Dr. Eckert
By: Holden Williams
How does art affect you? From the painting in the hotel, to the jazz in the elevator, it is all around us. For one Collingwood teacher, art was more than the hum in the wind or the doodle on the page; it was a visceral need that drove this teacher to his future here at Collingwood. Who is Dr. Eckert, and why do we need to “do” art in the first place? Dr. Eckert's wisdom on the subject goes beyond techniques or experience; for him, art is about connection, discovery, and humanity.
This Collingwood teacher has come a long way from his roots in Roanoke, Virginia, his hometown. There he was, sitting crisscrossed on the gymnasium floor after a long day of school. He was in 4th grade and quite bored. Suddenly, 6 men walked in and sat at their respective instruments. The large, bold letters on the band sign read "Brass Five." The lights dimmed, and they blasted into their first song, each instrument adding a sound to the tapestry they formed together. Each weaving into the song. As the song finished, Dr. Eckert sat there starstruck. And knew, “I have to be a part of this somehow.” That was the moment his passion ignited.
“I was adamant from a young age about all sorts of performing opportunities (music). I wanted to do it as a career.” After graduating from His high school in Virginia, Dr. Eckert moved all the way to Miami, Florida, to be a professional musician. With palm trees floating wistfully above his head and the hot sidewalk underneath him, it dawned on him that this place was going to change his life.
Moving cities is quite a big change, but Dr. Eckert was there for a reason, as he “got a very nice scholarship and fellowship to attend the Frost School of Music.” During his 10 years in Miami, Dr. Eckert accomplished a great deal, from working as a prep chef in a restaurant to reaching the finals in his university's concerto competition. He drew his motivation to keep going from people around him, like the Talented singer-songwriter, Ben Folds. Following Ben's advice, Eckert decided to make a name for his self in Miami, even describing it as “A cultural hub”. After graduating, He was immediately hired at his alma mater as a lecturer
Through his decade in Miami, Dr. Eckert played in many venues and learned many things about being a professional musician. He played in 10 different orchestras in South Florida and in lots of travelling musicals, Chicago, In the Heights, Cabaret, and The Addams Family. With travelling groups like The Who. With a wide pool of talent, it is no wonder Dr. Eckert stayed booked and busy. After 10 years, he moved here in June 2023, an exact decade after his move to Miami. “My first impression of the art scene (Vancouver) is that it is underdeveloped.” For such a metropolitan place, it was wild to see such a shift, especially from the vibrant environment in Miami, even describing Vancouver as a “Retirement home for musicians,” and if you're not in with VSO, not much is going on.
With this shift, he remembered his time in school back to his roots, “from my high school experience, the chemical equations and the US history don’t matter.” He goes on to say the most important thing was collaboration between departments, and he still misses that feeling and would love to do a musical at Collingwood to interlink these departments. After joining the Collingwood faculty, Eckert thought back to his old band director, Barry Tucker, who had inspired him as he took on the new job headfirst and found his footing in Collingwood, finding ambitions that Barry could do, like the ability “To be able to balance a successful teaching career and a strong performance career.”
Dr. Eckert is not new to art in many ways, and through speaking to him, I could see the passion that radiated from every word he spoke. From the discussions on collaboration and meeting new people, I could see the talent that brought him to this school. He says it’s “The bonds you make with people, not the finished product, it's the journey and the process.” A motto that rings true in every class of his, he believes that everyone is capable of art. Some abilities are veiled or untapped, some are bursting forth; you just must find and inspire that. From the tiniest viola to the largest euphonium, the ability is in everyone. It is a passion that “is a deep-seated need in people that makes you feel incomplete if you don't pursue it.” He reminds us it is a long process that never stops. You will not stop developing, and you must trust the process. It is slow, but it will be worth it. Don’t focus on the “Why am I doing this?” Focus on the growth that happens along the way.
Not participating in art, in his view, would be detrimental. Life would feel incomplete, unsatisfying, and lacking meaning. Art gives purpose, connection, and an outlet for expression that nothing else can fully replace. It is not just an activity, but something that makes life feel worth living. When asked if art will always be a part of his life, his answer is clear. Yes. “There is no reality in which it is not.” When it comes to art, passion will always triumph over anything.
