Dr. Dan Goble
Dan Goble, who arrived on campus in mid-July, grew up in Casper, Wyo., and spent most of his career at Western Connecticut State University where he was dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts for the past four years.
It became apparent after just a few interactions with Dr. Goble that he is quite passionate about what the new name represents, as well as the opportunities it signifies. “To me, departments are separate units, representing the singularity of one discipline, whereas a school is an entity or group going in the same direction,” he explained. “As a name, the ‘School of Music, Theatre and Dance’ encompasses the notion that we’re all going in the same direction.”
The new moniker doesn’t insinuate blended disciplines with identical methods and processes, but connotes the alliance of three distinct areas. “The underlying theme of the organizational structure is the unification of the creative and artistic process,” said Goble. And this theme transcends the production, rehearsal, research, and teaching processes.
Despite Goble’s insight on the name evolution, he doesn’t have a pre-determined vision to be meted on the School. “I don’t presume to already know the vision for 100 highly seasoned professionals already hard at it – the visioning and mission for the School is going to be fleshed out, and even newly created, during the year,” assured Goble.
“We’ve been going along for a long time as a department, and now, the school designation gives us the opportunity to continue building on the synergies between the disciplines, something that really began when we all moved into the University Center for the Arts in 2008.”
For example, a Ralph Opera Center production at the University Center for the Arts (UCA) involves music, theatre, and, dance students and faculty, technical staff, costume shop staff, and the marketing, event, and front office staff. “Take a look at the UCA Performance Guide, where full productions like Hansel and Gretel, Step on a Crack, and the Fall Dance Concert occur throughout the year – in many respects we’re already solidly operating as a School,” he said. “Consistently thinking like one will move us forward.”
For Goble, the first step is to determine what the School already does really well. The second step is to establish what can be done as a School that is innovative and resonates with students and patrons. “We’re going to take some time to figure out what we do well, what we do not do so well, what we do better, and what we could do better, analyzing our place as leaders in the performing arts and establishing our goals as a performing arts school,” he outlined.
Goble’s questions are not rhetorical. What sets the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at CSU apart from the regional competition? Why would a prospective student choose us? What makes the School unique to donors? Why would someone support us with their time or treasure? What do our alumni and patrons say about their experience? How is what I do as a faculty or staff member, or grad student, fit into the overall picture?
As the director, Goble is equipped to tackle these hard questions as he leads the faculty and staff through the re-positioning process, where the challenge will be to identify additional niche elements – such as having the state’s single undergraduate dance degree emphasizing pedagogy, or being one of the only music therapy programs in the Rocky Mountain region – crucial to excelling as regional and national leaders. “The main reason I took the position is to help CSU realize its potential of having a truly great performing arts program,” he revealed. “I believe that the School of Music, Theatre and Dance is poised to be a leader in performing arts education in Colorado and beyond.”
What Goble also hopes to accomplish, with everyone’s help, is the alleviation of any residual music, theatre, and dance hierarchy from the days as a department. “Hey, it’s the west – we’re all neighbors, we all help each other,” he exclaimed. “Our frontier mentality means we’re all committed to the same thing, and in the spirit of the old west, the three distinct areas are supportive of each other to reach our goals and dreams.”
In the five weeks that Goble has been immersed in Fort Collins, one thing has become quite clear – “Colorado State University, and this city, is a great destination,” he enthused. “I’ve met a lot of professionally experienced people who have obviously done a great job making the UCA a fantastic place for students, faculty, and staff.”
Another of Goble’s quests has become the search for the perfect breakfast burrito, trying Consuelo’s, Snooze, Silver Grill, Doug’s Day Diner, and Taco John’s, so far. Upon revealing this pursuit, he was instructed to immediately go to Big City Burrito, and he fully expects a deluge of additional suggestions!
But mostly, Goble’s excited about the arrival of the students at the UCA. “It was a thrill seeing the students coming in for calls last week,” he said. “That will be the cool part – getting to know the students.”
Virtuoso Series Concert – From Bach to Bebop
Dr. Dan Goble, saxophone, makes his UCA debut in a concert that features music spanning over 300 years: from Bach to Bebop. An arts administrator who is also an active performer, Dr. Goble has performed with the New York Philharmonic for over 15 years, and has recently been featured with the orchestra as the saxophone soloist on Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and Ravel’s Bolero.
November 2, 7:30 p.m.
Organ Recital Hall, UCA
About Dan Goble
Recently named the new director of the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at Colorado State University, saxophonist and professor Dan Goble is thrilled to return to the Rocky Mountain West where he began his career in his hometown of Casper, Wyo. Previous to his appointment at CSU, Dr. Goble served as the dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts (SVPA) at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) in Danbury, Conn. In his roles as the dean of SVPA, coordinator of Jazz Studies, and chair of the Department of Music at WCSU, Dr. Goble led efforts to assure excellence in teaching, scholarship and service that enhanced the reputation of WCSU while attracting outstanding faculty, staff and students to the campus. Throughout his tenure at WCSU, he served in numerous positions of leadership and service, providing guidance for curricular and programmatic changes that affected positively SVPA and the university, most notably the planning and construction of a new $97 million instructional and performance facility which opened in Aug., 2014.
An arts administrator who is also an active performer, Dr. Goble has performed with the New York Philharmonic for over 15 years, and has recently been featured with the orchestra as the saxophone soloist on Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and Ravel’s Bolero. In addition to his work the New York Philharmonic, Dr. Goble has performed with the New York City Ballet, The American Symphony Orchestra, The Mariinsky Orchestra, the New York Saxophone Quartet, and the Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet.
Committed to recording and promoting contemporary works for the saxophone, his critically acclaimed CD Freeway, includes significant compositions by Pulitzer Prize winning composers Charles Wuorinen and John Harbison (CRI 876). His recording of Quartet, Opus 22, by Anton Webern, conducted by Robert Kraft, is available on the Naxos label, and his most recent project with pianist Russell Hirshfield, Mad Dances, American Music for Saxophone and Piano (Troy 1251), features the music of David Diamond, William Albright, David Del Tredici, Libby Larsen, and Kevin Jay Isaacs.
On the international stage, Dr. Goble has toured extensively with the New York Philharmonic, including the historic visit to North Korea in 2008, as well as recent tours to Europe, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and China. He was a featured performer at the 2004 Thailand International Saxophone Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, and has performed recitals in Japan, China, and in Europe. He was the First Prize-winner at the 1993 Louise D. McMahon International Competition, and has won or placed in numerous other prestigious competitions, including, the Concert Artist Guild International Competition, the Ima Hogg International Young Artist Competition, and the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition.
Dr. Goble received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, and his Bachelor’s degrees in Saxophone Performance and Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Recently, he was named distinguished alum of Casper College in his hometown of Casper, Wyo. His saxophone teachers include Roger Greenberg, Thomas Kinser, Harvey Pittel, and Albert Regni.
Dan Goble is a D’Addario performing artist.