NEMCC TO HOLD A 'NIGHT OF CELEBRATION,' CAPPING 75 YEARS

by Tony Finch

BOONEVILLE, Miss. -- (05/06/2024) — To put the final touches on commemorating its 75th anniversary year, Northeast Mississippi Community College will host a "Night of Celebration" Tuesday, May 21 in Hines Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m.

College president Dr. Ricky G. Ford's look back over the history of the college will serve as the event's feature presentation.

Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served from 5-5:30 p.m.

"In the beginning, Northeast was a symbol of hope for the people of northeast Mississippi who aspired to achieve higher education," Ford said, "and for many people, it remains so even today."

"We take that responsibility very seriously, as I know the administrators, faculty and staff that came before us did as well.

"It's also something to celebrate and we have been honored to lead that celebration throughout the last year, but we're also excited about what the future holds for Northeast. We're just getting started."

Also included on the program are remarks from Patrick Eaton, vice president of institutional advancement and Northeast Development Foundation executive director. Eaton will highlight the ongoing "88 Keys Campaign," a fundraising effort sponsored by the Foundation to secure the funds necessary to bring a Steinway Spirio concert piano to Northeast.

"We have had numerous donors take the opportunity to invest in our athletic programs by contributing to building campaigns for a new football fieldhouse, baseball/softball complex and in the near future a tennis complex," Eaton said.

"Now is a great time to invest in our fine arts division by helping the college secure the funding needed to purchase this Steinway & Sons Spirio piano."

Where state-of-the-art technology and the arts collide, the Steinway & Sons Spirio features unbelievable technology that will allow Northeast to bring the "greats" to its students' side and expose them to a teaching tool like no other.

"The Steinway grand piano has been the gold standard of musical instruments for over 150 years," said Dr. Ray Harris, head of Northeast's division of fine arts.

"The new Steinway "Spirio" model has the unique ability to allow students to record and hear themselves play, as well as, allow faculty to record accompaniments for other singers and instrumentalists. Additionally, students may hear legendary pianists perform thousands of pieces in the cloud library, and view videos of live performances as they are streamed through the piano. All of these features are controlled with an iPad."

Students may also participate in masterclasses and hear concerts from venues and other community colleges and universities around the world.

Gabriel Statom of Steinway Pianos will be on hand and with a "Spirio" on campus for the occasion, Dr. Harris will conduct a live demonstration accompanied by members of the Northeast Fine Arts faculty. The demonstration performance is designed to put on display the technological advances this instrument will make available to Northeast students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The evening will conclude at 6:30 p.m.

For more information about the 88 Keys campaign or other giving opportunities, contact Eaton at dpeaton@nemcc.edu or by phone at 662-720-7165 or Tiffany Johnson tsjohnson@nemcc.edu or by phone at 662-720-7185.

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