Alumni and friend support needed

Project to construct new Music Rehearsal Facility moves foward

Over its 100-year existence, the South's oldest university band has rehearsed in a number of locations. Mississippi State's Famous Maroon Band has called several places home-The Concrete Structure Lab, Old Main dormitory, the Mess Hall, the Agriculture Engineering Building, and the ROTC Building all have served as rehearsal sites.

In 1954, the band moved into its current indoor practice facility in the former Plant Maintenance Building. Some sections of the band, which numbers 300 strong in most years, have to play outside the 60-year-old building during rehearsal. At times, the band has to rehearse in two separate locations.

But help could soon be on the way in the form of a new indoor Music Rehearsal Facility.

An effort to raise private gifts from alumni and friends to construct the new facility currently is under way, and nearly $1.1 million already has been contributed toward the fund.

Tom Stogsdill, executive director of the Office of Development and one of the leaders of the fund-raising effort, says $1.6 million is needed to adequately complete the first phase of the facility, which includes a large band rehearsal room and other practice areas, administrative offices, a music library, storage, student lockers, and a lounge.

Architect's rendering of proposed Music Rehearsal Facility

Phase II of the project will add a choral area at a later date.

"We're off to a good start, but a lot of work is yet to be done," said Stogsdill. "We will be looking toward the alumni and friends of Mississippi State who have enjoyed the university's many musical groups over the years to step forward in the coming months to help us reach our goal and to make this Music Rehearsal Facility a reality."

Stogsdill said that a lead gift of $500,000 from Mrs. Bonnie DeMent of Indianola in memory of her husband, Gordon, a Mississippi State graduate and longtime university supporter, initiated the fund-raising campaign. A recent gift of $250,000 from Charles Maxwell, a 1948 graduate from Greenwood, has added momentum to the effort. The university also has pledged $250,000 toward the project. Other significant donations from alumni and friends have boosted the fund to its current level.

Naming opportunities for the facility are available, said Stogsdill. They include $250,000 for naming the band rehearsal room, $150,000 for the office suite, $50,000 for the director's office, $35,000 for the assistant director's office, and $25,000 for the music library or student lounge. The gift amount for naming the Music Rehearsal Facility is negotiable.

Gifts of cash and securities are among the ways to support the fund, and pledges may be made over a three-year period. All contributions are tax deductible by law.

"Alumni and friends making contributions of $1,000 or more will have their names inscribed on a plaque that will hang permanently in the new facility," explained Stogsdill.

Since the Famous Maroon Band marched at its first football game in 1924, the program has expanded into a comprehensive, multi-faceted music performance and music education program. A new Music Rehearsal Facility will benefit numerous musical groups on campus, says Randi L'Hommedieu, head of the Music Education Department.

"The Famous Maroon Band is how thousands of our alumni and friends know the Department of Music Education," explained L'Hommedieu. "But many fans of the marching band don't realize that these student musicians also perform throughout the year in our concert bands, wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz bands, and chamber groups. Our singers are similarly active in the choir, the Madrigal Singers, musical theater, and other vocal ensembles.

For more information on the fund-raising drive for the Music Rehearsal Facility or to make a gift to the fund, contact Stogsdill at the Office of Development at 662-325-1268. Or, e-mail him at tstogsdill@develop.msstate.edu.

There also is additional information on the project at the university's World Wide Web site. Simply point your browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer, to the university's front-door page at www.msstate.edu. Once there, click on "Alumni and Friends" and follow the links.