Hohman grows in OU music, choir, musicals

Chris Hohman is a new addition to the Ottawa University family.

He is a freshman who came from Gardner High School.

He is active the music and theatre departments and is here on a vocal scholarship.

He is involved in band and choir. He plans to major in Biology with a music minor.

He was convinced to enroll at Ottawa when Roger Kugler, the band director, and Jeff Anderson, the choir director, came to his high school to clinic their band and choir. "The people I talked to and met from OU were warm and welcoming," Hohman said.

Hohman joined band in the fifth grade and joined choir and theatre in the seventh grade. His older brother was in choir so he joined as well and was told that he should do a musical.

"My family has always been in music so my mom put me in band in 5th grade. I enjoyed band so much that I decided to join choir," he said. "Some of my friends in choir invited me to audition for Gardner Community Theatre and I've been doing musicals ever since."

Hohman said he enjoyed getting to know people he wouldn't have known otherwise.

"I've always done musicals mostly, "said Hohman. "It's also a lot of fun to take a step back and be in someone else's shoes and become an entirely different person."

Hohman performed in the play Almost, Maine held at OU earlier this fall. He says that the people are what really make the programs enjoyable.

"You make a lot of really good friends when you're in theatre," he said. "You meet people that you wouldn't meet otherwise."

When it comes to the music and theatre programs at Ottawa, Hohman feels they will grow in the future.

"They're really small, but the people care a lot about it and it's going to grow and get better," he said.

It is one of the first years for pep band at Ottawa. Hohman said it is nice to be in the start of such a young program.

Hohman has played the trumpet for nine years. He loves music and always has some type of music playing.

"I just like to play music and make music," he said. "It's just something I love to do."

Kugler said he has had the pleasure of working with Hohman this year in band.

He says that Hohman has improved tremendously on his trumpet playing this semester.

Kugler described Hohman's terrific attitude and his ability to learn quickly as part of his greatest strengths.

"The combination of his intelligence, persistence, and positive attitude are his greatest strengths," he said.

Kugler describes Hohman as a great student and person.

"He is a great team player, takes pride in his accomplishments, and best of all … he takes care of business,

and strives to always improve his performance," he said. "Chris has made great improvement in his playing this semester. He is an important part of our trumpet section in the Jazz Ensemble and University Band."

Hohman often enjoys singing with his friends such as freshman, Angela Skerston.

The two attended high school together have sang in multiple choirs together. They also played in pep band together

"He takes direction very well and strives to be a better musician, whether it be in singing or in playing the trumpet," Skerston said.

She believes his skills are improving as he continues to grow in his undertakings.

Hohman said he looks forward to watching the music program grow and improving on how he develops as a musician.