A group of four student composers from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music visited Canadian last week as part of a project to create six musical compositions that will become a part of The Citadelle Art Foundation’s permanent collection (see Rotary Report on page 16).

Their brief tour of this community was planned and coordinated by one of the students—Canadian High School alumnus Alex Moreno—and The Citadelle’s executive director, Wendie Cook. The intention of their visit was to offer each student some insight into the community, to view The Citadelle art collection, and to compose music that somehow reflects the art pieces they choose.

The full group of six composers will return next fall to premiere their compositions with the help of 10 professional musicians and two Rice faculty members. A public performance is planned at the Texas Crown Performance Hall, which will be recorded by Amarillo College. The visiting composers sent individual and collective notes of gratitude for the hospitality they enjoyed here.

From Lucas Lemonholm: “During our short stay in Canadian, I was continuously surprised by the remarkable, welcoming kindness shown to all of us composers by everyone we met. Thanks so much to all of you. I can’t wait to return with music in October!”

From Daniel Zlatkin: “It was such an enormous pleasure to meet all of you the first week of May. I am so grateful and happy to have experienced all of the warmth and hospitality and kindness I was shown. We need to see each other as fellow human beings more than ever in this day and age. I very much look forward to the next trip and the concert at The Citadelle. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and have a wonderful summer.”

Special thanks to every one of these incredible individuals and organizations who spent some time with us:

•The Citadelle Art Foundation and Museum

•Tony and Wendie Cook

•Laurie Brown and The Canadian Record

•Ray Weeks, Natalie Pino, and the Palace Theatre

•Remelle Farrar and the Last Cowboy’s Court

•Jason and Bonnie Abraham (The Mendota Ranch)

•Luke Abraham and Alison Kennedy

•Brad and Terry Henderson

•David and Sue Tubb (Superior Shooting Systems)

•James and Daisy Edwards and the Canadian High School Band

•The Rotary Club

We had such a great time getting to meet and spend some time with you.

ALEX MORENO, LUCAS LEMONHOLM, DANIEL ZLATKIN, OLIVIA BENNETT

The Shepherd School of Music Rice University, Houston