Random Notes
The end of the semester was a bit a a relief to everyone. Not only did HSU confer the most degrees in it's history, but the athletic department sent all teams to post season play. I think everyone needed a good pool party. So Dr. Craig Turner, university president, gathered the vice presidents together, heated up the grill, and served faculty and staff at the second annual Burger Bash on May 18th. Here Mr. Wayne Roy, special assistant to the president, serves a hot dog to Samantha McMillan, daughter of Forrest and Leianne McMillan.
The HSU Concert Band received good news. They were selected among all universities of similar size in a six state region to perform at the annual College Band Directors National Association regional convention next February. This was the first time HSU's band has ever been accorded what Dr. Wayne Dorothy, director, notes is "the most prestigious invitation a university band can receive." A total of 8 bands were selected, but those schools are three to 12 times the size of Hardin Simmons. HSU will present the opening concert of the convention followed by: Texas State University, University of Oklahoma, University of Arkansas, University of Missouri, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Washburn University, and Truman State University.
Visitors to the HSU Dyess Welcome Center can now tour the campus in style with the addition of the official welcome wagon.
Prospective student Chad Gray and his parents try out the new cart as they visit the campus as guests of HSU golf coach David Sherman. The cart will be used during inclement weather and to assist visitor with mobility challenges. The Gray family is chauffered by HSU's Megan Segars.
The 2007 edition of the Abilene Summer Music Festival gets underway June 10th as top junior high and high school musicians take performance to a higher level on the Hardin-Simmons University campus. The festival is dedicated to enriching the lives of West Texans by bringing quality chamber and orchestra concerts to the Abilene community, while providing educational opportunities to young musicians through advanced instruction in a supportive environment.
A premiere regional summer music program now in its seventh year, the 2007 festival spotlights students from South Dakota, Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, and Midland, as well as many talented performers from Abilene. The curriculum features three symphony orchestras, chamber music, composition, conducting, world music ensemble, music history, music theory, technique class, performance class, master class, camper mixer, recreation, and a grand finale concert at the Abilene Civic Center.
Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald treats campers and the Grand Finale audience to a guest performance as narrator for Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait� which incorporates fragments of President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The concert includes excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Bizet’s Carmen Suite No.1 under the direction of internationally acclaimed conductor, Jason Lim.
The Grand Finale, scheduled for 3:00, Jun 16, is one of four performance opportunities open to Abilene residents. The music begins with a faculty concert June 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall on the HSU campus, and continues with the ArtWalk Student Concert at the Civic Center June 14th at 6:00. The Student Chamber Music Recital follows on June 15th at 7:00 p.m. in Woodward-Dellis. There is no charge to the public for any of the performances.
There's a lot going on musically at the University it seems. The University Chorale is preparing for a European Tour. They were invited to the Switzerland Choral Festivale July 2, and will continue to Austria where they will perform the restored Mozart Fragment recently restored and performed as a world premiere in Abilene. The group will perform the piece in the same church
the original piece would have been performed in had the work been completed.
It's going to be a great summer as camps kick off and as students head for the far corners of the world. We'll try to keep you abreast of their stories as they unfold.
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