The start of a new academic year is a time of transitions: from vacation to school and from home to campus. We welcomed many new students this year and some new faculty members, such as  Annie Laver, our new University Organist. One of our strengths at Setnor is welcoming new members into our caring community. An example of our community is Setnor students raising $228 dollars during the first week of school in order to dump 76 cups of ice-cold water on Setnor Director Patrick Jones for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. This campaign was led by our student chapters of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Sigma Alpha Iota. In doing so, Setnor joined with thousands of others across the country in raising money for research to help those stricken ALS.

A major event for the year will be a concert and master class by internationally acclaimed opera star Stephanie Blythe. She will give a public performance in Setnor Auditorium at 8PM on September 24 and a master class at 12:30 the following day. Ms. Blythe's residency is part of the Baker Artists Program, which is generously funded by the Dexter F. & Dorothy H. Baker Foundation.

Finally, looking forward to the end of the academic year, the University Singers will embark on its first international tour May 25-June 4, 2015, thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor. They will be traveling to France with stops in Paris, Chartres, Tours, Rheims and Strasbourg. The final concert will be hosted by Setnor's sister institution, the Conservatoire de Strasbourg.