JOEL HOLLAND

2018 spirit of pops award nominee

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To me,

Pops is an opportunity:
An opportunity to continue playing in a large ensemble, An opportunity to make new friends,
An opportunity to meet new people,
An opportunity to spread joy through music.

Pops is diversity:
Diversity of backgrounds and education in its membership,
Diversity of experiences and possibilities inside the semester and beyond, Diversity of musical genres and the moments of excitement unique to each.

Pops is purpose:
Purpose to look forward to every Sunday,
Purpose to exercise a creative potential independent from our studies, Purpose to put my best foot forward to help my stand partners and friends, Purpose to offer a network to provide encouragement and support to others.

But most of all,
Pops is love.
It is the love we have gained for each other in the cycle of rehearsal and social and concert. The love we might not have otherwise known had we not had this shared experience. The love we understand to be inherent between anyone bearing membership, past or present. It is the love I found two years ago for another member. That love for which I shall be forever indebted to the organization. That love, that I will never forget and will carry with me for the rest of my life.