RECITAL SHOWED CITY AT BEST

A Sunday recital featuring two Southeast Missouri State University faculty members at Old St. Vincent Church told us a few things about Cape Girardeau. All of them bode well for this community.

-- One, the arts are alive and well in Cape Girardeau. Several hundred people turned out on sunny autumn afternoon to hear violinist Heidi Bergman and pianist James Sifferman present an inspiring classical program. This helps tear down the complaint, made frequently and without the aid of facts, that cultural opportunities are non-existent in Cape Girardeau. They are there if you avail yourselves of them.

-- Two, the university has some enormously gifted people on its faculty. Both of Sunday's performers attended the prestigious Julliard School in New York and have seasoned their talents with studies and performances in the United States and around the world. While it is not put before the public every day, and perhaps it is something we take for granted since they are so close at hand, Southeast Missouri State has faculty members in every academic department that are tremendously accomplished and well thought-of in their disciplines. We marvel at how much this adds to the community.

-- Three, Old St. Vincent's is almost ideal for an event of this type. The mission of those who worked so hard to restore this gracious building was to turn it into a venue for cultural activities. It was delightful to hear the beautiful tones of Beethoven and Brahms reverberate through this grand sanctuary. We hope it continues to be used in this way.

Music is one of God's gifts, and in this house of God on Sunday, the Creator must have been looking down with a smile.