The
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Department of Music
recently celebrated those who have contributed to the success of the
SWOSU Piano Campaign with a donor recognition event at the Oklahoma
City Museum of Art (OKCMOA.)
The
reception was hosted by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. and generously
underwritten by Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Philip Busey,
Jr. (’04) and his wife, Heather Busey (’07) of Oklahoma City.
Campaign Co-Chairs Brad Berrong, (’75 & 2013 Distinguished
Alumnus) and his wife, Jeanine Berrong (’76 & ’78), and
Richard and Rose Ratcliffe, all of Weatherford, participated in the
event.
Among
the attendees were many generous donors to the campaign as well as
institutional leaders including Regional University System of
Oklahoma (RUSO) Regents Lake Carpenter and Susan Winchester and her
husband, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Jim Winchester; Oklahoma
State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) Chancellor Allison
Garrett; and SWOSU President Dr. Diana Lovell and SWOSU Provost Dr.
Joel Kendall. Several current and former members of the SWOSU Music
faculty also made time to participate in the gathering.
Guests
were treated to refreshments while listening to SWOSU students and
faculty perform various pieces on a beautiful Steinway Piano
furnished by OKCMOA; attendees also browsed the museum’s gallery
exhibits.
Maestro
Alexander Mickelthwate, Music Director & Principal Conductor of
the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, graciously carved time out of his
busy schedule to make a special appearance and delivered remarks
regarding the importance of quality pianos for students and the
history of the Steinway brand.
The
Campaign for SWOSU Piano began in 2022 to connect the SWOSU Music
Department with philanthropic donors who would like to support the
SWOSU Piano program. To date, the Campaign’s many generous donors
have enabled over $325,000 to be invested in the SWOSU Piano program.
The effort has provided SWOSU Piano students and faculty with 1 brand
new custom Steinway Model “D” Ebony Performance Piano and 2 brand
new Kawai Baby Grand Ebony Performance Pianos as well as substantial
Piano storage and practice/performance facility improvements. As a
next phase, the Campaign aims to work with donors to secure an
additional $50,000 in support to enable the SWOSU Music Department to
procure 5 new Kawai Upright Practice Pianos.
“We
are exceedingly grateful to those who have contributed and helped us
purchase new pianos,” said the Chair of the SWOSU Department,
Shelley Martinson, PhD. “These instruments are used by all music
students at SWOSU. Having high-quality pianos is incredibly important
to our program.”
The
Campaign for SWOSU Piano is facilitated by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc.
To learn more or to make a charitable contribution to the Campaign
for SWOSU Piano, visit www.SWOSUPiano.com or contact Erin Adams at
erin.adams@swosu.edu, 580-774-3156.
