New building gives music students

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April 5, 2006
Volume 100 Number 26
Photos: Liz Ragland
Clinton Trench, instrumental performance sophomore, warms up before
the dedication of the music center.
New building gives music students
Alex Ross and Peyton Crim, vocal performance sophomores, sing
Saturday at the dedication of the Wanda L. Bass Music Center.
Something to sing about
By Ronisha Ponder
Copy Editor
It seemed surreal.
That’s what Nicole Fancher,
vocal performance f reshman,
said about Saturday’s dedication
of the Wanda L. Bass Music
Center.
Fancher said she never thinks
about how in the next year music
students will move into a new
building. But it’s all coming into
place, she said.
She said she still can’t imagine
someone spending millions of
dollars on music students.
It helps the students so much,
and Fancher said she is grateful
that people want to spend time
and money on them because they
see their potential.
Officials said about 1,500
people attended the dedication
ceremony of the $38.5 million,
113,000-square-foot center.
The Bass Center has 60 practice rooms, 38 teaching studios,
seven high-tech music labs, six
ensemble rehearsal rooms, and a
black-box theater.
The building took 10 years of
planning and more than three
years of construction. The construction will be complete in
about six weeks, officials said.
More than 300 students performed Saturday in the center’s
atrium.
Trustee Wanda Bass shed
tears as she reminisced about the
journey she took in funding the
center. She said she is grateful for
the music students.
Eight speeches were given including those by Bass, President
Tom McDaniel, Oklahoma first
lady Kim Henry, Erik Lindbergh,
The choir was part of the more than 300 students who performed
during the music center’s dedication.
Trustee Wanda Bass,
assisted by Music School
Dean Mark Parker,
thanks Bishop Robert
E. Hayes, Jr. for the
use of his handkerchief
during the dedication
of the Bass Center.
Jessie Salley, vocal
performance sophomore,
and Leah Sproul, music
composition sophomore,
tour the center.
and voice professor Florence
Birdwell. A time capsule was
sealed that won’t be opened until
2077.
The building was open Saturday for exploration. Refreshments
were available on every floor.
“I couldn’t get over the magic
of this day,” said Justin Boros,
instrumental performance
sophomore.
“The speeches were all eloquent, moving, true to heart, and
really touched on all the subjects which were very important
today.”
Inside
Trustee Wanda Bass hugs her grandson, Noah Bass, on Friday at a
dinner honoring Manhattan Construction crews.
Students wait for officials to cut the ribbon so they can enter the building.
Former candidate issued
citation: Violations caused
by staff member’s ‘good
intentions.’
Students start spring with
a sing: Organizations
compete for the title of
vocal best.
Coming home: Softball
team starts home stretch.
See story on Page 3.
See story on Page 5.
See story on Page 6.