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Chrys Weedon<\/strong> | Entertainment Editor<\/span><\/p>\n Virtue Cornelison is a second year vocal performance major studying classical music. Hailing from McMinnville, Cornelison was drawn to Western because of its comforting environment. \u201cDoing high school music stuff, there were a couple times that I actually got to perform in Rice here,\u201d said Cornelison, \u201cso I kind of knew already that I felt comfortable with the town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The atmosphere wasn\u2019t the only reason Cornelison was drawn to Western. Many students from his high school came to the school for its music program as well. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t the only one from my high school to come here for the music department. There\u2019s actually quite a few people from McMinnville,\u201d Cornelison explained.<\/span><\/p>\n Cornelison started choir in his junior year of high school. Back then, he was thinking of pursuing psychology, but wasn\u2019t sure. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as I did basically the first thing musical that I\u2019d ever attempted, it just kind of clicked,\u201d Cornelison commented. \u201cLike, \u2018oh, this is that thing people keep telling me about where \u2026 you could do this for the rest of your life without ever waking up regretful.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n When asked about long term plans, Cornelison had a simple answer: \u201cJust to keep making music.\u201d The vocal major is happy to continue what he is doing right now \u2014 learning and making music. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very happy to be learning what I\u2019m learning. I\u2019m making plenty of connections in the music business, as things are,\u201d Cornelison said. \u201cI\u2019m just learning a lot of skills which, even if it\u2019s just me and a few friends, the ability to make music is alone so fulfilling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Cornelison studies more traditional classical music, but also likes jazz. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something that\u2019s a lot closer to what\u2019s popular nowadays, just in terms of it\u2019s not so formal, but there\u2019s still so much technicality with it, it\u2019s something you still really have to study,\u201d said Cornelison.<\/span><\/p>\n Cornelison takes part in almost all of the musical groups on campus, including the Chamber Singers and Western Oregon Voices, who are going to perform in Reno, Nevada in June. \u201cThe only group I\u2019m not really with is Acapella club, and I don\u2019t know how much longer I can keep myself out of that,\u201d Cornelison joked.<\/span><\/p>\n Cornelison only had positive things to say about his experience with the music program so far. \u201cWe have some amazing professors that are able to teach\u2026 a very small class and get to know you personally. That\u2019s great. But they\u2019re still very prepared to teach you the material. The music department is so tightly-knit it\u2019s really like another home,\u201d Cornelison said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n