By Nevaeh Porter, Arts Editor
On Oct. 6, 2026, the Aquinas Music Department had a change in their staffing.
Tuesday, Oct. 6, was a day of surprises and uncertainty. The department gained a new director in the wake of Dr. Kelly Ford’s departure. The department wasted no time in looking out for a new director. Dr. Mark Webb, a former director here at Aquinas stepped up and in to take the position for the rest of the semester.
Dr. Webb received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in music education and choral conducting from the University of Michigan and his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University.
Dr. Webb conducting the Aquinas College Chorus – Photo by Nevaeh Porter
He has had a long career in choral directing. He retired after a 45 year long career as a choral music educator and choir conductor. He has taught in public schools, the collegiate level, and gone on to serve as the director of many community and church choirs. He has worked with schools and groups such as East Kentwood High School, East Grand Rapids High School, Aquinas College, the Chamber Choir of Grand Rapids and the Mayflower Congressional Church Chancel Choir. He was also the president of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association, along with having numerous other titles and positions through many different organizations.
“He’s had a long history as a conductor over 20 years,” Music Department Chairperson Dr. Thomas Polett said. “When I first got here, he was the director and I’ve always admired his teaching. He was the first person I asked, and he said yes and agreed to do the whole semester.”
The process of reaching out to and getting Dr. Webb here didn’t take long. They worked fast and had Webb in on Monday Oct. 5, meaning they reached out, asked and got everything figured out in one weekend.
“I think that it was handled as quick as possible,” Co-Director of Bands Ted Craig said. “Like filling in all the vacancies happened in two days and it was incredible. It speaks to the people who were willing to step in and help things out.”
Dr. Mark Webb leading the choir through warm-ups – Photo by Nevaeh Porter
Dr. Webb wasn’t the only person to step in and fill a role. Professor Andrew Bergeson stepped in to teach Music Theory 1 and Music Theory 2. Professor Bergeson brings a fourteen year collaboration playing in the Folias duo with his wife, having performed around the globe, having composed and produced music for flute and guitar and serving as an instructor of music theory, guitar and aural skills at Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College. There were other faculty who were willing to pick up teaching lessons for students that had Dr. Ford as their lessons professor. This situation has brought the department together both faculty wise and student wise.
When asked if he felt the department came together more faculty and student wise, Craig said, “I think, maybe. It’s still a little early, but yeah, I think everyone has just stepped up to keep things going.”
The music department is currently looking for a director for next semester. “We’ve advertised nationally for an interim director for the spring,” Dr. Polett said. “We may advertise again for the fall, but if we want them to stay longer, the hope is that they’ll be there for the next year and maybe longer.”
This Friday, Oct. 20, Aquinas is hosting a high school choir’s day, where choirs in the area will come to sing with them and get tours of campus. The choir will sing a few pieces for them and they may invite the high schoolers to learn a piece and perform it with them.
