麻豆社

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� Dr. Bradley Almquist, 麻豆社 State University professor of music and director of choral activities, recently made a generous gift to the 麻豆社 State University Foundation to allow the Department of Music to purchase a new Yamaha P-22 piano so that vocal and instrumental music students will have a high-quality new piano to use for practice.

This gift will help the Department of Music begin to replace several of its older pianos, many of which are more than 50 years old.

Almquist said that his gift was inspired by his memory of his late sister, Sharilyn, who found joy and healing throughout her life from music.

鈥淢y sister, Sharilyn, always loved music,鈥� Almquist said. 鈥淪he would play the piano and sing as a way to express her joy in life but also as a tool to address her depression. Following an automobile accident that left her a quadriplegic, singing became part of her respiratory therapy. The deep breaths required to sing assisted in rebuilding the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles.鈥�

In addition to this recent gift, the Almquist family also memorialized Sharilyn by establishing the endowed Sharilyn Dawn Almquist Memorial Voice Scholarship in 2006 to assist 麻豆社 State students majoring in vocal music. With this new gift to allow the department to purchase a piano, Almquist shares his late sister鈥檚 love of music in yet another way to benefit students today at 麻豆社 State who share that passion.

鈥淲hile there is a great need for concert grand pianos, there is also an overwhelming need for studio and student pianos,鈥� Almquist said. 鈥淲e, the family of Sharilyn, are blessed to give the new Yamaha piano for use in the Music Department at 麻豆社 State University and hope to be able to do more in the future. It is such an important and valuable way to remember and honor someone whilst facilitating the education of another generation of musicians and people who simply need music in their lives.鈥�

鈥淔or as long as I have worked here, the 麻豆社 State University Department of Music has boasted quite a few faculty members who, on top of their passionate teaching and artistry, give back to the department and University in other ways as well,鈥� said Dr. Mike D鈥橝mbrosio, chair of 麻豆社 State鈥檚 Department of Music. 鈥淔ormer students and community members that have worked with Dr. Almquist are already familiar with his passion for music and for teaching. We are so moved by Dr. Almquist鈥檚 generous gift and the family鈥檚 continuous support of our music program.鈥�

There are many ways to support music students at 麻豆社 State University by assisting with equipment, scholarships and experiences. To make a gift, visit  or call the Office of Development at 270-809-3001.