Dr. Gary Boye, Coordinator of the Music Library served on the planning committe of the 100th birthday celebration of composer and art advocate Tui St. George Tucker. The Music Library with the assistance of the Special Collections Research Center hosted a pop-up exhibit in the Music Library as part of the Tui St. George Tucker @ 100 Symposium
Below please find the follow up news blog post from Dean James Douthit, 9-16-2024:
November 24, 2024 would be the 100th birthday of composer and arts advocate Tui St. George Tucker. We commemorated this a few weeks early with our Tui @ 100 Symposium this weekend. For the last several years, the Hayes School of Music has been the beneficiary of a gift from Robert Jurgrau, one of her former participants at Camp Catawba (a summer camp for boys in Blowing Rock, NC). The gift allowed us to fully fund two graduate students pursuing their Master of Music Degree in Performance with a concentration in Composition and Theory. As a part of their fellowship, these two students have been cataloging and working with the Erneston Music Library and the Belk Library to create a digital archive that will host a collection of Tui St. George Tucker’s compositions, as well as an archive of information about her and her partner Vera Lachman.
On this momentous occasion of Tui St. George Tucker's 100th birthday, we celebrate not only the extraordinary longevity of her life but also the remarkable contributions she made to the world of music. Tui was a true pioneer: a composer, conductor, and recorder virtuoso whose work transcended conventional boundaries. Her innovative spirit was evident in her compositions, which combined classical techniques with modernist experimentation, creating a unique and powerful musical language. Tui's dedication to the arts extended beyond her compositions; she was a passionate educator and mentor, guiding countless young musicians and leaving an indelible mark on the musical community. Her influence continues to resonate through the generations of artists inspired by her creativity, courage, and unwavering commitment to her craft.
As we honor Tui St. George Tucker on this centennial milestone, we reflect on her legacy with profound gratitude and admiration. Her contributions to music and education have enriched our cultural heritage, and her spirit lives on in the melodies and harmonies that continue to echo in concert halls and classrooms around the world. The hope of the Hayes School of Music, the Erneston Music Library, and the Belk Library is that our digital archive will facilitate research, inspire composers, and serve as a tribute to Tui's extraordinary life and the enduring legacy that remains. Thank you to our organizing committee: Dr. Gary Boye, Dr. Reeves Shulstad, and Dr. Nicholas Cline.
James Douthit, D.M.A.
