TERRY PRICE

Terry Price Sweet Music

Alumnus gives back to help students realize dreams at Tarleton

BY PHIL RIDDLE

Terry Price may not know that it was General Colin Powell who said, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work,” but he knows the inherent truth in the statement.

Price, who graduated from Tarleton with a degree in music education in 1972, worked three jobs to cobble together enough money to pay for college. Since then he has become one of the nation’s foremost choral directors, earning international acclaim, a Grammy award and membership in the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

The Director of Music at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas since 1988, Price recently retired from the position.

He and his wife, Alyce, also decided to create a scholarship for Tarleton choral students. The gift is to ease the financial burden while working toward a college degree.

“When we were growing up, we were really poor,” he said. “We didn’t know how poor because we were happy. But we never had two nickels at the same time, it seemed. My dad only had a sixth-grade education, so, when it came time for college, I was on my own. I had to pay every penny, so I worked one full-time job and two part-time jobs all five years I was in school.”

Price began his work days at Stephenville’s KSTV Radio, where he worked from 6 a.m. until heading to classes at 9. He returned to the station each evening at 6 p.m. and worked until closing at 11. He also put in hours at the PigglyWiggly store and at Western Auto downtown. Additionally, he was the choir director at Comanche’s First United Methodist Church.

“I was driving back there a couple of times a week,” he said. “It was a busy schedule, but it kept me from getting into trouble.”

Beginning his collegiate career as an instrumental music major, Price switched to choral music at Tarleton and became a fixture around the department.

“I had a good background in both instrumental and choral music,” he said. “In fact, I was in every music group on campus except the ROTC band. I had such a great, wide, background of experience here.”

As a junior, Price received the Col. Edwin Dyess Memorial Scholarship, named for the World War II hero and Tarleton graduate.

“It wasn’t a huge amount of money,” Price said, “but it took an incredible amount of stress off me. It was such a blessing and it’s still meaningful to me today.”

His career has taken Price across the globe. He has directed Christmas Eve celebrations in Bethlehem, conducted at the Vatican and recorded in Dallas, Nashville and London.

It all started with a dream, the willingness to work and a financial boost in the form of a scholarship—a boost he hopes to repay.

“We simply hope that we can help some students the way I was helped,” he said. “To get their educations with less financial burden than some of us experienced going through school. We’re hoping it will entice some students to come to Tarleton, who may be looking at several schools.”

Where the Prices are aiding students in achieving their dreams.

“We simply hope that we can help some students the way I was helped. To get their educations with less financial burden than some of us experienced going through school.” Terry Price