Gerren Hall of Achievement Dedication

GERREN DEDICATION

KU School of Music honor faculty, alumni, and staff with hall of achievement and dedication ceremony

n September of 2022, the KU School of Music launched the new Nicholas Gerren Hall of

Achievement with a dedication ceremony at

Murphy Hall.

The University of Kansas School of Music acknowledges its history of participation in the systemic exclusion and marginalization of under represented communities of people in our society. The Nicholas L. Gerren, Sr. Hall of Achievement is one attempt to begin redressing these offenses. The purpose of this hall is to honor the life and career of alumni, faculty, and staff from the KU School of Music who, despite exclusion and marginalization, made a positive impact in the field of music.

Nicholas Gerren persevered during a time when, for many people around him, the color of his skin suggested that he should be marginalized and excluded from reaping the benefits of this country’s cultural and educational institutions. This hall is to show respect for the lives and careers of people of color, such as Nicholas Gerren, who succeeded despite the barriers of Institutional Racism.

Members of Gerren’s family, including Nicholas L. Gerren, Jr. and Lucie Gaye Gerren, were in attendance for this special event. The School of Music also inducted two additional members into the Hall of Achievement, Etta Moten Barnett and William P. Foster. The recognition wall is located at the south wing of Murphy Hall outside the music and dance library.

Learn more about the inductees.

About Nicholas Gerren:

Nicholas L. Gerren (1912-2002), born in Kansas City, Kansas, earned four degrees from KU: BM in violin (1935), BME (1947), MME (1948), PhD (1953). He studied violin and conducting on a scholarship at the Moscow Conservatory (1935-37). Gerren taught and directed orchestras and choirs at several colleges and universities for forty years, finally at Central State University (Wilberforce, Ohio), where he served as Dean of the School of Music and Art. He received both the Fred Ellsworth Medallion for Service (1975) and Distinguished Service Citation (1984) from KU and was a US State Department arts representative to the Soviet Union.

About Etta Moten Barnett:

Etta Moten Barnett (1901-2004), born in Weimar, Texas, earned a BA in voice and drama (1931) from KU. She joined the Eva Jessye Choir in New York and appeared in several Broadway productions, including in her signature role as Bess in a famous revival of Porgy and Bess (1942-44), with which she also toured. Her Hollywood career included solos in “Gold Diggers” of 1933 and “Flying Down to Rio” (1933). Moten’s performing career ended in 1952. Later she hosted “I Remember When” on radio in Chicago, was a civic leader, and served as an American cultural representative to African nations.

About William P. Foster:

William P. Foster (1919-2010) grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, where he studied clarinet. He earned a BME (1941) from KU, MA (1950) from Wayne State University, and EdD (1955) from Columbia University. After two years of high school instruction, he moved into college level teaching, finally leading the Florida A&M University “Marching 100” from 1946 to 1998, and making it a premier, influential ensemble known for its high-stepping showmanship, dancing, rapid tempos, and international appearances. Foster became president of the American Bandmasters Association, a member of the National Council on the Arts, and was inducted into numerous halls of fame.

SUPPORTING KU MUSIC

Your support of the KU School of Music is essential to our mission.

Outright cash gifts from our alumni and friends make a vital impact for our students, faculty, and staff every day. As an avid KU Music supporter, you may wonder about other ways that you can help us to continue to share our music with the world. One commonly used method is through a gift of money, property, or a share of your estate’s residue through your Will or Trust. But there are other options for giving to the KU School of Music beyond such bequests.

Visit kuendowment.giftlegacy.com.

LEARN MORE!

If you want to learn more about the various ways that you can support KU Music, please contact Curtis Marsh.

Curtis Marsh, Development Director for the School of Music and the Lied Center KU Endowment 785 832-7467 | cmarsh@kuendowment.org

SCHOOL of MUSIC | Dean’s Club

The School of Music Dean’s Club is comprised of donors who give $1,000 or more annually to the School of Music.

Kathryn A. Algren & Mark S. Algren William E. Benso & Beverly Runkle Benso Beverly Smith Billings Dee Blaser & Chuck Blaser Tom E. Bowser & Judith Strunk Bowser Christopher T. Bradt & Denise White-Bradt Joyce Malicky Castle Harry W. Craig Jr. & Karen M. Craig Michael M. Davidson Sue Duncan & James F. Duncan Doug Eason & Becky Alexander Eason, PhD David U. Fitzcharles & Alice R. Fitzcharles Joelle S. Ford & N. Allen Ford Robert E. Foster, PhD & Rebecca Cox Foster Janice Tande Gaumnitz & Jack E. Gaumnitz Nicholas E. Good, DMA Mary Deschner Grimes Kenneth V. Hager & Marilyn J. Hager Gunda Hiebert Martha Dolores Hills Richard H. Himes, PhD & Susan V. Himes Adele Hodgdon & Chris Hodgdon Clyde E. Holiwell & Janis C. Holiwell Diana Double Ice Jon L. Jamison & Vicki H. Jamison Anne E. Johnson & Christopher M. Hepp David S. Kyner, PhD & Carol J. Kyner Joy E. Laird & Paul R. Laird, PhD William E. Lewis & Laura Dent Lewis John M. McGrew & Rita I. McGrew Cecil R. Miller Sally O. Smith Reed & Timothy J. Reed Nang M. Rives, PhD & James A. Rives, PhD Constance J. Roeder Valerie Vandenberg Roper & John C. Roper Charlotte S. Simonson John A. Stephens & Barbara A. Stephens Elizabeth S. Weaver & Robert F. Weaver, PhD Jeffery B. Weinberg & Mary Haynes Weinberg James P. Zakoura

FRIENDS OF THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The School of Music Friends are a community of alumni, parents, friends, and students who are dedicated to providing annual financial and advocacy support to the KU School of Music. We invite you to join us as a Friend of the KU School of Music by making an unrestricted gift to help students and families discover the wonder of music through our world-class educational programs and hundreds of performances each year. Your investment is essential to our success as we raise the bar of excellence and achievement for our students and faculty. In addition to a free window decal to show your support for the School of Music Friends Program, your membership also grants you recognition in select programs for the year’s concert series.

www.music.ku.edu/KUMusicFriends

If you have any questions about membership or its benefits, please contact us at music@ku.edu or by phone at (785) 864-3436.