River Campus room to be named for site's first director

Southeast Missouri State University will dedicate the organ practice room at the River Campus to Gary Miller, who was vital in the development of Southeast's visual and performing arts program.

Miller, who died in early May, was the associate dean and director of the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts -- otherwise known as the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus, where the university cultivates art, dance, theater and music.

Southeast president Ken Dobbins said all but one room at the River Campus had been named.

"As everyone knows, Gary was a wonderful organist," Dobbins said at last week's board of regents meeting, after the board approved the dedication. "How appropriate to name this room after Gary."

Miller was an organ and harpsichord player who also played the oboe, cello and piano.

He held degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Michigan. He also earned the Artist's Diploma from the Staatliche Hochschule fuer Musik in Cologne, Germany. He studied organ, organ history and harpsichord while there. He was fluent in German and could mimic almost any accent in America. He helped build the Southeast Baroque Ensemble and sat in on several other university music groups, including the jazz ensembles.

A memorial service to formerly dedicate the room will be scheduled sometime this fall, Dobbins said.

Miller became director of the River Campus in 2006, about a year before the campus opened. He was responsible for moving the department into the facility, coordinating the grand opening festivities and serving as associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts. This was his 31st year at the university.

"He was very instrumental in the River Campus programming," Dobbins said. "We sorely miss Gary."

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, MO