HONRS 225: George Gershwin

Michaela Rappleyea grew up listening to the likes of Rhapsody in Blue. Her mother is a musician and stressed the importance of the arts while educating Michaela and her siblings in their North Carolina home. When Michaela had the opportunity to choose a Jewish leader to research for Honors 225, the composer and pianist George Gershwin was a no-brainer.

Prior to working on her Honors 225 project, Michaela had no idea Gershwin was Jewish. She knew what many people know, he was a famous composer that lived in New York and anglicized his name.

Gershwin’s journey, along with his talent and his legacy, stand out to Michaela. “He was just a cool guy,” she said, “he was a procrastinator.” In 1923, Gershwin was asked to compose a piece for a concert New York’s Aeolian Concert Hall. He reportedly forgot about the request until reading an announcement about his newest composition in the paper. Gershwin is said to have written Rhapsody in Blue, his best-known piece, in three weeks. As a college student, Michaela said she, along with probably everyone, could relate to Gershwin’s procrastination.

Over the course of the semester, Michaela and her classmates in Honors 225 created banners to showcase the life and journey of the Jewish individual they selected. The BYU Honors Program Exhibition, “People of the Promise,” will open February 1, 2019, running through the end of the month at the IJ & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center.

Michaela’s upbringing in the arts and a passion for creativity drew her to the graphic design major, which she’ll soon apply for. She intends to pursue the illustration emphasis. Michaela is also pursuing a minor in family history.

After graduating, Michaela hopes to work for a design firm or a university.