DATE: September 22, 2006
MEDIA CONTACT: Melanie McDonald, director of media relations
PHONE: 574-284-4579
E-MAIL: mmcdonal@saintmarys.edu

Moreau Center for the Arts Celebrates Golden Anniversary
Public Invited to Special Performances

NOTRE DAME, Ind.—Fifty years ago, accomplished Hollywood actress Helen Hayes was present when the cornerstone of the Moreau Center for the Arts at Saint Mary’s College was laid, and was the first to speak from Moreau’s O’Laughlin Auditorium stage. Fifty years later, the College prepares to celebrate the Moreau Center’s golden anniversary and its legacy of entertainment and education with a special musical performance on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

The evening features the combined talents of the New York Philomusica Ensemble; the Saint Mary’s College Women’s Choir; renowned Latin American poet Maria Auxiliadora Alvarez; mezzo soprano and Saint Mary’s alumna Mary Nessinger; faculty soprano Laurel Thomas; and composer, pianist, and Saint Mary’s music faculty artist Jeffrey Jacob.

The New York Philomusica Ensemble is widely regarded as one of the top chamber groups of North America. Its yearly tours of the U.S. and Europe and subscription concerts at New York’s Merkin Concert Hall have earned it international acclaim. Among the distinguished musicians who have performed with the ensemble is the world-renowned cellist Yo Yo Ma.

Jeffrey Jacob was recently named artist-of-the-year by the International New Music Consortium at New York University for his work as a pianist, composer and educator. Throughout this academic year he will make concert tours of South Africa, Singapore, Indonesia and China. Jacob will also premiere “Celebration,” a new work for women’s choir, soprano and chamber ensemble. “Celebration” will be performed by the Saint Mary’s College Women’s Choir, faculty artist and soprano Laurel Thomas, and alumna Mary Nessinger. Professor Nancy Menk conducts.

Saint Mary’s College alumna and mezzo soprano Mary Nessinger has performed in concert and recital halls throughout the United States and Europe. “The New York Times” has praised her “remarkable fluidity and beauty of tone,” and described her interpretive skills as “a tour de force of characterization.”

The performance venue, O’Laughlin Auditorium in the Moreau Center for the Arts, is where Helen Hayes read from Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” in 1956. She also said, in her own words: “There is no beauty that can be laid upon this brick and mortar as perfect as the love and high ideals that have gone into its construction. Since these are the first words that an actress has delivered from this stage, I hope they may find their way into some of the cornices and rest there.”

In addition to serving as a venue for professional music, dance and
theatre performances, the Moreau Center for the Arts is also the
educational nexus for students pursuing majors in communications or the arts.

Tickets are $15 for adults; $14 for senior citizens; $13 for members of
the Saint Mary’s/Notre Dame community; and $12 for students. Call the Moreau Center Box Office at 574-284-4626 to reserve seats.
For a complete listing of the anniversary season events, visit
MoreauCenter.com.

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