CWU’s Performing Arts and Presidential Speaker Series Set to Get Underway

September 4, 2009

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Bridges and Beacons, this year’s Performing Arts and Presidential Speaker Series theme, aims to shed light on important social issues while also uniting cultures through fine arts and talks by experts in their fields.

Central Washington University’s eighth annual series, to run throughout the 2009-10 academic year, will feature speakers, musicians, authors and theater, including travel expert Rick Steves, quintet Imani Winds and writer Thomas King. Event tickets will be available starting Sept. 14.

To continue the series’ excellence while also saving money, CWU partnered up with campus departments and organizations. Those partners include the CWU Lion’s Rock Visiting Writers Series, Central Theatre Ensemble, the Department of Music, the CWU Diversity Education Center, the CWU Suffrage Centennial Celebration, and Symposium Without Boundaries. Off-campus sponsors include Cave B Winery at Sagecliffe, the CWU Foundation, Fitterer’s Furniture, Hampton Inn, KYVE Television, Puget Sound Energy, the Puget Sound Energy Foundation and Northwest Public Radio.

“The purpose of the series is truly found in the contact created between Central students and the guests who are among the best in the world at what they do,” says CWU President James L. Gaudino. “For example, the true value of classic guitar player Earl Klugh’s visit was not only in the culminating performance he gave, but also in the time he spent working with faculty and students in the Department of Music.”

This year’s lineup includes King, Imani Winds, Steves, women’s rights activist Dr. Rhoda Howard-Hassmann, John Pickett’s Trio Arete, Central Theatre Ensemble’s “Scrooge’s Christmas,” Department of Music’s “A Woman’s Voice in Music,” architect and artist Maya Lin, the CWU Opera and Chamber Orchestra’s performance of “The Tender Land,” the theatre ensemble’s performance of “The Secret Garden,” the CWU Symphony Orchestra and Choir’s performance of “Carmina Burana,” and Seattle’s Spectrum Dance. The CWU music department will also give a special performance of “Carmina Burana” at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall as part of the series.

“The Diversity Education Center is pleased and feels it a great privilege to be partnering with the series for the upcoming year's lineup of speakers and performers,” says the center’s director, Marian Lien. “It only makes sense during these trying economic times to combine our limited resources so we can continue to bring quality speakers to challenge that stimulate our students and campus's learning.”

Prices vary for each event, but Central students get free access to all except those performed by Central Theatre Ensemble.The first event will be Oct. 6 with writer Thomas King’s appearance.

For more information about appearances, please visit www.cwu.edu/president/series. To purchase tickets, go to www.cwu.edu/~wildcattickets and click on the Presidential Speaker Series link.

Media Contact: Teri Olin, Public Relations and Marketing, 509-963-1416, olint@cwu.edu

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of placebound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.