In the long, darkened corners of Niles West, you can find the orchestra room, a hidden sanctuary tucked away from the morning chaos. As the early sun shines through the windows, students can be found sleepwalking through the halls, but not here. Here, music awakens your soul. The classroom is filled with ambient lighting and an aura of learning. Inside, Maria Hodson, Orchestra Director Natalie Frakes’s student teacher, sets up for the day; printing out sheet music to setting up stands. Most professionals her age would be confined to a coffee machine this early, but Hodson is different. She moves with a purpose, ready to explore the world of creativity that awaits the day. This isn’t just a job for her, it’s one step closer toward making her dreams come true.

For some, finding their true passion is a challenge. Unlike the rest, Hodson’s fate was written in the stars.

“I started playing the violin when I was four years old. Apparently, I was able to pick the violin out of all the orchestra instruments [and] always pointed it out,” Hodson said.

From studying at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee to currently at Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music and playing all over the world from Switzerland to Harvard, Hodson brings a unique skill set and expertise that is greatly useful to Niles West students.

“Being the only bassist [in concert orchestra] has been a challenge as I am by myself, but Ms. Hodson has been a great help by choosing to play with me. She’s helped me in areas I struggled with by marking my music [and] explaining measures. She definitely benefited me and helped me on my musical journey,” freshman Emily Ho said.

As a student teacher, Hodson’s role is to support students and help the orchestra classes run efficiently. Throughout the school year, she has learned more about herself, both as an educator and musician.

“I’ve learned so much. I have gained confidence in front of the classroom, on the podium. I’ve really honed my ear in terms of being able to give feedback right on the spot… I’ve learned a lot about classroom management and how to quiet a room of excited teenagers and how to connect with them as well… and about community building and teaching music in ways that are new and fresh, rather than a lot of the old antiquated traditional ways that are often associated with classical music. I [now] have a much clearer idea of what I would want my classroom to look like,” Hodson said.

The orchestra community at Niles West is close-knit, with students spending hours after school practicing or hanging out with one another. Hodson has quickly become a part of this community, contributing to the orchestra’s growth and dedicating time to working with students.

“Ms. Hodson has been a great addition to our program. As a student teacher, she didn’t stop at just observing. She committed her time to us. She got to know us… She went above what was asked of her and helped our orchestra become better,” senior Sydni Crespo said.

Being a teacher is no easy task, but for Hodson, it seems to come naturally. From her thoughtful demeanor to her exceptional musical skills, she has helped further foster an environment where students are encouraged to embrace their artistry and develop their musical passion.

“Ms. Hodson’s presence has reverberated through our program– from her musicianship to her creativity to her fun ideas. She is fun, caring, and authentic. She will be an amazing director wherever she goes,” Frakes said.

Hodson’s last full day at Niles West is Friday, Oct. 11. In the duration of her time in the classroom, she has impacted students in ways that go beyond musical instruction. She will continue her graduate studies at Northwestern and has taken away valuable teaching skills that will help her future endeavors.

“I want to say thank you to all the students for welcoming me and making me feel like part of the family right off the bat. I have learned so much from them, which will definitely help me run my own classroom in the future or my own program… and [learned] about becoming a teacher and what kind of teacher I want to be… I will never forget them. They will be my first children in teaching so I have a special spot in my heart for them,” Hodson said.