Composing a Successful Future

When Lissette Hernandez ’26 first picked up a saxophone in sixth grade, she had no idea the instrument would shape her future.

But years later—thanks to inspiring mentors, supportive faculty and her own determination—she’s a music performance major and composition minor at Elmhurst University, turning her passion into a career path she’s proud to follow.

A Musical Journey to Elmhurst

Originally from Franklin Park, Ill., Hernandez now calls McHenry home, but she developed strong ties to Elmhurst long before she became a student here.

Hernandez first got connected with Elmhurst through faculty member Matthew Beck, who was her saxophone teacher for all four years of high school. Her high school band director, who happened to be the son of Elmhurst music department chair James Hile, also helped guide her toward the school.

Beck joined the Elmhurst faculty during Hernandez’s senior year of high school and offered to keep teaching her for free if she was willing to come to campus for lessons.

“So I was here pretty much every single week of my senior year,” she said. Soon, other opportunities opened up for her. “I got involved in music at Elmhurst pretty early on—there was a student who went to study abroad during my spring semester, right before I graduated high school, and they needed someone to fill in for the saxophone quartet and I did that, which was super cool.”

Hernandez believed she still had more to learn from Beck, so enrolling at Elmhurst that fall and becoming a Bluejay was the natural choice to continue her academic journey and maximize her education. She also was awarded both academic and music merit scholarships, and enjoyed the connections she was making, both new and already-established.

“When I toured here, I really liked how the class sizes were small—that was really important to me because I like to get to know my professors,” she added. “It also wasn’t too far away from home.” It was the definition of a “small world” experience—and just what she wanted, recognizing that with Elmhurst’s small, collaborative classroom environment, she could build relationships and develop a more versatile skill set.

Learning, Performing and Growing

Fast-forward three years, and Hernandez is thriving both inside and outside the classroom.

A member of the Honors Program, she’s grown her academic and musical skills through both coursework and real-world performance opportunities. She also has been able to experiment with composing her own work, which has been both fulfilling and successful—she decided to minor in composition, to help introduce more classical saxophone music to the repertoire.

“Composition was something that I had never done before,” Hernandez said. Because Elmhurst offers relevant, hands-on experiences to students, and opportunities for them to apply the skills they gained, Hernandez recently got to see her music performed.

“One of my pieces was premiered at a concert by a professional pianist, which was just amazing,” she said. “That was so cool, because that’s not something that I ever thought I’d be able to do.”

She is deeply involved on campus and takes advantage of every opportunity to make the most of her time here, particularly with her participation in multiple performing ensembles. Her saxophone quartet plays holiday events and she even performed live on WGN-TV with members of Elmhurst’s Jazz Band. Interest-based organizations supported by the University allow students to take personalized, growth-minded paths for development and thrive as adaptive leaders.

“It’s a very supportive community,” Hernandez said. “We get the opportunity to share our love for classical music with the whole campus and even extend it to larger communities.”

Her campus involvement is extensive; she is the music department band staff co-band manager, vice president of Women In Music, Lambda Sigma Psi secretary, lead alto in the Jazz Band, principal saxophonist of the Wind Ensemble, and a member of the jazz combo and saxophone choir. She also co-founded the genesis trio, a student-led ensemble that focuses on commissioning new music for the saxophone trio.

She also serves as a music theory tutor at Elmhurst’s Learning Center, where Hernandez once sought help herself in the same subject. By providing access to networks, resources and services on campus, Elmhurst sets up students for future success, both academically and professionally.

“As freshman, I struggled with music theory a lot, because it’s a really tough subject, so I did tutoring for that as well as my other gen-ed classes just to get that extra support, and now I’m a music theory tutor myself—it’s a full circle moment,” Hernandez said. “And that’s something that I love to share with my students that come in for tutoring—it’s so nice and relatable to be able to tell them that I was struggling with the exact same thing, but I got through it and now I’m able to help other people understand stuff that I was struggling with too.”

She also has taken advantage of opportunities off-campus, including a three-week summer session at the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina, where she and eight other students studied with renowned saxophonist Henning Schröder.

“That was a super valuable experience for me, and I got accepted again this summer,” Hernandez said. “I met so many people and made a lot of connections. I was able to go because the music department and Honors Program funded my trip. I didn’t have to worry about the financial aspect of that—it’s amazing that Elmhurst supports those kinds of trips.” With University support for experiential learning, Elmhurst students gain a professional edge that will distinguish them in the marketplace.

Strong Community Values

Hernandez lives on campus in the residence halls and has found not only inspiration but also deep friendships—especially through the saxophone quartet.

“I like living on campus and having roommates—you always have a friend who’s there to talk to you at the end of your day,” Hernandez said. “I met my best friend for life here too, back when I was still a senior in high school and filling in for the quartet—she played percussion.”

Hernandez describes Elmhurst’s Department of Music as more than just a place to learn—it’s a family.

“I really value that community aspect, and Elmhurst is really strong with that,” Hernandez said. “Everyone knows everyone—all the different ensembles and focus groups are their own little families that you get to join and be a part of. You get to be surrounded by people who love music as much as you do and are as committed as you are, and the friendships that come out of that are invaluable.” Elmhurst’s diverse student body cultivates an inclusive space, where all students feel welcome and supported so that they can excel later in their careers and collaborations.

That sense of belonging extends to the supportive faculty too. As engaged scholars and practitioners that are active in their fields, Elmhurst faculty are committed to helping their students acquire best practices and build out their professional networks.

“The faculty are amazing—they truly care about each and every one of their students,”  Hernandez said.

“It’s so nice to have professors like Matt [Beck] who have been there and gone through it, to have their perspective,” she said. “He has always pushed me to become my own artist, to be my own person and make my own interpretation of the music and not just model off of someone else. He’s also helped me lose that self-doubt and fear so I can choose my own adventure for my career and not give in to imposter syndrome.

He’s helped me find discipline, showed me that I am good enough to make it in this field, and to have a healthy mindset with music. You’re putting everything you have and everything you are into what you’re playing, and that’s supposed to shine through.”

Finding Her Voice and Paying It Forward

Over time, Hernandez has learned to embrace her path as an artist, composer and future educator. After graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in classical saxophone performance, then earn her doctorate and teach at the college level. She dreams of running a private studio and giving back to the next generation of musicians—just like her mentors did for her.

“I’ve had such inspiring mentors and educators throughout my musical career, and I feel like I want to be that for someone else and help them along their musical journey,” Hernandez said. “I feel like the reason why I’m here, and I am who I am, has so much to do with my teachers.”

Thanks to her time at Elmhurst, Hernandez feels confident and prepared for whatever comes next. From Chicago’s dynamic music scene, easily accessible from Elmhurst’s location by train, to being surrounded by likeminded musicians who are always eager to take on a new creative project, Hernandez has discovered endless opportunities for collaboration with her peers while remaining focused on her path and dedicated to pursuing her dreams.

“There’s all these different people coming from all different places and doing different amazing things, and it inspires your own musical journey,” Hernandez said.

Go Far. Do Well. Visit elmhurst.edu/Admission to take the first step toward your future.