Student Snapshot: Eli Goeltz '22

Eli Goeltz '22

Eli Goeltz ’22 is an a cappella singer, drummer and international business & management major with minors in music and French. Below, he discusses the professor who’s taken his music performance to the next level and offers his best advice for anyone who’s ever been daunted by a new challenge.

Hometown:

Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

Major: 

International business & management with minors in music and French.

Clubs and organizations:  

The Octals, Rock Climbing Club and DICE.

Honors/scholarships/awards:

John Montgomery Scholarship on the Recommendation of the Music Faculty

Favorite book:

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse.

Favorite movie:

It’s a Wonderful Life or Napoleon Dynamite.

Best thing about my Dickinson experience:

This sounds really cheesy and cliché, but the people. I know and have learned from so many amazing people at this school, and I feel immensely lucky for it.

Favorite place on campus:

The South College percussion studio.

Favorite class so far:

The music theory track is so special at Dickinson. All of the professors are patient and invested in their students’ learning, and it really does feel like you are learning from a friend. The stuff we learn is also really important. The professors make sure to apply the theory to the social politics that are/were happening in the world. That is immensely important to do in music but also, sadly, rare in a theory class.

As I kid, I wanted to be …

… a rock drummer.

Favorite professor:

I would have to say David Zygmunt, contributing faculty in music. In the beginning of every semester, we talk about where I want to go with my drumming skills. And sure enough, he gets me to that point. I’ve had so many percussion instructors in my life, and I’m thankful for all of them. But Zygmunt showed me a side to drumming that was new to me. I really needed that at this point in my life.

Little-known hobby/talent:

I love gardening.

If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be …

… Quincy Jones.

About my internship:

In summer 2021 I interned at an event-management company called Chattanooga Presents. Every year they put on a concert series in my hometown called Nightfall, which is how I first fell in love with music as a kid. I got to learn a lot about the behind-the-scenes part of booking gigs and planning events, which is really helpful to know, going into the music industry. I also got to meet a lot of musicians backstage, which was great for networking.

Best piece of advice:

Don’t wait for things to be possible before doing them, because things become possible when you start doing them.

Read more Student Snapshots.

TAKE THE NEXT STEPS 

 

Published May 12, 2022