Reaction to the Dean's announcement

On Monday evening, after Doug Lowry announced that morning that he's leaving to become dean of the Eastman School of Music, I decided to go to the "Acclaims" party to get some reaction.

Many folks are still reeling from the news that Sandy Bernhard (opera) and Nick Mangano (acting) are leaving, too. Apparently, the faculty found out about the dean in their e-mail inboxes Monday morning, same time as the press. This is the last week of school, so basically, he gave UC two months notice.

"It took everyone by surprise, but it's a remarkably strong institution. We'll persevere," said Terrell Finney, head of the division of drama, opera, musical theater, et al. "CCM is an important school and expectations will be high among the faculty. That's why we need to start (a search) sooner rather than later."

There are lots of questions and not many answers. Who will replace him? For CCM to remain a world-class institution, a dean with vision and a clear record of excellence is deperately needed.

Already, several faculty have mentioned the appointment of Roberto Diaz at Curtis. Diaz is a symphony violist, and -- unlike many administrators -- he is passionate about music, about students and about leading a major institution into the future.

If one judges by the length of time (one year) it took Eastman to appointment a new dean (James Undercofler is now president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra) it could take CCM as long or longer.

Some movers and shakers were comparing the news to the Art Museum's loss of Timothy Rub. "(Lowry) was a huge asset to our community and it's a great loss," said arts patron Melody Sawyer Richardson. "The positive is that he's going from CCM to Eastman."

"We'll have to go to the ends of the earth!" declared Mr. Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell.

Meanwhile, UC is poised to begin what some say will be a $1 billion capital campaign. Hopefully, this news won't derail CCM's hopes and needs for the campaign.

Some faculty members think that the financial crisis at UC figured in his flight, although the dean told me that finances had nothing to do with his decision. Still, it's been difficult for the school to weather a huge deficit, and everyone has had cuts to programs.

Others remember that Lowry was a finalist for similar posts at USC shortly after he arrived, followed by Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Yale (although he pulled out of that last search early).

Who will be interim while a search is conducted? It's likely that the hard-working Warren George (wasn't he supposed to retire??) will step in and run the school in his usual competent style, as he has done before.

What direction is CCM headed? I haven't seen any sign of a clear direction in a while. When I came here after earning my bachelor's in music from Stanford University in the '70s, CCM was outstanding in so many areas. It still is -- despite cuts such as the ensemble-in-residence. But today, there is no more scholarship money for undergraduates than when I arrived. And we all know how much tuition has risen.

Now with this fabulous facility (the legacy of dean Robert J. Werner) -- how will CCM be able to fill its halls with the best students and faculty? How will CCM remain among the best conservatories in the nation?

One thing is certain, the faculty say it's imperative that the administration and faculty work closely on this.

"It's got to be a joint effort. It's too important," says Eugene Pridonoff, professor of piano.