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Margaret
Hait ’70 ’76 M.A.
President, Alumni Association
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I think we would all agree that our Montclair State training has prepared
us well for our chosen fields. Alumni have (and have retired from)
successful careers across the country and throughout the world. While
many of us were prepared to become educators, many more recent graduates
took a more liberal arts route.
This issue of Alumni Life focuses on the arts. Alumni frequently contact
us for many reasons, often just to update us on what is happening
in their lives and to tell us where their career paths have taken
them. It comes as no surprise that career preparation outside the
education field is equally fine.
Montclair State graduates are successful in theater, dance, music
and fine arts. You will find alumni in all aspects of these areas
-- performing, directing, producing, writing and choreographing. Certainly
they came with talents, but the preparation and fine-tuning were all
part of the Montclair training. Because of these success stories,
more and more talented new students are coming our way.
Part of the exciting plans for campus development is a new theater
that will make state-of-the-art equipment available to our students.
Better facilities and new productions will bring more people to campus
and no doubt attract more talented students.
What excites me most, though, about the new theater is that it will
be adjacent to the amphitheater. You have read about the amphitheater
restoration project in previous issues. When it is completed, it will
be the perfect location for outdoor theatrical productions and concerts.
Don't miss the story in this issue about the 1994 production of “Hair"
in the amphitheater. The story was written by alumna Gail Corrigan
'95, who was part of the production. I also hope that you have had
the opportunity to check out the University Web site (www.montclair.edu)
for photos and memories of the amphitheater
for fellow alumni. You can also find out how to support this project.
On another matter, I must reflect back on my last Alumni Life message.
No sooner had my message on volunteerism gone to print when our lives
changed forever. The events of Sept. 11 brought out the best in Americans
when we were needed the most. I applaud those of you who stepped up
and gave your time to help those in need. A page in this issue also
pays tribute to the four alumni and one student lost in those tragic
events. I hope you join me in keeping all the victims, especially
those who were part of our Montclair State family, in our hearts and
thoughts. |
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Susan
A. Cole
President
Montclair State University
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In a letter to H.G. Wells, writer Henry James said, "It is
art that makes life. I know of no substitute whatever for the force
and beauty of its process."
Montclair State's commitment to the full range of the living arts
is catalogued in this issue, where you will find that from international
art exhibitions to Harry Partch's strange and wonderful instruments,
MSU is devoted to the concept that life is immeasurably enhanced
by art.
We are proud of our programs of study in the arts, proud of the
talents and ambitions of our students, and equally proud that we
are able to share these wonderful undertakings with the larger community.
As I look out a College Hall window, I can see the ongoing construction
efforts that will result in our marvelous new 500-seat theater,
a much needed facility for our fine instructional programs in music,
theater and dance. The theater will provide a dynamic venue for
the University, community and professional offerings.
Complementing the new theater is our newly dedicated L.
Howard Fox Studio Theatre, which has been extensively refurbished
and provides an intimate 100-seat forum for theater of the most
personal variety.
Our theater outreach includes the 12 Miles West professional theater
company, founded by Montclair State alumni; Camp TheatreFest
and Arts Voyage programs for at-risk and special needs children;
and a schedule of professional performances that delight attentive
audiences of 25,000 youngsters each year. Our music programs reach
more than 1,300 children annually who receive personalized musical
instruction.
The University's global artistic commitment has led our arts faculty
and students to every corner of the globe, from Eastern Europe to
Australia, New Zealand and China, where they have performed and
exhibited their artwork to the delight of international audiences.
Our artistic mission never strays from its academic foundations,
even overseas. Geoffrey Newman, dean of the School
of the Arts, through the International Council of Fine Arts
Deans, serves as a consultant to European arts educators, and Montclair
State is an active member of the European League of Institutes of
Arts.
Our nationally recognized alumni also paint a bright picture of
the scope and success of our varied artistic programs. Singer and
actress Melba Moore, Metropolitan Opera star Paul Plishka and Four
Seasons singer Gerry Polci are just a few of the MSU artists gracing
the national state.
Henry James was correct, but he didn't go far enough. At Montclair
State University, art not only makes life, it makes life better
for thousands of students every year and for thousands of members
of our surrounding communities with whom we share our artistic resources.
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