Concert pianist Tyler Cook recognizes Dr. Catherine Dower at the Wind Symphony’s Fall Concert just prior to the announcement of her $1 million donation to the university. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD — Westfield State University has received a $1 million donation from a retired music educator, the single largest gift in university history.
The donation from Dr. Catherine Dower, of Holyoke, was announced last night during the intermission of the Westfield State University Wind Symphony fall concert. It will be used to establish the Catherine Dower Center for the Performing & Fine Arts, the first academic building on the university’s campus named after a woman.
Just before the announcement, the Wind Symphony performed George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, featuring Tyler Cook, a senior at Westfield State. Last year, Cook, of Huntington, placed first in the Crescendo International Piano Competition, allowing him to perform at the first-place winners’ recital at Carnegie Hall.
Following his performance, Cook recognized Dower in the audience, calling her a role model who lived a life of positive action, and made exceptional contributions to music at Westfield State.
“We can argue that music is alive and well and thriving at Westfield State,” Interim President Elizabeth Preston said to the audience.
Westfield State Foundation Executive Director Mike Knapik, and Interim President Liz Preston with Dr. Catherine Dower following the announcement of Dower’s $1 million donation. (Photo by Amy Porter)
She described the instrument on which Cook had performed as a world class nine-foot concert grand piano, donated for the evening by music department alumnus and president of Falcetti Music, Tony Falcetti.
Preston then announced Dower’s challenge grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds to purchase a grand piano for the university.
“We’re just getting started,” Preston said. “This morning, trustees voted to accept a $1 million gift from Dr. Dower to Westfield State University.”
She said upon the approval of the gift by the Board of Higher Education, the Juniper Park School will henceforth be known as the Catherine Dower Center for the Performing & Fine Arts.
The packed audience in the Dever Stage rose to their feet, and Dower was presented by Cook with flowers from the Board of Trustees and the Westfield State Foundation.
“It’s wonderful,” Dower said. “The young man playing the piano was absolutely superb. He was outstanding, I couldn’t get over it. I can’t get over the whole evening.”
Artist rendering of the Catherine A. Dower Center for the Performing & Fine Arts on the site of the former Juniper Park School.
“This is the most significant individual gift ever presented to the University,” Executive Director of University Advancement Mike Knapik said. “We are extremely grateful for Dr. Dower’s generosity. Equally important is that Dr. Dower is a historic figure to our University. Her contributions are the stuff of legend.”
“Catherine Dower is an inspiration – she has been a pioneer and leader her whole career as an educator and as a musician. She has also been a lifelong champion for racial and gender equality and fierce advocate for public higher education,” said Preston. “With this major gift, Dr. Dower is now serving as a leader in philanthropy and her legacy will inspire and support future generations of students, faculty and staff.”
Dower taught at Westfield State University from 1956-1990 and was chair of the Music Department from 1956a1967. Musical events were an important part of campus life and as director of the Westfield State College Glee Club, she was instrumental in facilitating performances that were both entertaining and educational. One memorable Westfield State Glee Club performance included serenading the senators from the newest states in the union, Alaska and Hawaii, in 1959.
A voracious scholar fascinated by the intersection of music and culture, Dower spent time studying music at its various sources including time spent in research at the Vatican Library in preparation for an article on Sistine Chapel choir books as well as time at the University of Innsbruck, Austria; the University of Southern California; the Pius X School of Liturgical Music at Manhattanville College; Solesmes Abbey in France, noted for its Gregorian chants, and the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood. She also spent time studying the music of the Caribbean, especially Puerto Rican music, as well as Irish and Medieval music.
Trustee Steve Marcus expresses his appreciation to Dr. Catherine Dower following the announcement. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Time spent with students and her own scholarship resulted in articles, manuscripts and books on various aspects of music history that have garnered her numerous accolades and recognitions, which include her installation as a member of the Academia des Artes y Ciencias de Puerto Rico in 1977; investiture in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the Pope; recipient of the Tolerance Medal from the Council for Human Understanding, Holyoke, 1985; named Career Woman of the Year from Quota International – Holyoke Chapter, 1988; received the Pride in Performance Award from Governor Michael Dukakis in 1988; received the U.S. Congressional Certificate of Merit in 1990, and received the Commonwealth of Massachusetts citation in 1990.
Dower retired from Westfield State in 1990 and was named professor emerita of music history and literature in 1991. Since her retirement she has continued to support and share her artistry with new generations of music students. She has generously supported various activities in the music department including the establishment of a music scholarship in her name in 1994.
Dower earned her B.A. from Hamline University, Phi Beta Kappa, where she studied under composer Ernst Krenek, an M.A. in musicology from Smith College where studied with musicologist Dr. Alfred Einstein, and a Ph.D. in musicology from the Catholic University of America.
The university anticipates construction and renovations to the center site to begin in January 2016 and completed by December. In honor of its former tenants, the building will include a display highlighting the history of Juniper Park School.
The donation will be used to support student scholarships, music department operations, and the $50,000 challenge grant to purchase a grand piano for the department.
