The year was 1957. A young musician, barely 23 years old, started his teaching career at Sam Houston State University where he would become an admired professor and mentor for years to come.
Fisher Tull, Ph.D, spent years climbing the ranks of SHSU’s music college, becoming chairman of the school of music in 1965 and a piper professor in 1984.
The beloved professor died in 1994, and former School of Music president, Finn King, started a scholarship in Fisher Tull’s name.
Incoming freshmen are gearing up as this year’s installment of the scholarship auditions have arrived.
Students who wish to audition for the scholarship must go through a rigorous application process. Before they can even be considered, students must already have received a scholarship from the School of Music and have a recommendation from their private lesson teacher.
Charlotte Tull, Fisher Tull’s wife, is on the audition and interview committee for the scholarship. The Tull’s son, Tim, is also on the committee.
“It’s been going on 20 years, and almost everyone that has been chosen as an incoming freshman has gone on to be an outstanding student,” said Charlotte Tull.
After meeting the preliminary criteria, students then prepare an audition piece with their teacher, fill out a biographical sketch and write an essay detailing why they wish to pursue music at SHSU.
“Then they rehearse with their pianist and they get coaching from their teacher and then they come to the audition,” said Kathy Daniels of the School of Music. “The audition includes their performance and an interview with Charlotte Tull and Tim Tull.”
Charlotte and Tim Tull have been at almost every audition since the scholarship’s creation 20 years ago.
“Musicianship is considered but the ability to speak well and to present yourself as a leader is very important too and that comes out in the interview,” said Charlotte Tull.
The scholarship is worth a minimum of $1,000 and is available to incoming freshman in the string, wind or percussion sections of the SHSU School of Music.
Auditions are held today at 5 p.m. in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, and results will be announced Sept. 18 at the School of Music Faculty Gala.
For more information, contact the school of music at 936-294-1360.
