Music majors who are graduating from Catawba College on Saturday are holding the first Senior Legacy Concert to raise money to buy library resources the Music Department needs to help future students.
The concert takes place at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, after the day program’s morning commencement exercise, at the Tom Smith Auditorium on campus.
The concert is free, but the music graduates are asking for donations to buy more repertoire books, scholarly reflections and musical scores.
Jessica Taige and Brianna Smith organized the Legacy Concert, and in a letter to college supporters, they wrote, “The Catawba College Music Department is experiencing growth and exposure like never before, especially in vocal studies. New faculty and philosophies are fueling the momentum, which we believe will quickly give the department an important regional presence.
“To keep up with this accelerated growth, there must be an update to library resources available to students, which are currently grossly lacking. … To better arm our peers with these tools, those members of the Senior Class of 2008 who have been affected by these positive changes are asking for your help in providing new literary resources to Catawba College.”
In a separate e-mail, Scott MacLeod, a voice instructor at Catawba, wrote, “I have had the pleasure of teaching several of these fine young men and women, many of whom are transitioning directly into careers in the performing arts.”
MacLeod added that “the tremendous momentum in the Catawba College Music Department … has been accelerated with the addition of Professor Paul E. Oakley (as) director of choral, vocal, and sacred music studies.”
In their letter to supporters, Taige and Smith encourage people to send donations, even if they can’t attend Saturday’s concert.
Donations are tax-deductible. Checks should be written to the college and designated for Music Library No. 20386-40385.
“We are thrilled to be able to give back in this important manner and sincerely hope we can count on your support,” the students wrote.