SCHOLARSHIPS PART OF SOUTHEAST'S PUSH FOR ARTS SCHOOL

Last week's announcement of $25,000 in new music scholarships, initiation of a concert series and expansion of the newly named Southeast Missouri symphony Orchestra are part of Southeast Missouri State University's effort to make its School of Visual and Performing Arts a reality before the River Campus construction ever begins, says Dr. Ken Dobbins, the university president.

A similar announcement is expected to be made soon affecting the university's theater department, he says.

"Some people say if you build it they'll come. We want to have the programs ready and have them operating so people of the region can enjoy some of the cultural activities before they get to the facilities."

The School of Visual and Performing Arts to be housed at the River Campus officially will be created next year, Dobbins said, despite the fact that funding for the River Campus has been held up by a lawsuit.

Dobbins aims for the university to build one of the finest schools of visual and performing arts in the U.S. at the River Campus. The university recently announced plans to hire a sculptor, an art historian and a theater costume designer for the new school.

Keeping students here

A gift from Commerce Bank of Cape Girardeau will be combined with matching funds from the university and other gifts to provide $25,000 more in music scholarships. The current level of music scholarships is only $3,000.

"The university is important to Cape Girardeau and to the southeast part of the state," says Roger Tolliver, the bank president. "We're hoping this will enhance the music program, and we hope the scholarships will attract good talent to the university."

The bank's donation covers two years, he said. "We'll see where it goes from there."

Dr. Sara Edgerton, director of the University Symphony Orchestra for the past 10 years, will direct the orchestra the current one will become. Students and faculty members will form the orchestra's core, with communities around the region contributing other members. The orchestra will increase from the current 60 members to about 70.

The additional scholarships will target string players, a scarce commodity in the state.

The first concert series probably will correspond with the current orchestra's efforts during a season four concerts plus one special event, Edgerton said. "The initial year being a time of planning, the 2001-2002 series will be a prototype for what we will evolve into."

More challenge

The expansion will mean the orchestra can play more challenging music, says Dr. Gary Miller, chairman of the Department of Music.

The model the university is using for the orchestra has faculty members leading sections. That situation would not be possible immediately, but Edgerton says "The opportunities for learning and growth are enormous."

Dobbins said the university also will form the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra Society, a group patterned after the Southeast Public Radio Circle, which provides support to KRCU 90.9 FM.

The group would meet a few times a year, discuss programming of the concert series and perhaps hold a fund raiser.