Clarinet Graduate Tops MSUB Class

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By Laura Kennedy

Story Published: Apr 27, 2011 at 7:30 AM MDT

Story Updated: Apr 27, 2011 at 3:32 PM MDT

BILLINGS - When Maggie McClurg went into a Great Falls music store to buy her first instrument, she didn't plan on picking out a clarinet.

"The trumpet because my older sister played it or the saxophone because Lisa Simpson played it, but my dad decided that the clarinet was so much more fitting for me and that was probably the best decision that he ever helped me out with," McClurg said.

Eleven years later, Maggie is graduating at the top of her class in music performance at MSU-Billings.

"She's one of the best students I've ever had, I know she is one of the best 2 or 3 students in 30 years of teaching I've ever had," Music Professor Gary Behm said.

Behm is Maggie's mentor. He said she has been a leader among her fellow students since day one.

"She's among the best musicians of her peers, there's a respect that comes with that I think," he said.

"I guess yea I'm kind of like a ringleader of mischief really I don't know if it's a good thing," she said.

Maggie and four classmates will graduate in May with music degrees. She said the road after graduation can take many different paths.

"There's a ton of options, you don't have to straight away go out and get a job, you can further your education, you can find different paths to go down," she said.

Behm disagrees with critics who say options are limited for performance majors. "A lot of companies will hire people with music degrees because they see them as problem solving, creative kinds of people," Behm said.

"Some people decide not to do music, but they have that background and that chance in college to play and enjoy it," McClurg said.

"Allow people to try to go after their dreams, follow their dreams, because at least they know," Behm said.

"There's nothing I love more than music and performing, it's everything to me, and I can't imagine myself doing anything but music," McClurg said.

Maggie's musical talents will soon take her on a unique and challenging route, a path few are privileged enough to tread.

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