Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Photo By Alexandra drogus

Feral cats and daylilies are something to sing about

By Maja Doniewski

majad3@vwc.edu

Thirty-six years? Music? Cats? Garden? Virginia Wesleyan wouldn’t be the same without him? Any guesses?...Anyone?

Well if you’re into music and have good taste in friends, you know David Clayton. He’s been a professor of music for 36 years at Virginia Wesleyan. Some may just know him as a teacher: however,

Clayton has more than just music to sing about.

“I currently grow over 200 varieties of daylilies and have created some hybrids of my own.” Clayton started gardening with his grandmother when he was 12 years old. His first experience was with green peas.

“I think I hated the canned variety and wanted to see what fresh peas would taste like. I still grow and love fresh green peas.”

The love Clayton had for gardening got his curiosity going.

“My interests in plants evolved over the years, and I wanted to grow and learn about ornamental shrubs, trees, and flowers as well.”

Clayton is always sharing his love with the Virginia Wesleyan community.

“I pass along plants to friends and colleagues. There are probably 40-50 folks at Wesleyan who have something from my garden.”

He not only brings the goods to school, but also, fortunately, he takes the goods home. As an avid animal lover, Clayton rescues homeless cats as well.

“Of the five cats currently living in my house, four are feral and were caught on campus near my office.”

He gives them a warm place to live, provides them with his love and much-needed food. Clayton’s patience with the animals doesn’t go unnoticed. There are a few other colleagues who have taken his cue.

“Wesleyan fortunately has numerous animal lovers among its faculty and staff,” he said. “Several who have also provided care or homes for the feral cat population on campus are Vivian Teter, Karen Bosch and Linda Ferguson.”

The people who know Clayton say he’s full of life and energy, an expert on many subjects with an enormous heart. Students love him and he loves them.

“I truly enjoy working with young people, partly because it keeps me youthful as well, but also because I love to be present when understanding and breakthroughs occur in people. I never cease to be amazed at the transformation that often takes place in an individual over four years.”

Clayton is fully involved in all aspects of life, but music is his passion.

“My specialty is choral music. I love to work with young voices to achieve artistic performances - a performance where balance, nuance and passion combine to make an unforgettable event. This happens occasionally in amateur music-making, leading me to constantly pursue it with my ensembles. Students who have experienced such a magical performance never forget it.”

Just by his words, one can feel the adoration and devotion Clayton has for the students he teaches as well as for music itself. He is a person that emits positive energy. When asked to describe himself in one word he said, “It’s all about balance but persistence helps, too! That’s two words, sorry.”