BU Music Scholarship To Honor Former WISD Fine Arts Coordinator
A new Baylor University School of Music scholarship established in honor of Ken Howard, former choral director and coordinator of fine arts in the Waco Independent School District, will be presented at a gala concert, featuring the Baylor Concert Choir, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at Seventh and James Baptist Church.
The Ken Howard Choral Music Education Scholarship was originated by one of Howard's former music students, Don Riddle of Houston, and supported by countless other friends and former students. The award, which will be presented at a designated concert each spring, is an endowed scholarship that recognizes the outstanding promise and achievement of rising juniors who are majoring in choral music education. While honoring Howard's half-century of contributions to music education, the School of Music hopes the scholarship will attract young choral music educators to Baylor.
"The School of Music is proud and delighted to be a part of this tribute to Ken Howard and his mammoth influence on music education in Texas," said Dr. Will V. May, dean of the School of Music. "Ken spent his entire career working in support of young musicians. Now the scholarship that bears his name will do the same for generations to come."
Howard earned three degrees from Baylor, including his bachelor's degree in 1949, a bachelor's in music in 1950 and a master's degree in 1965. He also received a bachelor's degree in sacred music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1951. He served as choral director at Waco High School from 1951-65 and as director of music education and director of fire arts from 1962-91, and judged UIL choral and sight reading and solo and ensemble contests for many years. Howard also was the longtime minister of music at two Waco congregations, Columbus Avenue Baptist Church from 1951-68 and Park Lake Drive Baptist Church from 1972-2001.
Howard's honors include the 1988 Baylor School of Music award for distinguished service in music education. He has been active in civic organizations, such as the Waco Civic Chorus, Waco Performing Arts Center, Waco Council for the Arts, Waco ISD Foundation Board and the Central Texas Council for Music Education. He and his wife, Patricia, have two children, Donald and Catherine, and one grandson, James.
Opening the program at the gala will be "Jubilate Deo" by Michael Fink. The 75-voice concert choir will perform Gabriel Fauré's masterpiece, the Requiem, Op. 48, featuring soloists Michael Compton (baritone) and Julia Snyder (soprano). Both musical selections will be conducted by John W. McLean Jr., assistant professor of choral activities. The choir will be accompanied by organist John Blackburn.
The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor School of Music at 710-3991.