Faced with declining scholarship funds, the College of Music and Dramatic Arts is partnering with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra to raise money.
Dean Laurence Kaptain announced the partnership Thursday.
The orchestra received a $40,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to facilitate the partnership, which will culminate in a concert to benefit the school’s scholarship program, according to Babs Mollere, managing director of the Louisiana Philharmonic.
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 7” on May 5 in the recently renovated Student Union Theater. Proceeds from tickets sales will go to the college’s scholarship fund.
Kaptain said the partnership also involves summer activities.
“We hope this is something that gets the ball rolling,” Kaptain said.
School of Music Interim Director Willis Delony said the school has lost more than $1 million in scholarship funding.
Delony said recruitment is the biggest challenge with declining scholarship funds.
“We are not concerned about our existence,” Delony said. “But there is concern about maintaining what we have built in the last 25 years.”
Raul Gomez, musical arts doctoral student, said financial aid played a big part in bringing him from his native Costa Rica to study at the University.
“Because of the economic realities, it is simply prohibitive for a student from south of North America to come here and study,” Gomez said. “It is absolutely crucial.”
Gomez said the partnership benefits the University, the Louisiana Philharmonic and the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra because many University students play with BRSO.
“In the six years I have been in Louisiana, what struck me is the opportunities to play for these professional organizations,” Gomez said. “We bring back that experience and inspiration to all the students here.”
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation writes grants to institutions of higher education, cultural affairs and the performing arts as well as population, conversation and the environment, according to a College of Music and Dramatic Arts news release.
 
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Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at [email protected]