For the first time in University history, an anonymous donor has generously offered to provide a match of up to $3 million for any gift received by the Music Excellence Fund before April 13, 2001. This lead gift will ensure that the Music Department and regional cultural enrichment remain vibrant and focused priorities in the 21st century.

With your help, this vision will open doors for students like Shelley. Shelley was a talented, small-town teenager whose musical experience was limited to singing with her church choir. A music scholarship from the Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Music gave Shelley an opportunity to develop her potential and dare to dream. The dream was realized when Shelley was selected to sing the role of Carmen in the San Francisco Opera Company’s Summer Internship Program.

When we listen to music, our vision is of students like Shelley. We’ve been securing student dreams for 111 years. That’s why this challenge comes at a critical crossroad. Our Music Department is highly rated, respected and strategic to the state. But we must enhance and upgrade to meet the high expectations of our students, the needs of their future employers, the growing needs of our region, the changing demographics of the state, the goals of the A&M System.

Our faculty hail from top schools across the nation. Our heavily recruited music students are talented, enthusiastic and driven. Our alumni excel in their highly competitive market using tools developed through instruction.

We need your vision to make this reality. We invite you to look at our program and attend our concerts. With your help, and the help of our anonymous friend, we’ll step up to the podium and make music for the millennium, together.

Sincerely,

R. Jay Phillips, M.Ed. ‘71