Our student spotlight for this month goes to Michelle Pranoto! Michelle is pianist with an interest in both Jazz and Classical performance. We had the opportunity amid this crazy time to ask her some questions!

Q: What has been your favorite memory at Lee?

M: Since I’ve been at Lee, my favorite memory has been traveling to South Korea with the Lee University Symphonic Band. This group has taught me so much about life and the Lord and I’m so grateful for that. 

Q: Since you play more than one on a regular basis, what is it like to be trained and play different genres? 

M: It’s amazing to be able to be trained in different genres. I’ve grown to really love Jazz since I’ve been at Lee and I have so many professors to thank for my growth in that area. being able to be trained in different genres means that you are very versatile as a musician and have a lot to offer to the table. It’s also such a beautiful thing because you have the joy of enjoying many different kinds of music because music as a whole isn’t just one specific genre, it’s countless different genres. I get the great honor of learning and listening from other professors that have more knowledge and play better than me because the one thing I learned is that in order to get better you have to observe the greats before you. 

Q: What are your future plans after you graduate?

M: After I graduate I hope to move to Nashville and become a music producer in a studio and if that doesn’t work out then I hope I can make a living becoming a jazz pianist in either a big band group or a combo. 

Q: What advice do you have for incoming freshmen?

M: To the incoming freshman I say enjoy every moment that you have at Lee and treasure every relationship that you make. Time goes by faster than you think in college it’s not worth it to stress over small stuff that won’t affect you for the long run. Let the Lord be the foundation of everything that you do in life because if that happens everything else in your life will follow. 

We are so thankful to have students like Michelle at our school!! We can’t wait to see you all again!