction in 2012.
Besides giving Santa Maria music majors the knowledge they need, and the Allan Hancock College Fine Arts Department the support it needs, Engelmann also plays an active role in making sure the community has some quality music to listen to. He serves on the board of directors of the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society, and he and his wife are regular patrons.
“Right now, for the size town that Santa Maria is, we really have an amazing orchestra,” he said. “It’s a hugely difficult time for any nonprofit, and they can definitely use all the support they can get.”
Engelmann will be delivering a pre-concert lecture for the Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra’s upcoming concert on April 30 at Grace Baptist Church in Santa Maria. Engelmann’s lecture begins at 6:50 p.m., with the concert following at 7:30.
For anyone unfamiliar, Engelmann’s lecturing style is wholly satisfying, whatever the subject or venue. He passes on pure knowledge undiluted by unnecessary information. The pre-concert lecture gives the public an opportunity that usually only Allan Hancock College students are privileged to enjoy: a chance to hear a true musical master share his knowledge, enthusiasm, and insight.
Music with swing
Jane Russell always said, “The show must go on,” according to the late actress’ friends and band members from the Swinging Forties. And the show will go on April 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel’s Vintners Lounge, featuring collaborations between local musicians in the swing jazz style of the 1940s.
Music at the Maverick
The Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez celebrates Tax Day with Little Guy and Friends performing their blues, rock, country, and R&B music on April 15 at 8:30 p.m. Hear a late-night DJ from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Concert on the Deck features the Henderson Brothers in concert April 16 at 3 p.m. Dusty Jugz Band performs country music at 8:30 p.m. that night, with a late-night DJ starting at 11:30 p.m. m
Contact Calendar Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 14-21, 2011.