Xiaoqing (Evangeline) Liang

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

As an international student, I didn’t have a chance to visit the campus before I came. My parents made most of the decisions for me. Based on the location and environment, they thought the school might be a good option for me, and it was. Professors from the music department gave me lots of their advice and support. The school has a really nice campus, too.

How do you describe the liberal arts?

It is a really liberal environment. I can try so many things before I decide what I really want to do. It’s easier to approach professors. I feel that everything is possible at a liberal arts college.

Why did you major in music?

I still remember how much I struggled with declaring a music major. I knew I was really interested in music, but didn’t know what I could do with a music major. My advisor, Jeffery Leonard, and I both knew that it was going to be difficult to double major in music and economics, but I still wanted to try. I knew I still loved music after attending the Wind Symphony during my sophomore year. Fortunately, my parents gave me enough support to help me feel confident in pursuing music along with my other studies.

What was your favorite class? How did it expand your knowledge?

I loved all of my classes and professors. I learned a lot from each of them. Each professor helped me in a different way.

Who is your mentor on campus? Why do you consider this person your mentor?

I am glad that I had many mentors on campus. I loved to communicate with my professors and they always gave me really good advice and help. For example, my conducting professors— Katherine FitzGibbon, Brett Paschal, and Lance Inouye—helped me gain a better understanding of music. Professor Aaron Beck helped me with writing and the history of western music. All music professors are willing to share their experiences with students. It’s just so fortunate to have those resources when you join the music family.

What have you been doing since graduation?

Due to COVID-19, I didn’t have much time to find an internship or work. I struggled a lot with booking flights back to China. After I got back to China, I traveled with my parents and have been searching for a job that is related to music.

Now that you’ve been out of college for awhile, what would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?

Everything is possible if you are willing to try!

What are your career goals?

It is really hard to figure out what I want to do in the future. For now, I am thinking about applying to graduate school. I would like to find a program that combines both of my majors for a future career path.