The West Virginia University College of Creative Arts has named 26 students as Canady Scholars. To be considered for the award, students must have a high grade-point average, faculty references and be fluent in two languages.

The Canady Scholarship is awarded thanks to the Valerie Canady Charitable Trust Foundation. The scholarships are named for Valerie Canady, a Morgantown native and WVU summa cum laude graduate, who was among the 270 people who died in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in Dec. 1988. Canady, who worked for H.J. Heinz Co. in their London office, was an accomplished linguist and artist in different media of expression, especially in piano.

The West Virginia University Marching Band this year celebrates 50 years of women in the band.

Jill Cochran is one of the twelve women who joined the marching band that first year after seeing an announcement in The Daily Athenaeum. A Morgantown native, Cochran’s whole family attended WVU. She performed in WVU’s homecoming parades with both her junior high and high school bands before attending WVU.

A 1959 graduate with a degree in saxophone performance, Morgantown native Jack Sharretts credits the educational foundation he received at West Virginia University for his successful career with the Department of Defense. He plans to give back to WVU with an estate gift to the School of Music.

Sharretts received a Board of Governors Scholarship to attend WVU and was the first student to graduate with a saxophone degree. Sharretts took more than 190 hours of course credits in a variety of subjects throughout the university before graduating. 

Pianist Thomas Pandolfi will visit the West Virginia University School of Music Nov. 4-5. His performance and masterclass will be open to the public. 

Pandolfi’s visit is part of the West Virginia Music Teachers Association Conference hosted this year by WVU. 

The West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra will perform an intimate concert on Friday, Sept. 30 at WVU’s Canady Creative Arts Center.

The concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., opens with John Beall’s deeply personal “New Testament Songs.” Beall is a professor emeritus of composition in WVU’s School of Music. WVU Professor of Voice Hope Koehler will accompany WVUSO.

The West Virginia University College of Creative Arts will host an Arts Entrepreneurship Festival on Saturday, Oct. 22.

This multi-faceted event will include performances, exhibitions, lectures and a pitch competition, which students can compete in for $5,000 in prizes.

The West Virginia University School of Music welcomes four new members to the faculty this school year.

"Our new faculty members are leaders in their fields, bringing depth, creativity, and diversity of ideas to our School,” said Sandy Schwartz, interim director. “I look forward to seeing our students grow professionally with the mentorship of our new faculty. They will strengthen the School of Music's commitment to excellence in teaching and research/creative activity.”

Mikylah Myers has been named Associate Dean of Artistic and Scholarly Achievement at the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts.

Myers has filled the role of Assistant Dean of Student Artistic Achievement for the last three years and has been a WVU faculty member since 2007.