Pianist and senior music major Chris Spinelli, who was recruited by many schools for his top-tier talent, chose SUNY Oswego for its opportunities and because of an immediate connection with a faculty member.

Why did you choose SUNY Oswego?

When I was looking at schools, it wasn't so much the school I was looking at as the teacher, because I knew I wanted to go for performance and I figured, you know, the environment can be whatever but if I didn't like the teacher that I was with, there was no point in staying. So I had lessons with each of the teachers or at least one of the teachers from each school that I went to. And all those teachers had this mentality of "I say, you do," and when I got here, Rob (Auler, professor and chair of music) said, "no, I'm going to teach you how to think like a musician and then you're gonna do it."

How has your experience been with Rob and Oswego?

I've been able to get opportunities I never would have gotten at those schools. I was able to play with Symphoria a couple years ago, I toured in the last six months with a flutist from Symphoria. I can guarantee you, I wouldn't have gotten opportunities like that at Eastman or Crane. The best way I can balance it is just to stay on top of everything at all times. I will absolutely go to teachers and ask for help if I need to and maybe it's part of what makes me a half decent pianist too but I don't like falling behind on anything. That's always been my mentality and you know, my parents have always raised me with this idea of, you do your best at all times. As long as you're doing that, then you're doing the right thing.

What are your future plans?

My goal here is to sort of end up with a job like Rob has. I'd love to teach at a college, I'd love to teach, you know, on the side, and I'd like to still perform. And it's kind of amazing to me that Rob's not only been my teacher but my example and a real goal for me.