To see, hear and touch a dream

Catch the Vision concert transports audience to the future

by Wayne Steffen
October 13, 2008

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Friends of the university came face to face with their dream at the Catch the Vision concert October 12. From the moment the crowd of about 500 entered the Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall at Clovis North High School, what they'd envisioned about a campus arts center came to life. Shaghoian Hall's 750-seat auditorium, 50-foot ceilings, futuristic acoustics and black box theater is the template for the facility outlined in Building on Excellence, a $36 million capital campaign for Fresno Pacific University.

"Dreams fulfilled," is what Larry Warkentin, campaign co-chair and music faculty emeritus, called the evening. "We've waited and been eager for a building on campus that could be a tribute to the quality of the students we have."

Student and faculty performers rose to the occasion. Arlene Steffen played a Steinway concert grand piano donated for the event by Fresno Piano, part of plans to become a Steinway campus. Roy Klassen conducted the Concert Choir and Patricia DeBenedetto the Community Wind Ensemble. The evening began with a reception, where Lifetime President's Circle and Heritage Society members enjoyed the University String Quartet. Speakers included Marty Deis from co-sponsors Darden & Associates and Sheriff Margaret Mims, alumni campaign honorary chair. Special thanks go to Jim Fishback and Fresno Piano, Brent Mosher from Clovis Unified School District, Ed Darden from Darden & Associates, Pioneer Catering, Dieter Wulfhorst, strings professor and director of the University String Quartet.

Check out the gallery of photos here.