By By Jon Gray
Starting next fall, the University of Louisville School of Music will have a new dean. Dr. Herbert Koerselman will step down as dean at the end of the Spring 2002 term and return to the faculty to teach after spending 10 years in the administrative position.
The announcement comes as a shock to many of the music school majors. Ira Byelick, a graduate student studying composition said, “I had absolutely no idea that he was resigning.”
Some students, such as Brad Parrish, a senior music major, said “I heard a rumor like that last year, but I didn’t think it was true.” He added, “people confirmed it for me this year, though.”
Dr. Koerselman feels as though his tenure has been successful and that he leaves his administration and the new dean “In a very good position to do wonderful things in the future.”
Dr. Koerselman, who received his doctoral degree from the University of Iowa, also announced his retirement at the beginning of his 10th year at his former job, the chair of the Music Department of Sam Houston University in Texas. During the 10 years that Dr. Koerselman has headed up the Music School, the endowment rose from 1.5 million dollars per year to over 10 million dollars annually. He credits not only his work but the work of the faculty and success of the students.
“People want to support a winner and as the school has gotten better, the ability to raise funds has improved,” he said. During his time as dean, Dr. Koerselman has continued to play the trumpet, his instrument of specialty, with the faculty quintet, which can be seen at many university-sponsored events.
“One reason I’ve tried to continue to perform through my administrative years is that I always assumed I would retire to the faculty,” he said.
As a faculty member, Dr. Koerselman has two major goals: “Work with group ensembles and work with developing international programs in the School of Music student exchanges.” As for finding a new dean for the School of Music, “Expect a national search and as far as I can expect, it’s a wide open search and I suspect the school will attract someone wonderful.” He said there may be some internal candidates.
Dr. Koerselman doesn’t plan to take the new dean under his wing, but noted, “If asked, I will provide what ever help I can, but I intend to step way back.” Dr. Koerselman said age has become a factor and that “there are certain seductive things about administration that are very nice, I just don’t want to do it forever. Teaching, that’s what I came to the profession to do.” When asked if he accomplished everything he came to U of L to do, he said, “Surely not. There are always so many things one would like to do and accomplish. I think we made remarkable progress but as you make progress in anything, your view expands and you realize there is much more to do and much more that can be done. As we improve we see greater possibilities; that’s the heart of being a musician.”
