I love my school. I love my school so much that I sing its praises to the highest rooftops and I actively recruit high school students to come to Hardin-Simmons, knowing how many amazing opportunities it has brought me.
That being said, I think that the recently announced decision to cut the Hardin-Simmons Orchestra program is completely unjust and will not end well.
Both of my parents went to HSU, they met and fell in love in the music department, and so I looked into the university solely based on their influence. The reason that I applied to the school is because of the music program. Hardin-Simmons Concert Choir toured in my hometown and I fell in love with the music program. Hardin-Simmons Choir is not being affected by the recent budget cuts at HSU but our orchestra is. It was recently announced that HSU Orchestra is being discontinued beginning in the fall semester of 2017. This makes me sad and disappointed, but most of all I am INFURIATED.
Within the incredibly talented music program at my school we support each other. I, as a choir member, go to the orchestra concerts and support my friends and classmates. This cutting of the orchestra is terrifying— which ensemble is next in this effort to save money? The official email sent out on the subject states that: "This difficult decision was made as a result of ongoing internal discussions related to revenues and expenses at HSU, and action was taken only after vigorous exploration of numerous alternative options," but our dean of fine arts was not included in this decision— he was merely informed. According to the statistics I have received, cutting the orchestra will account for less than 3% of the savings next year. Now let me tell you what I think we will lose for that 3%.
1. We will lose the support and respect of multiple alumni.
People who studied Orchestra while at HSU— what do their degrees now mean? How do they explain to a potential employer that their program was cut, not because the program sucked (there is plenty of evidence to the contrary, even in the email SENT OUT by our president announcing this decision) but because we are in debt, and just like we see across the country, the arts are the first to go. I have spoken with donating alumni about the situation and they are incensed. If the Orchestra is unceremoniously booted out, their donations are about to disappear as well.
2. We will lose many fulfilling and beneficial collaborations.
HSU Orchestra plays for the HSU Opera, a beautiful and amazing opportunity for instrumentalists and vocalists alike. HSU Orchestra plays for HSU musicals, a great collaboration between the music department and the theatre department. HSU Orchestra feeds into the First Baptist Church Orchestra, a long time supporter of HSU and all of the arts at universities in Abilene. HSU's orchestra program brings many talented musicians to the Abilene arts community and without it, who exactly is going to draw these gifted instrumentalists? If the HSU Administration thinks that our talented musicians are going to stick around and continue to bring talented musicians into the music department, they are sorely mistaken. I already know of two bright young instrumentalists who are considering transferring because of the reasons that they came to HSU— the orchestra and our amazing faculty that direct the orchestra that are no longer going to be here.
3. We will lose the respect of current students.
HSU music students have felt under attack in the past and this breaks my heart. This will be seen by music students as one more way for the administration to diminish the program. There is already a divide between student activities and the music department, because of budget and lack of understanding, and this will be understood as a way to take money from the music students and give it to student activities. As someone with a foot in both of those doors, that is heart-wrenching. We cannot be pitted against each other.
4. We will lose some incredible faculty.
It has been stated that cuts have been happening across the board. While I would not contradict this without proper evidence, it seems to many of us that a disproportionate amount of these cuts have been made in the music department. Recently, two full-time staff members (non-tenured) were let go. And out of the three tenured professors who have retired in the past year, none have been scheduled to be replaced. This cut will cost us even more. The two Dr. Isaacson's have been pillars within the HSU music department— and I know many people who credit their decision to come to HSU to one of the two Dr. Isaacson's.
I would like everyone to mull over this article. Please share and add your own thoughts and opinions. Do not let this happen without a fight.
