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MOVING AHEAD IN FINE ARTS
When the founders of UMHB estab-lished the university’s first curriculum in 1845, they included art and music as essential components of a classical educa-tion. Even at a time when the towns of Texas were just a short step away from frontier settlements, it was understood that well educated men and women were familiar with great works of art and music, and even those who could not themselves draw, sing, or play an instrument were still expected to develop an appreciation for the fine arts.
Through the years, art and music have con-tinued to play an important role in a Mary Hardin-Baylor education. When the college was relocated from Independence to Bel-ton, Texas, the first buildings erected were designed to serve multiple uses, combining classrooms, dormitory rooms, and adminis-trative offices in multi-story structures. But the importance of the fine arts was such that, by 1928, the university constructed a four-story building completely devoted to the study of art and music. Presser Hall was built with the help of a gift from Theodore Presser, an east-coast philanthropist who made his fortune publishing music. The gift was sufficient to cover half the cost of the building; faculty and alumni joined forces to secure the remaining funds through do-
nations from former students and friends in the community.
Presser Hall was designed for the fine arts activities of the day. The building featured several large classrooms on the top floor of the building; the rooms were scaled for group art classes, with large windows to bring in natural light. The building also fea-tured a 150-seat recital hall where students could sing, play instruments, or present recitations. The rest of the building was de-signed for individual instruction of students. Long hallways of practice rooms and fac-ulty offices were sized for students to meet one-on-one with their music professors for lessons in voice, piano, and organ.
At the University of MAry hArdin-BAylor, At the University of MAry hArdin-BAylor, the MoMent is right for the visUAl And perforMing Arts.the MoMent is right for the visUAl And perforMing Arts.
program has earned a reputation for pro-ducing skilled vocalists who go on to sing at recognized venues, and it draws talented young people from all over the country to study at UMHB. However, the highly pro-fessional opera and musical theater produc-tions staged by the program must be pre-sented 20 miles from campus, because the university does not have a performance hall with a proscenium stage that can accommo-date a standard theatrical production.
• Thesuccessoftheuniversity’sCon-servatoryofMusichascreatedaddi-tionalneedforaperformancevenue. Founded in 1996, the Conservatory pro-gram offers group and individual music in-struction for children ages 2 to 18, using UMHB professors and others to give the children lessons in piano, voice, violin, and a variety of orchestral instruments. More than 500 children come to Presser Hall to study music each week, but their programs must often be presented off campus, be-cause the stage in Hughes Recital Hall is too small to accommodate the choirs.
• UMHB’snewcorecurriculumwillinvolvemorestudentsthaneverbe-foreinthearts. Beginning in fall 2012, all students will be required to complete 3 hours of fine arts credit. They must also attend at
least one art exhibit, theatrical production, or music performance each semester to meet the requirements of the new Fine Arts Experience, which is part of the new core curriculum. “We expect the new Fine Arts Experience requirement will bring more students out to performances than ever be-fore, increasing our need for a performance hall that can seat about 600 people,” says the university’s provost, Dr. Steve Oldham.
Faculty and administrators are excited about these many ways the fine arts pro-grams at UMHB have changed and grown, and they foresee even greater activities on the horizon. With a strong committed faculty and growing interest among all stu-dents, the university now must expand the facilities for visual and performing arts, to keep the momentum going.
Today, more than 80 years later,Presser Hall still serves as the cen-ter forfinearts on the campus.Butduring thecourseof those80years,muchhaschangedatUMHB:
• Theuniversityhasgrownfrom1,272studentsin1928to3,137studentsin2011.Today 169 students major or minor in art, music, or theater—compared to the 50 students enrolled in studio arts classes when Presser Hall was built.
• Today, largechoraland instrumen-talgroupsareavitalpartofmusiced-ucation.When Presser Hall was built, the university had no large choirs or instrumen-tal groups. As these groups developed, the only spaces large enough to serve as practice rooms were the large art rooms at the top of the building, so the art department was moved to the basement to free up the large rooms for choir and band practices. The basement rooms were long, narrow passages with little natural light, ill suited for art ac-tivities, but they were the only spaces avail-able in the building. The art department has continued to be housed in these basement rooms ever since.
• The UMHB opera program has be-comeahallmarkoftheuniversity. The
degree progrAMs offered in the visUAl And perforMing ArtsBachelor of Arts — MusicBachelor of Arts — performance studiesBachelor of fine ArtsBachelor of Music — Church MusicBachelor of Music — CompositionBachelor of Music — Music educationBachelor of Music — Music history and literatureBachelor of Music — performance
Momentum has brought us here. Momentum will move us forward.
Havevoice.Willtravel. Haide Gonzelez and Josiah Davis came to UMHB via very different routes, but they share the same goal: to sing.
Haide grew up not too far from the univer-sity, in Round Rock, Texas. When UMHB choral director Dr. Michelle Roueché conducted a choir clinic there, she heard Haide sing and invited her to audition for a scholarship. On campus Haide met George Hogan, director of the opera program, who urged her to give opera a try. The result was a starring role for the freshman in the chil-dren’s opera, Little Red’s Most Unusual Day.
Josiah Davis came to UMHB from his home in Ossining, New York. His voice teacher there knew about George Hogan’s suc-cess in training young vocalists for careers on the stage, and he recommended that Josiah do his undergraduate studies under Hogan’s tutelage. Josiah liked what he found at UMHB, and in no time the bari-tone found himself playing Big Bad Wolf, with Haide as Little Red.
