The Revenant Composer

So I had my interview at Rutgers on Saturday. It was certainly an interesting experience – far different from the rigidly structured interviews I’ve had before at my current job, where I’ve been slowly moving up the ladder for the past eighteen years.

Let’s start with the campus (at least, that of Rutgers New Brunswick – there are other large campuses around New Jersey). If you aren’t familiar with Rutgers University, it’s a relatively prestigious college in New Jersey – one that was once offered Ivy League status, only to turn it down as they would then lose state funding. It originally dates back to 1766, making it the second-oldest university in New Jersey after Princeton.

As such, its New Brunswick campus is not only comprised of some beautiful old buildings, but is unique in its layout, being spread across five campuses across the cities of New Brunswick and Piscataway. You can take a robust system of busses around the various campuses should you wish, but for my purposes, the music and arts departments are situated entirely in Douglass Campus, which includes the stately Voorhees Chapel, amongst other colonial-designed buildings. Whilst I was waiting for my interview, I had an opportunity to walk around the campus, and it is honestly beautiful.

After I arrived and checked in, it turned out the faculty were running behind on their interviews (hence why I had the time to walk around campus), but it wasn’t too long before I was ushered into a conference room where I met three people: Dr. Ordway, head of composition, Dr. Aldridge, and Carl – a senior PhD student in the composition department. Unsettlingly, Dr. Ordway was not physically present, being in California for a premiere of a new song cycle of his, so he was attending on a massive video screen via Zoom. Imposing is probably an appropriate word.

I tried, of course, to be as natural, easy-going and friendly as possible, but I think I may have fumbled the first question, which was quite simply: tell us about yourself! My response, weirdly, was: “what do you want to know?” (I’m getting flushed with embarrassment even now at the memory.) However, we quickly moved on from that wrinkle, and I was able to talk about my compositions, my stylistic influences, and my career goals (I would love to be able one day to teach at a college level).

Then came a golden moment. As we were discussing what dissertations look like (a major compositional work and a written dissertation), Carl – the PhD student – shared that whilst his composition is a violin concerto, his written work is on – you’ll never guess – heavy metal! I had found a kindred spirit, and shared immediately that one of my submissions was, in fact, a work for orchestra and metal band – at which point Carl gave me the devil horns!

Somewhat unsettlingly, the interview was short and rushed, but through no fault of mine (I believe); after about 15-20 minutes they mentioned they needed to “move on” – I suspect only because they knew they were running behind in the first place.

After the interview was an informal, communal lunch – purportedly to be able to connect more with faculty and ask more questions. Sadly, the professor present in the room, Dr. Aldridge, didn’t show up – I assume because of the lateness of their interviews – but while I was waiting I happened to sit next to a very nervous-looking high school student who was also applying for composition as an undergraduate! I made some small conversation, asked him about his own works, and (hopefully) reassured him not to be too nervous, and that he was going to be just fine.

Finally, I noticed that, although Dr. Aldridge was absent, Carl had entered the room, and I managed to squeeze a few minutes of talk in with him, discussing metal and composition, as well as teaching opportunities and his own experiences at Rutgers. Right before he ran out back to more interviews, he even shared his phone number with me – a kind gesture, I thought, and a glimmer of hope; presumably he wouldn’t have been so willing had he seen nothing of value in my compositions or personality.

The day ended with a tour of the music facilities, delivered by a graduate and undergraduate student (the undergrad shared with me, mid-tour in a frightful whisper, that she had never even delivered a tour before!). It was great to get an opportunity to see what the facilities were like, and I was able to ask a few further questions around performance of composers on campus, which helped me feel even better – knowing that there would be the possibility of my works being actually performed.

Overall, I think – I hope – it went well, and I hope that I left a positive impression on all involved. I think Carl, if no one else, appreciated what I had to offer, although I recognize that he is unlikely to be a decision-maker in the process. Now, of course, I have nothing to do but wait – there’s another round of interviews/auditions in a couple of weeks for other candidates, after which I may hear back soon – but, they promised, no later than April 1.

We shall now simply have to wait and see!