Meet College of Music Student Government President Lau Marial
For Lau Marial—a senior studying choral music education (BME ’26) and president of the CU Boulder College of Music Student Government (CMSG)—leadership comes naturally.
Marial is exuberantly passionate about her work: Under her leadership, our student government has organized and executed events emphasizing community well-being and personal wellness—from yoga classes and meditations to practice room cleanups and an event with a nutritionist to learn how to fuel musicians’ bodies.
“There hasn’t been a structured goal for our student government,” reflects Marial. “So we’re creating that. And for me, I thought, ‘What can we do to serve our community as musicians?’
“We’re such busy people. And it’s expensive and time consuming to be a musician—and oftentimes we’re overworked and underpaid—but being a musician is so fulfilling. So how can we help and lean into one another?”
The CMSG comprises nine members—president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, two senators who report to the campuswide student government, two at-large members representing the instrumental and voice areas, and a general member. Marial was involved as a senator for three years before assuming her current role.
Along with throwing events for the student body, the CMSG also funds projects of other recognized student organizations. Coming up, the CMSG is helping six students in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) attend next week’s Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference; as well, the CMSG is reviewing project funding for students in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) slated for next semester.
“My favorite aspect of the CMSG is when we’re able to provide funding for students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to support themselves to go to these conferences,” she says. “I understand those economic barriers.
“Then they come back with all these stories and they were so impacted and I’m just like, ‘I love that you were able to do this!’”
This spring, Marial envisions more wellness events—maybe even with some furry friends. “I’m trying to bring in therapy dogs, that’s in the works,” she says. “That’s huge because that’s fun and it’s really cute. Even people who are passing by with 15 minutes in-between can pet a puppy!”
Such activities aim to strengthen community bonds within our College of Music. As we’re a smaller college, Marial notes that many connections happen naturally in our halls—and she wants to do her part to strengthen the bonds among students in different departments. She also wants to pass on her passion for leadership to fellow CMSG members.
“I want to train other leaders to be leaders as well, so our community grows in that way,” says Marial, describing her leadership approach as compassionate. Already looking ahead, she’s applying to graduate school programs in psychology or education policy.
Marial’s parents are Sudanese war refugees making Marial a first-generation American and college student which she credits for her drive for education. “For my aunts, my mom—literally their biggest dream is to get an education,” Marial shares. “That alone is enough for me to run with the opportunities that are in front of me and keep trying to find ways to educate myself.
“Another thing that’s super important to me in terms of leadership is that I have siblings who look up to me—I want them to know that if I can do it, they can do it, too.”
All told, Marial’s message to fellow students is one of motivation, confidence and embracing what makes them unique. “Be you! That’s really big to me. I think that musicians have a naturally competitive nature—that competition can be healthy, but no matter what you’re doing, always be 100% yourself and walk in knowing what you bring to the room. Don’t ever let other people tear you down.”