By: Holden Williams
How does art affect you? From the painting in the hotel, to the jazz in the elevator, it is all around us. For one Collingwood teacher, art was more than the hum in the wind or the doodle on the page; it was a visceral need that drove this teacher to his future here at Collingwood. Who is Dr. Eckert, and why do we need to “do” art in the first place? Dr. Eckert's wisdom on the subject goes beyond techniques or experience; for him, art is about connection, discovery, and humanity.
This Collingwood teacher has come a long way from his roots in Roanoke, Virginia, his hometown. There he was, sitting crisscrossed on the gymnasium floor after a long day of school. He was in 4th grade and quite bored. Suddenly, 6 men walked in and sat at their respective instruments. The large, bold letters on the band sign read "Brass Five." The lights dimmed, and they blasted into their first song, each instrument adding a sound to the tapestry they formed together. Each weaving into the song. As the song finished, Dr. Eckert sat there starstruck. And knew, “I have to be a part of this somehow.” That was the moment his passion ignited.
“I was adamant from a young age about all sorts of performing opportunities (music). I wanted to do it as a career.” After graduating from His high school in Virginia, Dr. Eckert moved all the way to Miami, Florida, to be a professional musician. With palm trees floating wistfully above his head and the hot sidewalk underneath him, it dawned on him that this place was going to change his life.
Moving cities is quite a big change, but Dr. Eckert was there for a reason, as he “got a very nice scholarship and fellowship to attend the Frost School of Music.” During his 10 years in Miami, Dr. Eckert accomplished a great deal, from working as a prep chef in a restaurant to reaching the finals in his university's concerto competition. He drew his motivation to keep going from people around him, like the Talented singer-songwriter, Ben Folds. Following Ben's advice, Eckert decided to make a name for his self in Miami, even describing it as “A cultural hub”. After graduating, He was immediately hired at his alma mater as a lecturer
Through his decade in Miami, Dr. Eckert played in many venues and learned many things about being a professional musician. He played in 10 different orchestras in South Florida and in lots of travelling musicals, Chicago, In the Heights, Cabaret, and The Addams Family. With travelling groups like The Who. With a wide pool of talent, it is no wonder Dr. Eckert stayed booked and busy. After 10 years, he moved here in June 2023, an exact decade after his move to Miami. “My first impression of the art scene (Vancouver) is that it is underdeveloped.” For such a metropolitan place, it was wild to see such a shift, especially from the vibrant environment in Miami, even describing Vancouver as a “Retirement home for musicians,” and if you're not in with VSO, not much is going on.
With this shift, he remembered his time in school back to his roots, “from my high school experience, the chemical equations and the US history don’t matter.” He goes on to say the most important thing was collaboration between departments, and he still misses that feeling and would love to do a musical at Collingwood to interlink these departments. After joining the Collingwood faculty, Eckert thought back to his old band director, Barry Tucker, who had inspired him as he took on the new job headfirst and found his footing in Collingwood, finding ambitions that Barry could do, like the ability “To be able to balance a successful teaching career and a strong performance career.”
Dr. Eckert is not new to art in many ways, and through speaking to him, I could see the passion that radiated from every word he spoke. From the discussions on collaboration and meeting new people, I could see the talent that brought him to this school. He says it’s “The bonds you make with people, not the finished product, it's the journey and the process.” A motto that rings true in every class of his, he believes that everyone is capable of art. Some abilities are veiled or untapped, some are bursting forth; you just must find and inspire that. From the tiniest viola to the largest euphonium, the ability is in everyone. It is a passion that “is a deep-seated need in people that makes you feel incomplete if you don't pursue it.” He reminds us it is a long process that never stops. You will not stop developing, and you must trust the process. It is slow, but it will be worth it. Don’t focus on the “Why am I doing this?” Focus on the growth that happens along the way.
Not participating in art, in his view, would be detrimental. Life would feel incomplete, unsatisfying, and lacking meaning. Art gives purpose, connection, and an outlet for expression that nothing else can fully replace. It is not just an activity, but something that makes life feel worth living. When asked if art will always be a part of his life, his answer is clear. Yes. “There is no reality in which it is not.” When it comes to art, passion will always triumph over anything.
