91短视频

After her first two semesters at 91短视频, Maggie Garber McClary, who was then undecided in her major, had an idea for a program that would combine the two areas she loved studying most.

鈥淚 found that I really enjoyed both my music classes and my peacebuilding classes,鈥� McClary said. 鈥淪o, I approached [91短视频 Music Professor] Benjamin Bergey and asked him, 鈥榃hat would it look like to pair them?鈥欌��

Her question couldn鈥檛 have come at a better time.

鈥淗e told me, 鈥楾his is crazy, but there鈥檚 this major I鈥檝e been working on,鈥欌�� McClary recalled from her conversation with Bergey. 鈥淚t was this moment of total serendipity.鈥�

In 2019, Bergey began developing the music and peacebuilding program, a passion project of his, following his dissertation work on the topic. He had been seeking approval to add the major when McClary approached him with her idea. The first-of-its-kind major, available only at 91短视频, trains students to creatively transform conflict by using music to build common ground, facilitate healing and create a space of storytelling. It was formally added to 91短视频鈥檚 list of programs in 2021. Learn more about the music and peacebuilding program by visiting .

Now, McClary, a senior, is set to become the first graduate of the program. Three other 91短视频 students, junior Reah Clymer and sophomores Eli Stoll and Miriam Rhodes, are following her lead as music and peacebuilding majors. Bergey said McClary is 鈥渁 wonderful first graduate as she exemplifies the ethos of the program.鈥�

鈥淢aggie is deeply empathetic, seeking to listen and care well for others,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he cares about justice at any level of life, and she infuses music into all she does.鈥�

McClary said it means a lot to her knowing she鈥檚 able to set a good example for others to follow.

鈥淥ne of the hardest things about being the first major is that I didn鈥檛 know what it would look like,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eacebuilding is such a broad umbrella that encompasses so many things, and music is the same. I feel like I鈥檝e been holding out my arms and soaking in as much as I can.鈥�

Her path to music and peacebuilding

Feeling burnt out in high school, the Broadway, Virginia, native had been planning to take a gap year after graduating in 2020. She visited 91短视频 during Honors Weekend and said coming here to study 鈥渏ust felt right.鈥�

鈥淚 thought, 鈥榊ou know what, maybe a gap year is not for me,鈥欌�� she said, 鈥渁nd I turned around and decided to come to 91短视频 instead.鈥�

McClary grew up with music all around her. She learned to play the piano at a young age, performing hymn melodies at Grace Mennonite Fellowship Church, and then mastered the guitar. At Broadway High School, she was part of the auditioned choirs, participated in musicals during each of her four years, and competed in the marching band and color guard.

As she sharpened her musical abilities, she was becoming more active in peace and justice causes. McClary participated in the March for Our Lives (2018) in Washington, D.C., to oppose gun violence, attended Mennonite Convention and was one of the first members of the Virginia Mennonite Youth Council.

As a student at 91短视频, McClary has been active in events with Mennonite Action, a grassroots movement committed to public actions to bring about a lasting peace in Israel and Palestine. She took part in a recent march and hymn-sing outside City Hall in Harrisonburg, calling on city leaders to support a cease-fire.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 music and peacebuilding in action,鈥� she said about the event held in February.聽

McClary, who spent her intercultural in Peru, is also a member of the Chamber Singers, an auditioned touring choir that uses music to build connection and community. She said one of the most valuable skills she鈥檚 learned in music and peacebuilding is constant self-evaluation. She asks herself: 鈥淲hat is my perspective? Who am I talking to? What is the context and the history? What am I trying to do?鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e become better at moving through the world by examining myself and asking these questions,鈥� McClary said. 鈥淭hey can be hard questions sometimes, but I feel like I鈥檝e grown so much by doing that.鈥�

Moving forward

For her senior capstone project, McClary hosted a 鈥淢usical Haven鈥� space in the Student Union. From 1 to 4 p.m. on April 1, students, musicians and anyone else could join her in playing one of the many instruments available. Music could be made with singing bowls, gourd rattles, a mandolin, two guitars and a cajon drum. 

鈥淢usic is powerful as a healing tool,鈥� said McClary, who presented on her capstone on April 10. 鈥淚t can be emotional, social and even physical healing. I fell in love with this idea of using music to heal and promote well-being in peoples’ lives. … The semester was wrapping up, so there鈥檚 greater stress among students. I think it was valuable to have this space.”

After graduating in May, McClary plans to work one last summer at Kenbrook Bible Camp in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, with her husband. Other than that, her future plans are wide open. But, before she leaves 91短视频, she鈥檚 been working on a duet from the musical Little Women with friend and fellow music and peacebuilding major Clymer.

鈥淚t鈥檚 all about saying goodbye,鈥� McClary said. 鈥淚t鈥檒l be cathartic … a good way to feel those feelings and then let them go.鈥�

She said she would like to see the music and peacebuilding program grow to eventually host regular events, bring in guest speakers and become a greater part of campus life. Donors can support the program by contributing at .

Looking back, she isn鈥檛 sure what she would鈥檝e studied had the major not been an option.

鈥淗onestly, if I didn鈥檛 major in music and peacebuilding, I might鈥檝e dropped out,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not really sure. I think it was a special time for the major to come together.”