Kirstie Mosher ’17 chose to attend Shenandoah University after touring the campus. “Everyone was so kind and welcoming during my campus visit, and I enjoyed the teachers and curriculum,”said Mosher.
Some of Mosher’s fondest memories as a student are hanging out in Ruebush, conversations with friends under the willow tree on campus and the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®. During her time at Shenandoah, she also met Galen Clark ’17 and the two decided to team up and became a folk duo. Together, the duo performs, writes and records their own songs.
“We have embarked on two successful tours playing and promoting our music, and our music has been played all over the world, including in places like France, Brazil, Sweden and more,” said Mosher.
Outside of the folk duo, Mosher continued her education and earned a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 2021. She has performed in several operas and musicals, including Carnegie Mellon’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto as Cleopatra, Albert Herring as Ms. Wordsworth, Die Zauberflöte as Pamina and Falstaff as the Nanetta coverstudy with the Lawrence Opera Theatre.
With majoring in opera and voice performance, Mosher believes her degree taught her the essential tools and techniques needed for a career as a singer. During her time at Shenandoah, Mosher was a featured soloist in the Shenandoah Conservatory Choir and Chamber Choir. In 2017, she won first place in the undergraduate vocal division of Shenandoah’s Student Soloist Competition and was awarded the Cecilia Award for Vocal Excellence at her hooding ceremony.
Mosher’s advice to current and future students is: “It’s hard out there and it’s not meant for everyone, but you will never know unless you really give it a try.”