Emily is a Gator!

 DR. EMILY HART is a Gator. A Florida Gator. Her old man couldn't be prouder.

Emily officially received her DMA, or Doctorate in Musical Arts, from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Her long and challenging path included graduating from Quincy High School in 2009, Western Illinois University in 2013 and Eastman with a Master's Degree in 2015. After several years as an assistant professor of Oboe at Western Illinois, she returned to Eastman to get her doctorate.

In August, Emily starts her new job as Assistant Professor of Oboe at the University of Florida School of Music. As in, the Gators. The big school in Gainesville, Fla. When I talked to her about the big adventure, she said, "Wanna go to a football game?"

She knows her old man too well.

Her oboe odyssey began at a very young age when she went to a "petting zoo" at Quincy University. The details have faded with foggy memory, but somebody recognized Emily had ability to blow on a reed, a very difficult thing to do. Quincy Public School's music program helped her lay a foundation for the rest of her life.

There are so many people who helped her, and I wish I could name them all.

I'm going to Rochester at the end of May to hang out. And yes, I've checked the Florida football schedule for the upcoming season. Hmmm .... Gainesville is beautiful in November, right?

Dr. Emily Hart, I couldn't be prouder. I love you bunches. You have worked so hard and gone through so much to get here. And the adventures will only continue to get better and more exciting.

Go get 'em, Gator!