Laurel Goetzinger doesn’t need 76 trombones to herald her as the Music Woman on campus. Since she came to Anderson University in 1999, she’s been an integral part of the music department and essential to the annual musical which she directs. But what many might not know is that she’s also accomplished in Indianapolis’ professional performance scene as well.

Goetzinger, originally from Chicago, was involved in the performance scene in New York with her husband Mark, who is a professional actor, before moving to Indiana. She worked on various projects in New York, but also had the opportunity to showcase her craft across the country. While singing with a recitalist performing music by women composers, her voice was heard in theaters and recital halls of the American Midwest and even ventured as far as London. Her opera repertoire grew and gained much exposure while in New York. One of the operas in which she played a principal role was broadcast in the early days of cable on the CBS Arts Channel. She also helped children to experience the arts through children’s operas, which she toured with. All of these experiences, however, were just the beginning.

With so much opportunity for performance in the city of Broadway, what brings a pair of New York performers to Indianapolis, Indiana? As a matter of fact, opportunity. Goetzinger’s husband was hired by the Indiana Repertory Theater for a season. “We went there thinking we would be there for a year,” Goetzinger said. But as the current status of the Indianapolis arts community shows, they were on the vanguard of an arts expansion not to be ignored. “The Indianapolis performing arts community was growing. Lots of New York performers were coming to Indianapolis. And it was a good place to raise a family,” Goetzinger explained. She took a position at Butler University in 1988, and later moved on to our own Anderson University.

Even though her work at AU takes up much of her time, she also performs professionally in the Indianapolis arts. She has worked with the Indianapolis opera, singing in the chorus and performing a few small roles. She also has performed in the IRT production of Ride a Blue Horse and directed The Gift of the Magi for the IRT. But her main focus has been developing the lyric theatre program at AU.

Since Goetzinger has been involved in directing the annual musical and opera, she’s seen the scope of the productions expand in many ways. On the technical side, the crew has had to deal with the limitations of Byrum Hall. But each production has seen new innovations in scenery, lighting and costuming. “We keep ratcheting up expectations. Namely in dance,” Goetzinger said. Although the Church of God’s traditional reservations against social dancing previously restricted some forms of dance on campus, classical dance forms are flourishing in the AU curriculum. As the lyric theatre grew in its range of possibilities, it was clear that performers would need formal training in dance to keep the quality of the production on par with the pre-professional standard they aspired to. Goetzinger spoke to administration about beginning dance classes, and her initiative yielded dance majors and minors, four faculty, and a state-of-the-art dance studio. Goetzinger’s goals for the lyric theatre program are high. “We’ve geared it to be more high, college level performance. I can’t tell you we’ve reached that. We’re aiming, though,” Goetzinger said.

Since her move here from New York many years ago, Goetzinger has had many opportunities to grow and develop her craft, but has also found a wonderful home for her family. “It’s been a good place for me professionally and personally,” Goetzinger said. Her experience in Indiana, and specifically at AU, has been part of her growth, and the AU community would agree that her own growth has helped direct the musical spirit of the campus into a crescendo of excellence.