The vocalists spend many hours preparing for a production, in addition to keeping up with their required courses in English, his-tory, math, and religion. And for Little Red’s Most Unusual Day, the cast maintained a
grueling schedule of ten performances in seven days, traveling to different locations to stage the opera for delighted crowds of elementary school children.
For Haide and Josiah, the work is worth it. “Performing before an audience is impor-tant,” says Josiah. “My voice teacher used to tell me that each performance is worth ten lessons, because it helps you learn to do your best under pressure. It is natural to feel nervous when you sing before an audience, and the only way to get past that is to perform as often as you can, until you get used to it.”
“We work hard, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” adds Haide. “I know that this is my calling; this is where I’m supposed to be.”
We Are prepAring ordinAry people for eXtrAordinAry lives, And With eACh life thAt is ChAnged, the MoMentUM groWs.
Haide Gonzelez and Josiah Davis
the high profes-sional standards set by the Na-tional Associa-tion of Schools of Music; the Department of Art follows
the guidelines estab-lished by the National Association of
Schools of Art and Design and the Texas Association of Schools of Art.
Christian emphasis — At UMHB, professors are expected to be Christian role models for their students. They demon-strate to their students that a commitment to the arts and a commitment to Christi-anity can go hand in hand. “People who graduate from our programs have learned to approach the world with integrity,” says Dean Ted Barnes. “Our students learn to look at the complexity and intensity of the world and to reflect upon it in light of our spiritual tradition. We need more people who look at the world in that manner.”
Thevisualandperformingartspro-gramsatUMHBarebuiltuponthreeimportantideas:
Student focus — Students often cite the small classes and the emphasis on the individual needs of each student as the reasons they enroll at UMHB. “Our faculty members form strong relationships with their students,” says Hershall Seals, chair of the art department. “We help them develop as artists, but we also try to equip them to be successful professionals so they graduate with an understanding of what it will take to make a living as an artist.”
Technical excellence — The faculty members of the College of Visual and Performing Arts are active musicians and artists as well as respected educators. All participate regularly in recitals and exhibits, and they encourage their students to par-ticipate in adjudicated area and regional competitions, to keep their students using their talents for continuous improvement. Art majors nearing graduation are required to stage a Senior Show of their work, and musicians must regularly perform in recitals for the campus community. The Depart-ment of Music models its curriculum on
the philosophy
“the University of Mary hardin-Baylor prepares students for leadership, service, and faith-informed discernment in a global society. Academic excellence, personal attention, broad-based scholarship and a commitment to a Baptist vision for education distinguish our Christ-centered learning community.”
UMhB MissionstAteMent
At UMHB, our beliefs shape our actions.
The UMHB Campus Master Plancalls for the construction of twofacilities to foster the programs oftheCollegeofVisualandPerform-ingArts.
TheBaughCenterfortheVisualArtswill offer27,000 square feet of dedicated space for Department of Art activities. The building will feature spacious studios for classes in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics, with adjacent out-door areas for welding and gas kiln firings. A tiered classroom with seating for 50 will provide a location for art history lectures, and art education will have its own class-room equipped with materials for teaching K-12 art. A suite of rooms on the first floor of the center will simulate the areas of an advertising agency, with computer stations for visual communications students and a conference area for collaborative activities. The building will include studio space for upper-level art majors, and a central gallery will provide a place for displays of work by students and professors as well as for travel-ling exhibits. This beautiful new home for the study of art has been named in memory of Mr. and Mrs. John Baugh, in recognition
well as a spacious lobby area for patrons. Plans call for this facility to be located near the Main Street entrance to the UMHB campus, to create a destination point where fine arts lovers from the surround-ing communities can come to enjoy choral programs and theatrical productions along with members of the campus community.
of a timely lead gift for the building from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation.
ThenewPerformingArtsCenter will provide on-campus performance space for opera, musical theater, and theater produc-tions. The Campus Master Plan calls for this facility to include a 600-to-800-seat theater with a proscenium stage and fly space, to accommodate the requirements of a dra-matic production, complete with orchestra. The facility will offer dressing rooms and practice areas for student performers as
Momentum has brought us here. Momentum will move us forward.
the fACilities
The Baugh Center for the Visual Arts (above) will include gallery and studio space for students; the Performing Arts Center will offer a theater with a proscenium stage for opera and theater productions, similar to York Collegiate Theater (pictured right).
Your gift to the Visual and Performing Arts Centers will enhance student experiences as we prepare students for professional careers in art and music. The arts have the ability to reach people from all backgrounds, ages, and cultures in ways few other disciplines can. They fundamentally enrich our exis-tence and have the power to change lives for the better.
Our development team is available to explore how you can make a meaningful gift in support of the fine arts through the Momentum campaign. Naming opportuni-ties are available to recognize those who are special in your life.
Be A pArt of the MoMentUM.
Office of DevelopmentUniversity of Mary Hardin-Baylor
UMHB Box 8409Belton, Texas 76513
To make a gift online, go towww.umhb.edu/momentum
Brent DavisonVice President for [email protected]
Michael BallSenior Director of [email protected]
Kevin FralicksSenior Director of [email protected]
Gene KimesDirector of Gift [email protected]
Susan KolodziejczykDirector of [email protected]
Michele PadillaDirector of Foundation [email protected]
