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From: Vernon Forbes
Date: 07/04/06
To: rogermacneill@bbc.net
Subject: Cornell Runestad Award Nomination
Cornell Runestad Award Committee
Letter of Nomination:
I didn't fully realize back in 1966 when the University of Nebraska-Lincoln asked Ray Miller to join our faculty the full extent of his talent and experience. We knew the excellence of his operatic tenor voice and soon realized that under his direction the quality of the Varsity Mens Glee improved dramatically.
In 1972 John Moran, then Director of the UNL School of Music, created the Scarlet and Cream Singers with Ray as its founding director. With this appointment, I believe Ray made a significant contribution to the School of Music and to the State of Nebraska Choral field.
Back in 1972, this would have been a controversial decision, much like adding a jazz band to the curriculum in secondary schools in the l950's - as now every secondary instrumental program of sufficient size includes a jazz band - every vocal program includes a swing choir.
But it was not just the formation of the Scarlet and Cream that made Ray's contribution significant, it was in the manner he handled the group. In a time when the youth popular music was firmly entrenched in Rock and Roll, Ray chose music of quality for his young students. Music that has stood the test of time, from the best traditions of Broadway and popular music. He used choreography and costuming with a high sense of taste. But finally and foremost, he molded his group with the highest standards of good vocal and choral performance.
The end result was a Scarlet and Cream that became not only one of UNL's best vocal groups (and this was during the era of Earl "Pete" Jenkins extremely fine University Singers) but became a great ambassador for the School of Music as well as UNL in general. And of course this excellent group was being an example, by leading the way though its performing excellence, to the vocal programs in secondary schools throughout the state.
Ray even had the group perform extensively beyond the borders of the state, taking them to numerous other states as well as Hawaii, Japan, Europe and Africa. Ray was known far and wide as a pioneer for his excellent development of the Scarlet and Cream Singers.
I believe that Ray Miller's nomination for the Cornell Runestad Award is well deserved and I support it whole heartedly.
Sincerely,
Vernon Forbes
Prof. Emeritus of Music
UNL [Faculty Member] (1961-1996)
Nebraska Music Educators Hall of Fame Award 1993
[HELLO! Apparently SOMEONE needs to nominate RAY for the
“NEBRASKA MUSIC EDUCATORS HALL OF FAME Award”!!!
If YOU are up to it, let me know. I’ll HELP!]
Go to the NEXT letter:
Award Recommendation Letter by Carrie Solomon Schultz
c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
