'We'll sell out': Tickets go on sale soon for River Campus 10th anniversary celebration

Though the concert is still nearly a year away, some local history buffs are urging residents to buy tickets early if they want to attend Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus 10th anniversary celebration.

Part of the celebration on March 7, 2017, will honor the St. Vincent's Seminary, one of the first institutions of higher learning west of the Mississippi River upon whose grounds the River Campus stands.

A concert piece written specifically to honor the memory of the seminary and the Vincentians will be performed. Dennis Seyer, Denis Rigdon, Rick Cuba and Jerry Ford are spreading the word that because the concert is part of the upcoming concert season, tickets for the show go on sale July 11.

"People think, 'That's not until next year; why are they talking about it already?'" Ford said. "But that July 11 date is kind of critical. If you want to participate, it's right on top of us here."

Seyer and Rigdon attended seminary at St. Vincent's, and Ford has been hosting lectures detailing the history of the Vincentians, who arrived in the Cape Girardeau area in 1818.

They built the seminary in 1843, and in so doing laid the foundation for scholarship in Cape Girardeau, Ford said.

"Obviously, if the Vincentians hadn't done that, there wouldn't be a River Campus," he said. "And now with the refurbishing of the seminary, it will now be an institution of higher learning for another 100 years."

Former Cape Girardeau resident Gordon "Dick" Goodwin, who now serves as professor emeritus at the University of South Carolina, wrote the symphonic piece.

Ford and his associates have been locating and contacting people who worked at or attended the seminary, as well as Catholic organizations and parishes throughout the region.

"We want to make sure the people here have a chance to buy tickets. We're talking to people throughout the United States, even some in Europe," he said.

"We'll sell out," Ford added. "I think unquestionably we will sell that concert out."

The all-day celebration will include tours of the River Campus, remarks by Southeast president Carlos Vargas-Aburto and Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger and a post-concert reception.

Ford said if the concert sells out and there is enough demand, another concert date may be added.

Sara Edgerton, Southeast Missouri Symphony artistic director, has worked with Ford to bring the event together and will be giving a pre-concert talk as part of the day's festivities as well.

"None of this would really be happening had she not agreed to conduct it," Ford said.

Tickets will be $16 and $19 at the River Campus box office, and group rates of 10 or more are available.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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