P2
August 2012
GCU Today Magazine
is a
quarterly publication of the Office of
Communications and Public Affairs at
Grand Canyon University.
Written and Edited by
DOUG CARROLL
Communications Director
602.639.8011
MICHAEL FERRARESI
Senior Writer
602.639.7030
BOB ROMANTIC
Senior Writer
602.639.7611
Designed by
DEANNA FUSCO
SoHo Southwest
Cover Photography by
DARRYL WEBB
University Staff Photographer
602.639.6375
Office of Communications
and Public Affairs
Bill Jenkins
Vice President
Grand Canyon University
3300 W. Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85017
Adam Benavides, in a scene from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” last season, is one of the top performers in the College
of Fine Arts and Production.
o the long list of things already named Herd at GCU,
you can add one that will be Heard.
That would be the newThundering Heard Pep Band, which
could have as many as 80 members under the leadership
of
Paul Koch
, the University’s director of bands and an
instrumental professor of music.
Koch (pronounced “Cook”) says his goal is to assemble
a high-energy band capable of becoming the “sixth man”
at Antelope men’s and women’s basketball games in
GCU Arena.
He says the process is kind of like shopping for a good
car stereo.
“I’m more concerned with the balance of instruments than
pure numbers,” says Koch, who’s no stranger to launching a
band. Before coming to GCU, he was director of bands at
Perry High School in Chandler since the school’s opening
in 2007.
“The best sound is going to have a good mix of lows,
mids and highs. Good-sounding pep bands are more
about balance, blend and intonation, mixed with energy
and passion.”
Koch also has a handle on hoops. For five years ending
in 2010, he was creative director of the Phoenix Suns’
PHX Percussion. His master’s degree is in percussion
performance from Arizona State University, and as an
undergraduate he was a part of an award-winning drum
line at the University of North Texas.
In other words, there shouldn’t be a problem feeling the
beat in the Arena.
“I can appreciate that I’m at the beginning of something
huge and special for GCU fans,” Koch says.
The introduction of the instrumental music program is
the most significant new development for the College of
Fine Arts in 2012-13, a year that will include a reprise of
“Handel’s Messiah” (Dec. 7 in the Arena with the Phoenix
Symphony) and Ethington Theatre performances of
Charles Dickens’ popular “A Christmas Carol” (starting Nov.
23) and Anton Chekhov’s challenging “Cherry Orchard”
(Feb. 15).
HERE ARE THE 2012-13 HIGHLIGHTS:
SEPTEMBER
“Much Ado About Nothing,” Aug. 31-Sept. 2 &
Sept. 7-9, Ethington Theatre
OCTOBER
“Beauty and the Beast” & “Comedy on the Bridge,”
one-act operas, Oct. 12-14 & 19-21, Ethington Theatre
Masterworks choral concert, Oct. 26, First Southern
Baptist Church
NOVEMBER
“A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 23-25 & Nov. 30-Dec. 2,
Ethington Theatre
DECEMBER
“Handel’s Messiah” featuring the Phoenix Symphony,
Dec. 7, GCU Arena
Christmas choral concert, Dec. 11, First Southern
Baptist Church
Winter dance concert, Dec. 12-13, Ethington Theatre
FEBRUARY
“Cherry Orchard,” Feb. 15-17 & 22-24, Ethington Theatre
Opera and Broadway choral concert, Feb. 22,
First Southern Baptist Church
APRIL
“H.M.S. Pinafore,” April 12-14 & 19-21, Ethington Theatre
Choral Union concert, Faure’s “Requiem” and Pärt’s
“Te Deum,” April 23, First Southern Baptist Church
Spring dance concert, April 26-27, Ethington Theatre
MAY
Awards and Commencement choral concert, May 1,
First Southern Baptist Church
