Here’s another good answer to the question, “What do you do with a music degree?” Rich Dart ’94 left KSC with a BM in Music Performance with a specialization in percussion and a BA in Music Composition. Since then he’s played drums for Avenue Q on Broadway and for its first national tour. He’s toured with a production of Pippin and performs regularly at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut. He’s played with Conan O’Brian’s famed trumpeter, Mark Pender, and the great David Johansen. He’s backed Mark Lindsey from Paul Revere and The Raiders, Peter Tork of the Monkees, and the late Andrew Gold. He’s received critical acclaim for his portrayal of “the Musical Merchant” in the Yale Repertoire production of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. Oh, and he married Tracy Mintz (also from the class of 94) and they have a son who turned two in August.

For several years, Rich has played drums for Mickey Dolenz, also of the Monkees. Here’s a video of them during a gig:

http://youtu.be/IPdSF8lwQX0

“KSC helped prepare me for my career in that it showed me the importance of making the right decisions,” Rich explained. “The great thing about Keene’s music program (at the time) was that they pretty much let me do what I wanted with their guidance. It made for a strong independence in the field.”