Allison Baugher '08 rehearses at Carnegie Hall.

Not one, not two, but three majors — that’s how many disciplines Allison Baugher ’08, of Gettysburg, Pa., is studying. One of them is music and, in March, she had the opportunity to play bass with the Masterworks Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

It was an experience she considers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “Most of us will never have a second chance to play at Carnegie Hall,” Baugher says. “This is an opportunity I never thought I would have, and I couldn’t imagine a better way to finish off my senior year.”

Baugher says music has always been a priority in her life. “I’ve always known that even if I didn’t pursue music as a future career, I wanted to continue playing and studying music. I’ve always promised myself that I wouldn’t confine myself to choosing a major only because it would be practical in finding a job,” she says.

Even as Baugher divided her time between her studies in Spanish, religion and music, she never lost her enthusiasm for performing. During the past several months, if she wasn’t working on her senior honors research paper, which she wrote entirely in Spanish, or on her religion capstone paper, Baugher could be found rehearsing with the University Orchestra or with her independent study Latin jazz group. “Even though finding the time to rehearse can be stressful, I’m reminded why I’m there and why I’m committed to playing music,” she says.

After graduation, Baugher plans to pursue a master’s degree at George Mason University in Spanish and bilingual studies. Although musical performance is not a part of Baugher’s ultimate career plans, music will continue to be part of her life. “I plan to audition for a local orchestra or music group in whatever city I end up in,” she says. “I know music isn’t necessarily something everyone is interested in studying, but I’m confident it’s something with which everyone can find a connection.”