Huskie Spotlight: Joe Beribak, ’25, Composition

What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was a boy, I wanted to be a Catholic priest. When I grew a little older, I loved amusement parks and wanted to design roller-coasters. This desire faded once I entered high school, when I was exposed to the compositions of John Cage. At that time, I wanted to become a classical percussionist, particularly specializing in chamber music. I did pursue percussion studies as my major for my bachelor’s degree and four more years for my artist’s diploma. Then, I entered a Benedictine monastery after completing my artist’s diploma. After deciding not to continue that path to the point of taking vows, I returned to my musical dreams. My interests have gravitated toward composition, which is my major here at NIU as I pursue a master’s degree.

What is your favorite thing about studying and/or playing music at NIU? I love my teachers at NIU. They have all been generous with their time and supportive of my artistic and professional pursuits. It has also been rewarding to find so many of my fellow students who are interested in performing new compositions. It is a school where musical explorations are encouraged. I love the curiosity I’ve encountered.

How have you connected with other students at NIU? I found a group of talented musicians willing to take on a difficult piece I wrote last year. We performed it as part of the New Music Festival. I’ve connected with some of the percussionists, and I hope to organize another performance of a large work this Spring.

Are you involved in any student organizations or extra-curricular activities? I’ve been involved with the Music Composition Club. This has proven to be a fun gathering, where the formalities of the classroom are relaxed. I’ve gotten great feedback from the other students in the club on some of my assignments, steering me in a more stylistically appropriate direction. I also ended up getting inspired by our group discussions of John Cage to dive deeper into his influence. My research paper during the fall semester built upon that inspiration. So, this club has been an essential part of my experience as a composition major so far.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why?  Dr. (Elinor) Olin has been extremely helpful. Having never done music research, I relied upon her guidance throughout her Music Research Seminar class. She was generous with her time outside of class, meeting with me on several occasions to help me hone my research topic and technique. She has even offered to continue this guidance now that I’ve completed her class.

Why did you choose NIU to study music? NIU was very attractive to me for several reasons. First, the scholarship I received to be a graduate assistant made the cost of a master’s degree attainable for me. Second, having worked as a percussionist and teacher in the Fox River Valley for several years,  I have had opportunities to interact with graduates and faculty of NIU’s music school. Their high level of musicianship and their beaming reviews of their experience here put the school on my radar when I was choosing schools to send applications. I didn’t apply to any school I didn’t want to attend. While I was accepted at another institution, I chose NIU after meeting with Drs. (David) Maki and (Brian) Penkrot. It was clear to me that NIU was a school where compositional exploration was encouraged. Both faculty and students are keen to take on the challenges inherent in creating new music.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community?  I think the areas by the Kishwaukee River are the most beautiful parts of NIU’s campus and DeKalb as a whole. As a cyclist who rarely drives, I’m grateful to have a path that allows me to minimize my interactions with cars. As a nature lover, I get the opportunity to see a variety of birds attracted to the river. The river additionally provides an oasis from the noise of the incessant car traffic that plagues much of DeKalb.

What advice would you give to a student who is applying to colleges? The application process can be long and complex. Put in the time to reflect on why you are pursuing a particular degree. Allow time to get input from family and teachers about the schools you are applying to. Each applicant has a unique circumstance that makes a particular school worth attending. If you send an application to a school, it should be a place you can see yourself attending. Believe in your strengths and know that a school (and eventually your community) will be blessed to have you contributing your full effort to the pursuit of your degree.

What do you do to relax or recharge? To reset my musical mind, silence and the sounds of nature are essential. I bicycle for relaxation, but I also bicycle to run errands. Often, this mode of transportation provides a mental reset for me. For times when I have to wait unexpectedly, I’ve enjoyed rediscovering my hacky sack. It has had the added benefit of improving my balance and connection to my lower body. For more significant recharging needs, there is no substitute for long nights of sleep and naps.

Coming to college, what is something that you have had to learn to do differently? Since I need to focus the majority of my time on my studies, I have had to reduce the number of hours I work to earn money. As such, I’ve needed to accept the generosity of others to help me fill in the gaps of meeting financial responsibilities.