Adam Blackwood

Adam Blackwood

Class Year

’24

Hometown

Franklin, Wis.

Major(s)

Music, Core Vocal Emphasis; Business Management

Adam Blackwood ’24 is able to pursue both a degree in management and music at Carthage. After auditioning for Carthage’s music program, he received the Music Scholar Grant and the Grace C. Scheel and the Bothe Scholarship. Outside of music scholarships, he also received the Carthaginian and Carthage visit grants.

A member of the Carthage Choir since freshman year, Adam gained many amazing memories with the group at the annual Christmas Festival, in Ireland during a tour in summer 2022, and in Washington, DC during a tour in spring 2023. 

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“I chose Carthage because I was amazed by how friendly and welcoming it felt when auditioning for the music scholarships.”

Adam Blackwood, ’24

Faculty mentors

“The Carthage staff has always helped me with anything when needed. Developing professional relationships with professors, especially in your study area, will be crucial to succeeding in college and beyond.”

Favorite class

“My favorite class is Opera Workshop. In high school, I used to be involved with musical theater. So when I first heard of this class, I figured it would be an outstanding balance between rekindling my musical theater days and helping me develop the skills of classically trained vocal styles and performing them in front of people. It is an enjoyable experience, and the people involved in this class are very fun to be around.”

Campus involvement

“Other than Carthage Choir, I am a part of the Rock Climbing Club. I recently started rock climbing with some people from Carthage Choir, and I have started to enjoy it more and more every time I go.”

Internships or campus employment

“I have an on-campus job doing audio-visual work for fine arts events. Whenever there is a student recital in the recital hall or an ensemble concert in the chapel, chances are I will be running an audio-visual for that event. My job is to make sure everyone performing looks and sounds good. The team I am a part of also helps out doing the same tasks. At the end of each event, we strike and put everything back in its right place. This job has helped me be versatile in the audio-visual world. I’m also being considered for some music internships involving audio-visual activities.”

Career goal

“My ideal hope is to be a prominent figure in the music industry. I knew very early on that to be successful in music, you must display versatility. After graduation, I aim to become as versatile as possible while maintaining the skills and requirements necessary to do so.”

Favorite spot on campus

“I don’t have a specific spot, but I enjoy chilling in the Johnson Fine Arts Center. Whether it is to practice my music or to hang out and chat with peers and professors, I always have a fun time.”

Favorite memory

“Carthage hosts their annual Christmas Festival, in which all four choirs participate and our instrumental ensembles also participate. Carthage goes above and beyond with its production, and it amazes me every year with how much beauty and impact this event’s music can be.

“Another favorite memory was when Carthage Choir went to Ireland in the summer of 2022. Initially, we were going to go to the Baltic States, but then the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began to get worse, so we had to act fast and choose another place to go, and we ended up deciding on Ireland. I have never traveled abroad before, and this ensemble was the perfect group to do it with. Having current students and a plethora of alumni was a fantastic experience. Despite the last-minute changes, the trip was one of my life’s best moments, and I will never let that go.

“The choir also toured Washington, DC, this past spring (2023). This was also a very fun experience, and I had a blast growing the bond with the choir even more.”

Biggest surprise

“One of the biggest surprises for me was winning the Grace C. Scheel Scholarship because I was the only person to earn it, and it marked the second year in a row that I earned a scholarship like that through the Honor’s Recital. This was achieved through the Music Department’s annual Honor’s Recital. The faculty hand out awards and scholarships to students for their academics or impact on the department. This scholarship reassured me that I have talent and am recognized for that.”

Advice for other students in your major?

“One thing people have always told me after telling them my majors is, ‘Wow, that’s a good combination.’ This has stuck with me because I can pursue both fields and potentially have the opportunity to take those experiences and apply them to my career. My advice for newcomers is to be versatile! Versatility is one of the essential skills to develop in college.”