The “Senior Spotlight” series honors graduating fine arts majors for their contributions to the Gustavus community.
Jakob Larson is a Music Honors major in Performance with an Arts Administration minor. He plans to attend graduate school for trombone. Associate Professor of Music, Jazz Area Coordinator, and Director of the Arts Administration Program Dave Stamps says, “Jakob came into the Gustavus jazz program swinging and has never stopped! He’s been such a blessing to have around as our resident master of the low end (bass trombone and bass guitar!) and also as a student leader with the JCREW. He gets things done (and usually with some sort of prank!). Jakob has much to look forward to as a professional performer!”
We asked Jakob to give us a little insight into his time at Gustavus and what his future plans are.
What will you miss most about music at Gustavus?
JL: Hanging out with my band mates and all the inside jokes within ensembles
What’s a favorite memory you have from studying music at Gustavus?
JL: When we went to Singapore and Malaysia and doing a side by side with schools jazz combo that was going so well that we ran past time and it turned into a mini concert for everyone else on tour.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give high school students considering Gustavus?
JL: Take a zoom lesson, attend a rehearsal and most importantly of all if you come here, do something for yourself outside of the music department
What has been your proudest moment in your time at Gustavus?
JL: Being the only Honors Performance Major in my class year
What professor has made the biggest impact on you and why?
JL: I would say Dave. At the start of freshman year I was not exactly sure what I should do and how to go about figuring out what exactly I wanted to do at school and before or after rehearsal Dave would find time to talk to me and work things out, whether that was talking about graduate schools or possibly even the military bands.