Southwestern University
2000-2001 Catalog

The Sarofim School of Fine Arts has its roots in the University’s original School of Music, which was established in 1888. In 1941, the Department of Art was merged with the School of Music, and the School of Fine Arts offered its first courses with Dr. Henry Edwin Meyer as the first Dean. In 1956, the Department of Drama and Speech was incorporated into the school.

The purposes of The Sarofim School of Fine Arts are to prepare students for professions in the fields of art, music, and theatre, including the teaching of those subjects, while providing them with a base of liberal arts subjects to afford them breadth and intellectual solidity; to provide opportunities for all University students to participate in studio, class, and ensemble activities; and to function as an aesthetic and cultural force for the University and the community.

Housed in the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center, The Sarofim School of Fine Arts makes available courses leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre, the Bachelor of Music degree, and the Bachelor of Arts in art, music, and theatre.

The Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center contains the 769-seat Alma Thomas Theater, the 322-seat Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Theater, the Caldwell-Carvey Foyer performance space, an 80-seat recital hall, a band and orchestra rehearsal hall, two art laboratories with individual carrels for art majors, an art gallery, 20 practice rooms with pianos, three large classrooms, offices, and teaching studios.

In addition, a separate facility for ceramics and sculpture, the Rufus Franklin Edwards Studio Arts Building, is located on the north side of campus.

There are three pipe organs on campus. The Aeolian-Skinner organ in the Lois Perkins Chapel is a gift of Mrs. J.J. Perkins.

All students majoring in art, music, or theatre must be admitted to the School through an audition/interview in addition to being admitted to the University through the Office of Admission. Details of the admission procedure may be obtained from the Office of the Dean.

The Sarofim School of Fine Arts grants a number of scholarships and performance/studio awards each year. These scholarships and performance/studio awards are granted only after the audition/interview process is complete. Other grants are available to non-majors, as are a variety of work programs and piano accompaniment grants.

The following performing groups are open to all students by audition: the Southwestern University Wind Ensemble, the Southwestern University Jazz Band, the Southwestern University Chamber Orchestra, the Southwestern University Chorale, the Southwestern University Singers (no audition required), and the Southwestern University Opera Theatre. All auditions for major dramatic productions also are open to all students.