Southwestern University
2004-2005 Catalog
Southwestern University: A Statement
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Sarofim School of Fine Arts
Art
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The Sarofim School of Fine Arts
Paul J. Gaffney, PhD, Dean
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. In 1999, it became the Department of Theatre, and the Sarofim School of Fine Arts evolved into its present configuration.
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, to provide 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 two pipe organs on campus. The Aeolian-Skinner organ in the Lois Perkins Chapel is a gift of Mrs. J.J. Perkins.
Scholarships
The Sarofim School of Fine Arts grants a number of scholarships to majors in music, theatre and studio art. Performance awards are also available to non-music majors who perform in one of the School’s musical ensembles. These scholarships and awards are awarded after an audition or portfolio review by the prospective students with members of the School of Fine Arts faculty; these auditions can be scheduled through the Secretary of the School of Fine Arts.
For students who are Work Study eligible as part of their financial aid package, there are numerous jobs in all areas of the arts, such as faculty assistants, music librarians, box office staff, and backstage crew. Students interested in these positions should inquire through the Secretary of the School of Fine Arts.
Performing Groups
The following performing groups are open to all students by audition: the Southwestern University Wind Ensemble, the Southwestern University Jazz Ensemble, 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 theatrical productions also are open to all students.
