Through philanthropic support from Barbara C. and Clifford J. Swift III, a recent concert at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts by the Schwob School of Music Philharmonic Orchestra set the tone to announce a new distinguished chair for the director of the Schwob School of Music.
The new chair will be the current director of the school, Scott Harris, who became director of the Schwob School of Music in 2013. The celebratory concert included a performance by the Schwob School of Music Philharmonic Orchestra of an original composition written by Harris.
“The Swift’s commitment to Columbus State University over the years has been evident especially in the Schwob School of music since they established a scholarship for string students in 2015,” said Harris. “With their generous support of this endowed faculty chair, the Swifts have ensured the Schwob School will always have the exceptional leadership it needs to flourish as one of the top tier music schools in the country.”
Barbara C. and Clifford J. Swift have devoted their lives to growing and prospering the Columbus community. They have invested their resources, presence, leadership and ideas over the years to ensure the cultural and artistic enrichment of the Columbus area. Through their quiet philanthropy, they have supported Historic Columbus and the Columbus Museum so that future generations would learn from the traditions and history of the area. They have served in various leadership positions at St. Francis Hospital, the Junior League of Columbus, Columbus Bank and Trust, Trinity Episcopal Church, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
Under Harris’ leadership, the school has acquired additional endowed chairs, endowed the keyboard division, and built a robust streaming service thanks to a major gift in support of technology. In 2016, the University of Georgia System Board of Regents approved a new “conservatory curriculum” proposal from CSU, designed to meet the needs of the students in advanced performance studies. The school continues to gain national attention and expand its global connections.
As Dr. Wanda Ebright, dean of the College of Arts, noted, ongoing philanthropic support remains vital to elevating the academic experience for students studying in the Schwob School of Music, as well as quality of the hundreds of performances offered through the school and by other College of the Arts departments.
“Generous donor support is the foundation upon which we continue to build the reputation of our music, theatre, dance and art programs,” added Ebright. “Attracting and retaining quality faculty with these types of endowed faculty positions are equally important to providing our students access to world-renowned faculty.”
Students attending the Schwob School of Music have access to three concert halls, state-of-the-art practice rooms, recording studios, and a dedicated music library. They have the opportunity to work with world-class faculty; join outstanding ensembles; and take advantage of numerous scholarship and study abroad opportunities. The school offers a master’s degree in music performance, bachelor’s degrees in music education and music performance, and minors in audio technology and dance.
Donors wishing to contribute to this endowment or create new scholarship endowments can discuss options with members of CSU’s Office of University Advancement. To learn more about endowments, visit columbusstate.edu/university-advancement/endowments.php.
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