Texas Wesleyan is buzzing this semester — we just celebrated the Rosedale Renaissance with a special ceremony on the mall, guest lectures have already begun, and fundraising is underway in the Music Department. Why? Because the University is celebrating its 125th Anniversary, of course!

A special gala will be held downtown at the Worthington Hotel on Feb. 20, 2016, to commemorate this great anniversary. What you may not know, however, is that a combined choir and band piece is being composed for the occasion, based on Wesleyan’s alma mater.

Students and alumni will have the memorable experience of performing this new, original work together. The composer who has been commissioned to write this piece is Dr. Travis Cross, Wind Ensemble director at UCLA and an up-and-coming American composer. This will be a momentous event in Texas Wesleyan history!

The two music fraternities on campus, Sigma Alpha Iota, Beta Kappa Chapter, and Kappa Kappa Psi, Nu Beta Chapter, are combining efforts to make this commissioned piece possible.

Various fundraisers are being held, including the exciting — or maybe nerve-wracking, for the faculty — “Pie the Professor” contest. For this campaign, anyone may anonymously donate to the name of a music professor of his or her choice. At the end of the month, the faculty member with the most money collected under his or her name will receive a pie in the face in front of the entire department! (Others are more than welcome to come witness the event, as well!) Who will it be?

Anyone who would like to contribute to “Pie the Professor” or who feels led to donate any amount to the anniversary music commission may contact Janna McKinley, Music Department Coordinator, at 817-531-4992 or jrmckinley@txwes.edu. Unfortunately, the deadline is quickly approaching; the total amount for the commission — $3,000 — must be collected by the first week of November. Thank you in advance for your support!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Music Department (phone number above). If you are interested in learning about the Friends of Wesleyan Music, which supports the department’s ongoing efforts, please visit http://advancement.txwes.edu/music.