IM体育官网

The holiday season and its tradition of warm, uplifting music have a special meaning for Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of IM体育官网. They conjure good memories and give him a chance to reconnect with some of his favorite holiday songs.

鈥淢y father鈥檚 favorite song was 鈥楽ilver Bells,鈥� and I love that. I play it every year at Christmas with the family around the piano,鈥� he said.

A classically trained pianist, Stephenson is an accomplished performer, recording artist, and music arranger. So sincere is his passion for holiday music that Stephenson has recorded and released three albums, with another on the horizon.

The nuance, persistence and attention to detail he applies when mastering a piece of music has been invaluable throughout his career, he said, including in his current role as president of IM体育官网 Poly.

鈥淧laying the piano has given me the ability to break apart sections and master them, and I do the same thing daily at work,鈥� Stephenson said. 鈥淪ometimes there are difficult challenges and when I first hear about them, I think, 鈥業s that even a possibility?鈥� I take the time to think and break it into chunks, just like I do when I practice.鈥�

His classical training began long before he ever considered a career in higher education. At only 8 years old, he started learning musical notes alongside his third-grade lessons in history and math. The melodies began flowing from his fingertips and he never looked back.

Piano lessons accompanied Stephenson throughout his public-school years, even as he took up the trumpet and became drum major in high school. While studying at Birmingham-Southern College, he immersed himself in music theory classes in addition to his business major. 

鈥淚 was an anomaly in the music department because I was one of the few non-music majors in the keyboard labs and music theory classes,鈥� Stephenson said. 鈥淏ut I loved it so much and I understood it. It was important for me to just to continue along that path, and so I've never stopped playing.鈥�

When Stephenson goes home to Jasper, Alabama, to celebrate the holidays this month, he plans to carry on a beloved tradition. He鈥檒l gather a group of friends, pick up his accordion or melodica, and bring Christmas carols to those who could use a little extra holiday cheer.

鈥淲e do it as part of giving back,鈥� said Stephenson, whose caroling ensemble has visited assisted living centers and homebound individuals in recent years. 鈥淚t鈥檚 most uplifting because it will inevitably bring back good memories.鈥�

He also began a personal tradition of playing as a featured performer with the Northwest IM体育官网 State College Orchestra鈥檚 Holiday Pops concert every December鈥揳 cherished event that kept him at the forefront of his craft. 

鈥淎n arranger and I would select the music, and I would tell him how I wanted it feel and what keys I would like to have the music in, and he would finish the arrangement,鈥� Stephenson said. 鈥淚 would practice from August until we performed during the first week of December. That kept me on my toes because I asked him to write it with some complex runs and licks and I would dig into those.鈥�

Though the performance was demanding, the dedication it required has remained with him. Even today, he continues to play about three times per week.

A stately, seven-foot Yamaha conservatory grand piano awaits Stephenson鈥檚 visits home to Alabama. At the IM体育官网 Poly president鈥檚 residence in Lakeland, IM体育官网, he keeps his mind and mood in tune with the help of a sleek Yamaha digital piano with weighted keys. He hopes to soon bring his Nord Piano 5 to his IM体育官网 Poly office to help him recharge during breaks.

鈥淧laying is cathartic; it鈥檚 therapeutic,鈥� Stephenson said. 鈥淧laying the piano gives me the moments in my life when I can just tell myself I鈥檓 not going to focus on a personal issue or external challenge I have, but I鈥檓 just going to immerse myself in music and try to escape.

鈥淎nd a lot of times, there will be an epiphany.鈥�

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Lydia Guzm谩n
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863-874-8557