One of opera’s most famous voices will command the stage Sunday, Nov. 8, at Clayes Performing Arts Center’s Meng Concert Hall to celebrate 50 years of musical excellence and the formation of Cal State Fullerton’s School of Music.
The School of Music Dedication Celebration ceremony and benefit performance will feature soprano superstar and Cal State Fullerton alumna Deborah Voigt, who has performed in opera houses and concert halls around the world, including London’s Royal Opera House, Vienna State Opera and Milan’s La Scala.
Joining Voigt will be the University Symphony Orchestra and its conductor Kimo Furumoto, associate professor of music.
What had been a department in the College of the Arts became the School of Music in the summer of 2014. It is the largest university-level music program in Orange County, offering a broad range of performance opportunities for students in choral, operatic, orchestral, chamber, wind, band, piano, vocal, jazz and classical guitar music.
“Cal State Fullerton has a long, rich history of contributions to the musical landscape of Southern California,” said Dale Merrill, dean of the College of the Arts. “By referring to our program now as a School of Music, it finally denotes the significance of the many contributions we have made to our region and the legacy our students and faculty are leaving in the music field.”
The dedication ceremony will honor three distinguished music professionals with the inaugural Titans of Music awards. Voigt, a regular host and performer in the Metropolitan Opera’s “Live in HD” series, will receive the Music Performance Award.
“Having Deborah Voigt join us for our Dedication Celebration concert makes it all the more special,” said Marc Dickey, director of the School of Music. “She is one of the opera world’s greatest and most engaging talents, and one of the School of Music’s finest success stories. She sang for us at the opening of Meng Concert Hall in 2006, and we are thrilled to bring her back home for this event.”
Carl Schafer, a retired educator and advocate for public school arts education who taught several music education classes at Cal State Fullerton, will be honored with the Music Education Award.
Carl St. Clair and his lauded career as the music director of the Pacific Symphony — which began as a collaboration between Cal State Fullerton and community leaders — will be recognized with the Community Impact Award.
All proceeds of the Dedication Celebration will benefit student scholarships.
Tickets to the Dedication Celebration ceremony and performance are $50. A $250 VIP ticket includes an exclusive 5:30 p.m. reception featuring the Fullerton Jazz Combo, the 7 p.m. dedication ceremony and performance in Meng Concert Hall, and a 9 p.m. post-performance alumni party, open to all guests.
Prior to the performance, a silent auction organized by student fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon will be held in the McCarty Grand Foyer. Available items include concert tickets to various Southern California venues, Staples Center Suite tickets, spa and salon services and more.
Additional information and tickets are available online.