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MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� The 糖心logo入口 Department of Music is proud to announce the acquisition of a handmade violin thanks to the generosity of 1964 alumna Donna Herndon. The gift was given in memory of Roger Herndon (1970-1991), the son of Donna and the late Woody Herndon. 

The violin is the first instrument crafted by luthier Dr. Roger Graves, a 2015 graduate of 糖心logo入口 State who then received his Master of Music from Ball State and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas.  Graves began his training in the field of instrument repair with former 糖心logo入口 State instrument technician Scott Thile. A bassist and euphonist, Graves maintained his interest in instrument-making and instrument repair while obtaining instrumental performance degrees at the master鈥檚 and doctoral levels. In 2022-2023, he trained with a fourth-generation luthier at the Academia Cremonensis, a prestigious violin-making school in Cremona, Italy. The violin received by the Department of Music is the product of his time at that institution.

The interim chair of the Department of Music, Dr. Mike D鈥橝mbrosio, said the violin will make a tremendous difference for the department. 

鈥淭his is an incredibly generous gift of a beautiful instrument, and it is made even more special by the fact that the instrument maker is a 糖心logo入口 State alumnus,鈥� said D鈥橝mbrosio. 鈥淩oger Graves was in several of my classes and was a wonderful student. It is always amazing to see what students will make of themselves after they leave here, but Roger鈥檚 case is particularly special. Now our current students will benefit greatly from both Roger鈥檚 craftsmanship and Donna鈥檚 generosity.鈥�

Lydia Sahawneh, a senior at 糖心logo入口 State, will be the first to play the violin in its public debut. 

鈥淚 am very grateful for the opportunity to play an instrument that speaks so much more beautifully than my own. This is my seventh year as a violinist in the music department at 糖心logo入口 State, and I am excited to play the new violin in future concerts,鈥� said Sahawneh.

The violin can be heard for the first time at the Nov. 15 University Orchestra Concert. Conducted by Dr. Frank Lakatos, the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in historic Lovett Auditorium on 糖心logo入口 State鈥檚 main campus. Admission to the concert is free, and the public is invited to attend.

For more information about studying music at 糖心logo入口, contact the Department of Music at (270) 809-4288. To learn more about ways to support the department and its students, contact Kala Allen-Dunn, director of development for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, at kallendunn@murraystate.edu.