CSU - Pueblo Music Department to perform first Home of Heroes Vet’s Day concert
Release Date: October 21, 2014
Press Release
PUEBLO –A patriotic music extravaganza by faculty and students on Nov. 11 at Colorado State University-Pueblo will raise funds for music scholarships for veterans in what is billed as the first Home of Heroes Veteran’s Day Concert.
The brainchild of Air Force veteran and Artist in Residence Al Eberhardt, the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Hoag Recital Hall, and will feature a variety of faculty and student instrumental and vocal performance groups including the marching band, jazz band, University choirs, and String Quartet and Orchestra. Tickets are $10 per person with proceeds benefitting a music scholarship fund for veterans.
Eberhardt said the idea came from his association with current music student and Air Force veteran Richard Brown, who interestingly outranks Eberhardt in military status. The concert expands the traditional afternoon memorial held on campus and will allow most of the day to be devoted to raising awareness of veterans and veterans issues both on campus and in the community.
Among the CSU-Pueblo music faculty alone are veterans of these military branches: Air Force Retired (Brad Eastin, Al Eberhardt, Wayne Wilkinson, Gary Stephens), Air Force Veteran (Bret Gathercoal), Army Retired (Andrea Artley), U.S. Army National Guard (Eddie Dowdle).
“With Pueblo being the Home of Heroes and the University already representing those who died in the SE Asia conflict through the monument on campus, I thought this was a natural extension of campus Veteran’s Day activities,” Eberhardt said. “It also will allow our music students to experience new performance environments.”
Eberhardt said the ultimate goal of the concerts will be to increase in the number of veteran students, not just music majors. Currently, about 500 students declare status as a veteran of military service, and CSU-Pueblo is ranked about the top 60 military serving colleges nationwide.
CSU-Pueblo’s Reserved Officer Training Corps will participate and be recognized at the concert as will faculty and staff veterans. Local Armed Forces Recruiters will be on hand before and after the concert to provide additional information about financial programs that assist college attendance for veterans. Eberhardt hopes future concerts will include exhibits of patriotic art or veteran focused poetry by students in the Art and English Departments.
Tickets at $10 per person are available at the door or by calling 549-2552.
Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.
