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Herberger College of Fine Arts celebrates four decades

The year was 1964. It was a tumultuous time that fluctuated from the serious – escalation of the Vietnam War, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Martin Luther King, Jr., and passage of the Civil Rights Act – to the frivolous – the Beatles’ arrival in America, the Broadway opening of Fiddler on the Roof and the debut of Gilligan’s Island on primetime TV.

At ASU, the year marked official recognition of the College of Fine Arts. On October 4, the Arizona Board of Regents approved the consolidation of art, music, speech and drama programs under a single college. It was the first step in the college’s journey to have all of its academic programs nationally ranked. Forty years later, each of the college’s disciplines enjoys national ranking, and many of its academic programs and specialties are listed in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report.

A handful of the college’s best programs this fall have been chosen to commemorate the 40th birthday:

Legendary conductor and Katherine K. Herberger Heritage Chair Gunther Schuller and the ASU Symphony Orchestra kicked off the college’s celebration with the Southwest premiere of Schuller’s Encounters, a work for large symphony orchestra, jazz ensemble and jazz soloists Septempber 17 at Gammage Auditorium, followed by the beginning of the Herberger Mainstage Theatre season with Dancing at Lughnasa.

Still to come:

Side by Side by Sondheim – An array of best-known songs by Stephen Sondheim performed by Mainstage Lyric Opera Theatre, which opened this weekend. Tickets: $15-20. Oct. 1-8, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m., Evelyn Smith Music Theatre.

New Danceworks I – Master of Fine Arts candidates stage imaginative and innovative thesis presentations under the aegis of Mainstage Dance. Tickets: $12-15. Oct. 14-17, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m., Dance Studio theatre.

ASU Art Museum’s 2004-2005 season begins with an opening reception for Dennis Oppenheim – Alternative Current Exhibition – Meet the multi-faceted artist in person. Oct. 22, 7-9 p.m., ASU Art Museum. Free.

Oh Mr. Sousa! – A rousing evening of Sousa as the ASU Wind Symphony celebrates multiple birthdays – the college’s 40th and Sousa’s 150th. Tickets: $5-10. Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m., Sundome, Sun City West.

Online Ticketing: http://herbergercollege.asu.edu/tickets/