Meet music graduate Hillary Orban
Meet Hillary Orban, a Mozart-loving flute player from South Dakota who found her melody at VCSU and earned the title of Outstanding Music graduate.
Name: Hillary Orban
Hometown: Ethan, SD
Major/Minor: Music Major
Graduation Date: May 2024
Favorite type of music to listen to: A little bit of everything, but I love show tunes, classical music, and country music. 🙂
Favorite type of music to play/perform: I love playing anything by Mozart or the other big composers. I love singing show tunes and arias.
Favorite instrument to play: Flute or Piccolo
Favorite musical artist: I have too many to count!
What landed you at VCSU? After two major surgeries initially putting my college studies on hold at the tail end of my sophomore year, I got married and decided I wanted to raise our 7 kids. When our baby was almost ready to go to preschool, I was offered a choral job from a school, but felt unprepared as I hadn’t completed the music education degree I had begun. We began searching for an online school that offered music and came upon Valley City State University. Everyone was so kind from the start and that’s what hooked me. I was so thankful to find a school that was willing to work with me to help me achieve my goals.
What did you enjoy about your time studying music online? The faculty! They are all the best, hands down! I also loved that I could work, be a mom to my kids, and still work toward my goals!
Why did you choose music as a degree? I wanted to be a music teacher, so it was an easy place to start. I love music. It’s always been a passion of mine.
Did the classes you took at VCSU help prepare you for your career? Absolutely! All of them!
What would you like to do after graduation?
I have already been offered and have accepted a position as 7-12 Choir and 5-12 Band director at our local school. I am going to apply to our state alternative certification education program to obtain my teaching license. Long term, I would love to get my master’s and continue on to my doctorate. My dream is to teach college-level classes.
Do you have any advice for incoming students in the music program online?
Don’t leave your assignments for the last minute. Try your best to stay on top of all of your work. That may mean other things have to take backseat, and that’s okay. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors. They are there to help you and want to see you succeed as well!
What was your favorite class and why?
Do I have to choose?!! There were so many great classes! All of the professors are amazing, and I truly enjoyed all of my classes. Secretly, conducting is a major passion of mine, so by default, I’d say Conducting with Professor Heide was my favorite, along with all of my vocal instruction classes with Dr. Cunningham.