Born and raised in Toledo, Gabriel Hagedorn has been playing piano since childhood. Now set to graduate Saturday, May 4, with his master of music in performance, Hagedorn will pursue his lifelong dream of turning his love of music into a career.
“My mom was my first pianist teacher. She taught me, my three brothers and my sister all the basics of piano and theory as part of our homeschool curriculum,” he said. “She was heavily involved with musicals at the Croswell Opera House as a performer on the stage, and she got us all involved. That started us on learning to sing, which I still do today and enjoy greatly.”
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2024 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at spring commencement.
During high school, Hagedorn continued to nurture his talent for piano and performance. He played for many of the local area’s theater groups, including Perrysburg Musical Theater, St. Ursula Academy, Clay High School, Toledo School for the Arts, The Croswell Opera House, and the University of Toledo, both as an accompanist and music director.
Through UToledo, he has performed in a couple musicals as both music director and cast member.
“Arguably, my greatest success at UT was serving as music director for their production of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ musical, under the wonderful direction of Matt Foss,” Hagedorn said. “I think it was there that I really proved myself in the field of musical direction, even as silly as that show was.”
Hagedorn thanks many people for nurturing his passion to become a successful musician, but one that stood out was Dr. Michael Boyd, a Distinguished University Professor who is retiring at the end of the semester after 36 years with The University of Toledo Department of Music.
“Gabriel is one of the most talented students I have had the pleasure to teach,” Boyd said. “It has been wonderful to see the progress he has made, first as an undergraduate and now a graduate student. He has a great work ethic and has been a featured performer in the UT Music Department as both a soloist and as a collaborative pianist. He will be missed when he graduates.”
Hagedorn also works with CedarCreek Church as the central director of music, where he helps to produce all music material needed for the musicians at all six locations of the church.
Gabriel Hagedorn has been playing piano since childhood. Now set to graduate Saturday, May 4, with his master of music in performance.
“We’re really not working with sheet music, meaning we learn everything by ear, along with tracks and chord charts. My work there has really allowed me to develop that ability, and I also get to work with a lot of music production software,” he said. “Having both the ability music to learn by sheet music and by ear has allowed me to work on some great creative projects through our church, and my backgrounds in classical and modern worlds of music help me to speak life into those projects in a way that others could not.”
Hagedorn said he feels secure in his career which he hopes will continue growing. While he aspires for regional theater opportunities, he said he would like to take the time now to focus on his family.
“My only plans right now are to continue my work at CedarCreek, and to start venturing into the world of gigs around the area,” he said. “I’ve never had much time to explore that world of gigging.”
“I’m open to the opportunities God brings along the way and will always welcome the opportunity to work with UT again in some capacity,” he added.
