Spring 2012 - Houston Baptist University

DEBut PERFORMAnceS
MusICIAN baer, wRITer
mARCHANd, sHARe fIRst
works wITH fellow
studeNTs
Album debuts and book signings are common events on most
college campuses.
It is not often, however, that the students lining up to meet the
performer or secure a writer’s autograph find themselves face-to-face
with one of their own.
Yet HBU students Kollin Baer and Noelle Marchand gave their
fellow students that very opportunity during separate special events
on campus celebrating the release of their newest creative efforts in
the fall of 2011.
Baer headlined a September concert during which he performed
songs from his first solo album, “The Woods,” a collection of seven
folk guitar tracks the music and business major released on his own
record label. He financed production of “The Woods,” which is available
for purchase on iTunes, using lessons learned
in his business classes and money earned through
various summer jobs and fundraisers.
“Writing, recording and producing a record was
one of the most difficult things I have ever done,”
Baer said. “No matter what I do in the future, God
put this experience in my life for a reason, and no
one can take away the fact I attempted to make
something beautiful that presents through the
art of song truths with which I hope listeners can
relate.”
Getting to debut his album in the Belin Chapel
fulfilled a promise Baer made to himself following
his first visit to the HBU campus as a high school
senior.
“I remember being told there were 365 seats
in the chapel, one for every day of the year,
and I thought that was a beautiful concept,”
Baer said. “I promised myself then that I would
perform there as a solo act at least once before
I graduated. While listening to my album alone
in my old bedroom at my parent’s house in The
Woodlands – which inspired the record – I knew the acoustics in
the Belin Chapel would make a great venue for premiering its reverb
effects and creative physical spacing schematics.”
Marchand signed copies of her novel Unlawfully Wedded Bride,
a Christian historical romance published by Love Inspired Historical
“I attempted to make
something beautiful that
presents through the art of
song truths with which I
hope listeners can relate.”
Books, in the University
Museums
in October. The
opportunity to
have her first
book, which she
finished when
she was just
16, published
without the help
of an agent while she was still pursuing a degree in journalism and
mass communication was a dream come true for the avid reader.
“Despite all of the work I put into it, getting published this young
definitely wasn’t something I planned on,” Marchand said. “It’s actually
taken me a while to adjust to the fact that what I love
to do is a career, and a pretty demanding one at
that.”
Having used her experiences at HBU to hone
the talents she views as gifts from God, Marchand
considered the campus the most appropriate setting
in which to celebrate the release of her book, and
the start of what she hopes will be a successful
future as a writer.
“The response from my professors and friends
was overwhelmingly supportive and encouraging,
and I enjoyed seeing how happy news of my publication
made everyone around me,” Marchand said.
“This really was the launch of my new career in the
public arena, and I think having it at HBU surrounded
by a community of people who really care about me
made what could have been a scary experience joyful
instead.”
The support of the HBU audience, which purchased
more than 100 copies of his album, made a strong
impression on Baer as well.
“I was very blessed with the response during the
concert,” Baer said. “Everyone seemed to be really enjoying my
performance, and the student body made me feel like I accomplished
something worth remembering.”
HBU News | Spring 2012 33