Music Professor Terry Maddox is leaving Spring Hill College after 23 years of teaching. The Indiana native has been working at SHC since the fall of 1999.
Due to low enrollment rates, the Music Department will be significantly less prominent at SHC. Instead, the Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and Art programs will be emphasized. “Sadly, I feel like music has been the best-kept secret of Spring Hill College. I think we would have had more students when we had the two classes and the four applied if more people really knew about it,” said Maddox.
Maddox taught Applied Piano, Guitar, Organ, Voice, Music Appreciation One and Two, Jazz History, Essentials in Music Theory and Choir here at SHC for 15 years. Due to lower enrollment rates, SHC now offers only four music classes in a two-year rotation. These class are Music Appreciation One and Two, Jazz History, and Essentials in Music Theory.
Maddox said, “I’ve always loved working with people. I never wanted to be a composer. A large portion of my Doctors is in conducting, but I’ve always been a teacher. I enjoy teaching private lessons. I just enjoy teaching. I find that it brings diversity to a person’s overall view of life and experiences.” He has gotten the chance to teach Pre-K up to twelfth grade for 21 years and college level for 23 years. Maddox has been a minister of music for 40 years and was a student of music for 52 years. “It’s more about empowering them to find music within themselves and creating music appreciation,” said Maddox.
Junior Noemi Chavez has been one of Maddox’s students for two years. She said, “I remember going to my first lesson, and I was really nervous and shaking because I always wanted to have voice and piano lessons. Everything felt natural with him. My fondest memory of him was when he wanted me to sing louder and he would jokingly say, ‘Grandma can’t hear you,'” said Chavez.
For over 19 years, Maddox was the Minister of Music/Fine Arts at Government Street Presbyterian Church until SHC’s Dr. Eichold and his wife attended the church. Mrs. Eichold had developed brain cancer and was in the hospital, where Maddox visited her frequently. Maddox also gave concerts at Spring Hill Temple and was well-versed in Hebrew. After Mrs. Eichold passed away, Dr. Eichold pulled Maddox and Dr. Cambal, the late Director of the Department of Fine/Performing Arts, into a meeting. This meeting is where Eichold asked Maddox to start up a music program at Spring Hill College.
Maddox will be departing from SHC next semester. “Without a doubt, I will miss the beautiful expression of my students. I love every class that I have, the ones who grow to love music, the ones who love music already. It’s just the joy of the energy this age group of students brings. It’s different from high school and middle school and has an energizing vibe I will miss. I will miss my students,” said Maddox. He later concluded, “My students have the most positive energy and have given me so much more than I have given them from this energy and enthusiasm.”
For more information about or inquiries for Maddox, email him at [email protected].
