One thing they do well at the University of Utah school of music is raise money. This program has so much money and so many scholarships, but I have one gripe about the way they go about it.
There is an annual Gala concert to raise funds for scholarships. This is a normal event for schools of music. However, instead of displaying the talents of the school, the University of Utah sells out. Apparently, someone gives alot of money to the school to hear Mack Wilberg's arrangement of "Come Thou Fount" every year. It's a great arrangement and a great hymn, but it's place is not neccesarily in the concert hall. They can go down the street and hear it almost once a month but the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
And show tunes.... This year some wealthy benefactor offered a large sum of money for us to perform "I enjoy being a girl" from some Broadway musical.
I understand the need to raise money (I benefit from the scholarship fund!), but I feel there is a greater need to show those who donate what we can really do with what they have so generously given. Next semester the orchestra is performing Mahler 2. That is something to show off. Last year we did Dvorak 9. Again, something that could show off what the school can do.
But money trumps all.
Well.....it pays the bills.
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Some of the things we do for "education". You know, I was at the U of U all last year and never saw you or met your wife once...weird. Anyway, it's good to see you're doing well! I'm done w/ official college credits this December and then I student teach in the fall. Wow, the propects of adulthood are daunting!
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