University Daily Kansan, January 31, 1985
Page 7
ET CETERA
Officials try to upgrade state of the arts in Kansas
By MICHAEL TOTTY Staff Reporter
While Kansas lawmakers focus on big-ticket budget items such as highways and education, local arts groups hope for dramatic results from a relatively small proposed increase in the state's aid to the arts.
Gov. John Carlin has offered to boost state financing of the Kansas Arts Commission from $490,000 to $640,000 — about a 31 percent increase. But if legislators hold the line on
State Rep. Jessie Branson, D-Lawrence, who has pushed for a greater commitment to the arts, said this week that an increase in the state's aid would enhance the quality of life for all Kansans as well as promote economic development.
"We need more state support for the arts." We're not doing what other states are asking.
But during this legislative session, the outlook appears grim for the governor's proposal. House Ways and Members Committee Chairman Bill Bunten, R-Topeka, said
We need more state support for the arts. We're not doing what other states are doing.'
State Rep. Jessie Branson
large budget increases, Kansas would retain its position in the cellar of states' aid to the arts.
D-Lawrence
MEANWHILE, RECIPIENTS OF state arts commission grants at the University of Kansas have learned to survive on the trickle of funds from the state treasury.
supporters of a substantial increase in the arts budget probably would be disappointed.
Kansas now ranks 49th in per capita spending for the arts. Carlin's proposed increase of $150,000 in the arts commission's budget would lift the state's ranking to 48rd, according to Max Wilson, assistant director of the commission.
"THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET requires $86 million in increased taxes that: the Legislature probably won't pass," Bunten said.
Even if lawmakers don't come up with the extra funds, the effect on current programs probably would be minimal because most programs depend little on state and federal grants.
the state, almost $6 million was raised by the grant recipients. Ticket sales and exhibition fees made up the bulk of local money, and the fundraising effort, provided the rest.
Wilson said that although the arts commission allotted almost $600,000 to programs in
To encourage local fund-raising efforts, the National Endowment for the Arts established a test grant program that would provide seed money to communities. Carlin's proposal includes $50,000 to finance the state's contribution to the federal program.
THE PLAN REQUIRES LOCAL arts groups to raise funds, which are then matched by the state and federal grants. Unlike other state aid, this gives the local groups the financial finance either for the merger capital improvement or the renovation or acquisition of an art center.
Jacqueline Davis, director of the KU concert and chamber music series, said that only 6 percent of the series' budget came from public grants.
The concert and chamber music series receives about $17,000 from the state arts commission, the federal arts endowment, and the Mid-America Arts Alliance, a regional, five-state organization that funnels the funds for arts-related projects. Students come from ticket sales, Student Senate, the Swarthout Society and a Kansas University Endowment Association grant.
*WE ALWAYS NEED additional funding for our events from some source.* Davis
said. "We would have to do less without the Kansas Arts Commission grants.
"We need the money to present the kinds of big quality events we've become accustomed to."
grams would not be thrown into doubt if state funds had to be cut or were increased only slightly, their future expansion requires priming from the state.
Without the state's grants, the series might have to cut an event, she said.
Cottonwood Review, the University's literary magazine, receives a $743 grant from the arts commission. Sharon Oard
Wilson said that with Carlin's proposed 31 percent increase, the state would be able to raise the total number of grants and finance a greater percentage of the grant requests.
the concert and chamber music series
'With more money, we could do more creative things.'
director of the KU concert and chamber music series
Warner, the magazine's fiction editor, said the loss of even that small amount might have caused the magazine's demise a year ago.
"IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS that only $750 could have thrown the magazine out of existence," she said, "but that could have been the case."
Increased support from the department of English made Cottoward's future more secure, she said. The department provides in-kind support, such as the use of secretaries and the department's computers. Also, the department recently named George Wedge, associate professor of English, to serve as general editor.
But although the survival of these pro-
could put any additional state aid to good use, Davis said.
"WITH MORE MONEY," she said, "we could do more creative things."
Additional aid would allow the concert series to offer a young artists series, and a large grant could provide the opportunity to present a well-known American orchestra, she said.
But chances seem slight for a significant increase in the arts commission budget this year. The Republican-controlled Legislature, hoping to avoid a tax increase, has shown little willingness to finance more than a 6 percent increase over last year's budget.
By SHELLE LEWIS
Quartet to make its 10th KU appearance
Staff Reporter
Twenty-one years ago, four men banded together to form a musical quartet, unaware they would appear before audiences in London, Paris, Munich — and Lawrence.
Fresh from an extensive European tour,
the Gauneri String Quartet will perform in
Lawrence on Sunday, marking their 10th
appearance at the University of Kansas.
The quartet, now in its 20th performing season, will give a concert at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26th.
All seats are reserved. Tickets are $10 and $8 and are available at the Murphy Hall box office. KU and kindergarten through 12th grade students receive a 50 percent discount. Senior citizens and other students receive a $1 discount.
DAVID SOYER, THE group's cellist, said in a telephone interview from New York that the four men, after performing at Vermont's annualival in 1964, decided to establish the quartet.
He said, "It was somewhat spontaneous." Michael Tree, the quartet's violist, said in a telephone interview also from New York, who described an adventure that none of us knew the end of.
He and Soyer had played in a trio prior to the formation of the Guarneri String Quartet. In addition, Tree said he and the other two quartet members, violinists Arnold Carrut and John Dalley, were classmates at the Carrut Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
JUST BEFORE THE LAWRENCE concert, the quartet made a $2½-week European tour; the group's 19th tour of that continent. The group's returns returned to the United States this week.
"We usually play in large cities such as London, Paris and Munich and a few college towns."
Soyer said the most distinct difference between performing in the United States and Europe was the quality of the concert halls.
