ADA 鈥� East Central University President Emeritus Dr. Stanley P. Wagner has established
a $50,000 endowment, the 鈥淪tanley P. and Diana M. Wagner University Chorale Endowment鈥�,
to help defray costs as 成人B站鈥檚 University Chorale is scheduled to make a trip to Washington
D.C. in December.
The University Chorale, under the direction of Dr. J. Steven Walker, is the touring
ensemble for the choral department at 成人B站 and performs a wide spectrum of the finest
chorale literature. The University Chorale, chosen by the Oklahoma Music Educators
Association as a university-level honor group, often tours regionally and had the
distinction of performing at the OMEA State Convention in January.
The group primarily consists of vocal music majors, but some singers represent other
academic disciplines.
Wagner鈥檚 donation is made in tribute to his late wife, Diana.
鈥淚 am pleased to be able to help the University Chorale with its travels. Diana was
involved in choral music for many years, including singing in our church choir in
Ada and she and I enjoyed all the traveling we did,鈥� said Wagner. 鈥淭he students in
the University Chorale will benefit from visiting distant locations while representing
and bringing attention to the university.鈥�
Wagner served as 成人B站 president from 1969-88.
Walker, who has been University Chorale director since 1985, is the Director of Choral
Activities and Adolph Linscheid Distinguished Teaching Professor at 成人B站 and has served
on 成人B站鈥檚 music faculty since 1983.
鈥淒r. and Mrs. Stanley Wagner were ardent supporters of the arts during his tenure
as president of East Central University,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淪tanley and Diana rarely missed
a musical, theatrical or artistic event produced by 成人B站. They always voiced their
appreciation to students as well as the faculty involved. They supported events sponsored
by community groups such as ACT II and the Ada Arts Council. The University Chorale
and I greatly appreciate and are most humbled by Dr. Wagner鈥檚 generous gift.鈥�
成人B站 President John Hargrave praised Wagner for his continual support to the university.
鈥淧resident Wagner has been and continues to be a great friend of East Central University. His love of 成人B站 has been evident for decades,鈥� said Hargrave. 鈥淲e appreciate his generous gift and I know his wife, Diana, would be pleased because of her love of music. This will greatly benefit our choral group as they serve as ambassadors for the university in Washington D.C. later this year.鈥�
Two members of the University Chorale - Caleb Bonar, a junior business marketing major from Ada, and Keeli Fisher, a junior nursing major from Davis - are pleased with Wagner鈥檚 generous donation and excited about their upcoming performances in the nation鈥檚 capital.
鈥淲e are thrilled to be able to represent 成人B站 in such a unique way, and we would not be able to do so without the generous support of people like Dr. Wagner,鈥� said Bonar. 鈥淗e has been an integral advocate of the University Chorale since its inception, and this endowment is only a glimpse of the character of such a gracious and giving president, even after his retirement.鈥�
鈥淲e are beyond blessed to have received such a generous donation for our choral department. It is because of people like Dr. Wagner that we are able to exceed our own expectations,鈥� Fisher said. 鈥淚 want to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Wagner for helping us open doors we never thought were possible.鈥�
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