From the Met to MSU: How Mark and Sadie Rucker are inspiring the next generation of diverse singers

<p>By: <a href="https://comms.msu.edu/who-we-are/staff-directory/tekip-alex">Alex Tekip</a></p><p>When <a href="https://www.music.msu.edu/faculty/profile/mark">Mark Rucker</a>’s high school choir teacher told him he’d be performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York one day, he didn’t believe her. </p><p>After all, he was a football player and saxophonist — not a singer — and was new to the choir, a reluctant baritone joining at his teacher’s behest.</p><p>That teacher, Lena McLin, was in the front row as Rucker made his Met debut in 2004, a meaningful moment that signified his full circle of experience and inspired him to continue teaching the next generation of singers. Now, Rucker gets to do just that as a professor of voice in <a href="https://www.music.msu.edu/">Michigan State University’s College of Music.</a></p><p>“I’ve always had a desire to teach because my high school teacher is the reason I’m singing — without her, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing,” he said. “Education is where history is and that’s where our future lies,” he said. “I’ve sung in opera houses all over the world — at the Met, the Royal Opera House in London, venues in Philadelphia and Italy — and those were wonderful experiences. But these days, I get much more excited about the careers of my students than my own singing career.”</p><p>Mark Rucker arrived at MSU in 2016 with his wife and accompanist, <a href="https://www.music.msu.edu/faculty/profile/sadie1">Sadie</a>, who also is a faculty member in the College of Music.</p><p>“My father, who was a choral teacher, sang the song to me when I was younger, and I just took to it — it talks about the importance of having God, or another spiritual entity, in your corner,” Mark said. “It’s my favorite spiritual. Spirituals were used during slavery as a call for hope and communications, and I think with everything going on right now, that’s what we need.” </p><p><strong>Advocating for music in Michigan schools</strong></p><p>Mark and Sadie have made it their mission to get young