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Stransky

RICHARD STRANSKY '01

Dick Stransky graduated from Edgewood in 2001 with a B.S. in Music and a Religious Studies minor.

WHAT I'M DOING NOW

Currently, I am Director of Liturgical Music at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in beautiful Reedsburg, WI. I am responsible for all the music at weekend and special liturgies as well as weekly school liturgies during the school year. I direct the Adult Choir year-round and Children's Choir seasonally. I also draw on my printing experience to produce worship aids and other office documents. Previously, I was President of Stransky Printing in Madison (a family-owned commercial printing company). I was also doing church music on a part-time basis, both paid and volunteer for most of my adult life.

ADVICE TO STUDENTS

My advice to students is to talk to your counselors frequently: mine were always readily available and extremely helpful in keeping me on course. Listen to your teachers: they all have something to offer that you currently do not know and you are paying them to impart that knowledge. Get involved: sharing time with other students always produces great rewards and memorable experiences. Do not be afraid to pursue other avenues in life if your first choice isn't all you thought it would be. I was in my late 40s when I went back to get my music degree and it is one of the best things I have ever done (outranked only by marrying my wife and having kids).

DECISION TO BE A MUSIC MAJOR

While President of Stransky Printing, we were approached by a party who wanted to buy our building, and we decided to sell the printing business at the same time. It was an easy decision to start a new career in music, as I had been involved in music all of my adult life. It was also an easy decision to apply to Edgewood College as I am an Edgewood High School alumnus and others in my family had attended Edgewood College.

DECISION TO GET A RELIGIOUS STUDIES MINOR

I knew I wanted to do church music (which I had been doing part-time); I just wanted to make it official and do it full-time. The Religious Studies minor helped me delve deeper into my Catholic faith and has proved very helpful in my current position.

IMPORTANT THINGS I LEARNED AT EDGEWOOD

That we never stop learning. Even though I got my music degree, it really only opened the door to all the music that is out there. The degree does not say "I know everything there is to know about my chosen field." It is really more of a statement that you are committed to your chosen career path and will continue to pursue knowledge about it.

“Do not be afraid to pursue other avenues in life if your first choice isn't all you thought it would be.”Dick Stransky