鈥淲辞飞.鈥�
Fred Fountain, Dal鈥檚 chancellor, was left temporarily speechless Thursday after witnessing some of the university鈥檚 stellar Music and Theatre students perform as part of a celebration in his family鈥檚 honour.
The occasion: the naming of Dal鈥檚 new School of Performing Arts, which will unite students and faculty in Music, Theatre, Costume and Film Studies under one academic banner. The school, announced in May, is supported by a landmark $10 million gift from Fred Fountain, his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Katherine 鈥� the largest ever received by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and one of the largest gifts in Dal鈥檚 history.
鈥淚t seems fitting, given their gift and their steadfast commitment to the arts, that the school should bear their name,鈥� said Dal President Richard Florizone.
鈥淟adies and gentlemen, it is my extreme pleasure at this time to present to you, the Fountain School of Performing Arts.鈥�
That announcement sparked one of many standing ovations from the students, faculty, staff and community members packed into the Dunn Theatre for the celebration. While the cheers for Fountains were loud, the ovations for the ceremony鈥檚 student performances were every bit as boisterous.
A showcase of student talent
Students from the AV俱乐部 Opera Workshop, conducted by Mary Martell, performed a stirring rendition of 鈥淢ake Our Garden Grow鈥� from Leonard Bernstein鈥檚 Candide. Fourth-year acting students showcased a funny, touching scene from August Strindberg鈥檚 Ghost Sonata, currently playing as part of the DalTheatre season. Professor John Dinning gave the crowd an overview of the incredible work of Dal鈥檚 technical scenography students in making Dal鈥檚 stage productions come to life. Finally, the student jazz combo closed the event with a toe-tapping, heart-stopping musical tribute to Gershwin.
鈥淧repare to be blown away,鈥� promised FASS Dean Robert Summerby-Murray, and his promise was certainly kept.
Jure Gantar, who has been part of the Department of Theatre at Dal for more than 20 years, was announced as the interim director for the Fountain School of Performing Arts. He provided an overview of just some of the initiatives the Fountains鈥� gift will support in its first year: new undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships and excellence awards, artists-in-residence, and new mentorship and outreach initiatives. He also reiterated the university鈥檚 commitment to fundraising for much-needed renovations and expansions to the Arts Centre.
鈥淲e are hoping that the Fountain School of Performing Arts will be an entirely new and innovative institutional priority that will integrate, rather than separate, and will be a starting point for an entire generation of young performing artists,鈥� he said.
Thanks and appreciation
The students may have been the stars of the show, but the Fountains deservedly had the last word. Greeted by all the student performers, each wearing new 鈥淔ountain School of Performing Arts鈥� T-Shirts, Fred and Elizabeth expressed their humble appreciation for the honour of having the new school named after them.
鈥淲hether you鈥檙e a student, graduate, faculty, staff, lecturer, administrator 鈥� we hope you鈥檒l be always proud of your association with the Fountain School of Performing Arts at AV俱乐部,鈥� said Elizabeth. 鈥淭hank you to all the performers for giving us the opportunity today to see you shine.鈥