"The acoustics are often better in European concert halls, and some of them are more attractive, being old palaces or historical buildings," he said.
However, the audiences are equally accepting, Soyer said.
Tree said, "The appreciation is just as great in Lawrence as it is anywhere."
WHEN THEY AREN't performing concerts around the world, the quartet members teach music courses, focusing on their specialties in the University of Maryland. Specialists from each of these colleges teach music from the University of South Florida, where the group has an annual residency.
Both Soyer and Tree, who are members of the music faculty at Curtis Institute, said being active performers helped them relate to their students.
Tree said, "I understand, in a different sort of way, what works and what doesn't in the battlefield, so to speak."
Soyer, who considers teaching as much of a talent as his music, has been a musician for over 30 years.
"I have the pragmatic experience of performing," he said. "When I tell a student this is the best way to sit, I know it is because I've done it in front of 2,000 people."
BETWEEN THEIR TEACHING and traveling. Soyer said, the quartet's members maintain hectic schedules.
"Our season runs from mid-Septerm until June, and we perform about 100 concerts a year," he said. "We've been used to it, but I use it and I have friends all over the world."
Tree said having the summer months free allowed him to cope with the pressure of a crammed schedule.
"It helps to know there are three months of summer coming," he said.
Jacqueline Davis, who will be seeing her 15th Guarneri String Quartet concert, said, "We are fortunate to have them come to KU. They play extremely well."
Davis, who is the director of the KU concert and chamber music series, said she enjoyed working with the quartet because the members were flexible performers.
FOR EXAMPLE, the quartet chose to work with pianist Stephanie Brown and double bassist James VanDemark for this year's campus performance, which is part of
Brown and VanDemark, both respected artists in their field, will join the quartet during the second half of their performance to play Schubert's Quintet for piano and strings. "The Trout."
"It's not very often that you get to hear school officials perform," Davis said. "It's beautiful."
Sover said he welcomed the opportunity to come back to Lawrence, although he and Tree said they had lost track of how many performances the quartet had given at KU
"Lawrence is very quiet compared to
Stanley, the campus is more
attractive." Soyer said.
Tree also said he looked forward to Sunday's performance.
"The people there are very friendly and a very good audience," he said. "It is a very discerning audience, and you have a good department . . . and that's all we can ask for."
Students who signed up for The Great Singers, History 510, expecting to learn about Prince, Frank Sinatra or Elvis once quite a lion on the first day of class.
The class, co-taught by professors James Seaver, Richard Wright and Norman Paige, takes students on a journey into the history of great operatic performers.
Seaver, professor of history, said about 55 students were enrolled in the class, which only drew 15 students when it was first offered in fall 1982.
Wright, associate professor of music history, said, "I'm not sure if the students knew what the class would be, if they thought it would be about pop singers or what."
Some of the students might have thought the class would be like one of his other courses, such as The History of Jazz or Broadway Musicals, he said.
THE CLASS STUDIES opera singers from the 19th century to the present, Seaver said. They view videotapes, hear recordings, and learn about the lives and careers of such singers as Enric Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo.
"The class is about what we have in the way of great singing." Seaver said. "We listen to tapes and try to identify voices and different ranges."
Many of the recordings heard in class come from the private collection of Dr. Roberts, a long-time resident.
most knowledgeable men about opera in the world."
Seaver donated 25,000 recordings to the KU department of music to supplement its archive of sound recordings, he said. The collection now consists a collection of about 150,000 recordings.
SEAVER, WHO ALSO teaches Roman history, said his passion for opera had been a lifelong affair. He has served on the board of directors for the Kansas City Opera and has also worked with Opera Quarterly. In addition, he has been on radio talk shows as an opera expert.
Students in the class don't just sit and listen to singers belt out arias, Seaver said. They also take exams and do term papers as students in the more traditional classes would. They'll also have to learn their bassos from their legatos, and be able to define other operatic terms, he said.
Wright, who called opera his first love,
said he thought it was unusual that there weren't more voice majors enrolled in the class.
Paige, professor of music-voice, blamed the low number of voice majors on the class' meeting time. Tuesday nights, when the opera students have rehearsals.
Despite the large enrollment this semester we be offered next week, probably by the large enrolment
"We'll probably let it go for a year or so topp up clentete, he said. "It'll probably be on the wall."
FRESHMEN!
LAMBDA SIGMA Sophomore Honor Society is now accepting applications for membership, available in the office of Student Organizations & Activities, Rm. 403, Union.
Applications are due Feb. 22.
14th & Ohio 842-3232 Under the Wheel
Use Kansan Classified.
Rent it.Call the Kansan.
PARTY
with Campus Marketing
YOU DRIVE (TO THE PARTY)
YOUR BEST DEAL TO FLORIDA Mar. 8-17
$89
WE DRIVE (THE PARTY STARTS HERE)
$179
INCLUDES:
- Round trip motor coach transportation to beautiful
historic locations in the city (we use
routing but modern highways coaches)
-
- FREE retirements available on the motor coach on the way down (to be the path)
- Light Florida day seven nights at one of our
* Eight Florida ocean hotels, located on the Daytona
* Beach beach. Your hotel has a beautiful sun deck, an
* conditioned rooms, color viva and a nice ice rack.
- A full schedule of FREE pool deck parties every day
* A full list of pre-arranged discounts to save you money in
- love representatives to insure a smooth fitp and a good time
- Optional side excursions to Disney World, Epcot, deep sea fishing, fish cruises, etc.
- All taxes and tips.
THE CREATEST TIME - THE BEST PRICE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND SIGN UP
CALL GEORGE OR CAROL 749-2706
Sponsored by Campus Marketing "EXPERIENCE PROFESSIONALS IN COLLEGE TOUR"