Celebrating a century of enrichment from the IU Jacobs School of Music

One of the many reasons Bloomington is such a draw to residents and visitors is because of the arts and culture generated by our students and faculty. For a century, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music has immersed us in music and dance concepts from around the world.

This fall, I had the chance to enjoy the Opera and Ballet Theater's exceptional productions of "The Magic Flute" and "Falstaff" at the beautiful Musical Arts Center. This past weekend, I brought my 6-year-old granddaughter, Vivian, to her first ballet: "The Nutcracker." It was a magical night for both of us. These incredible performances illustrate why Jacobs is one of the most renowned music schools in the world and has such a special role locally and statewide. 

Ours is a thriving artistic community of creative faculty, staff and students, supported by alumni like David Jacobs. His generosity, along with that of many other donors, makes the world-class education offered at the school that now bears his name accessible to hundreds of students, while also supporting faculty initiatives and research.

The experiences offered through the Jacobs School with dance, song, comedy and drama enrich our lives and create a meaningful bond between the audience and the performers. They expose our students to unique cultures and extend the relationships of our university to those gathering for these spectacular events. 

I hope you’ll find joy, as I have during this season, in attending the upcoming Jacobs Holiday Celebration hosted by Grammy Award-winning singer and IU alumna Sylvia McNair. And please join the Jacobs School in the spring when they will offer productions like "An Evening of William Grant Still," featuring the works of the "Dean of African American composers," and the Singing Hoosiers Spring Concert, made up of our extraordinarily talented students. 

Let's make more memories together with all there is to experience in a new century for the IU Jacobs School of Music.

Pamela Whitten

President
Indiana University