Music school welcomes new director, improvements

Shay plans to hire more faculty and build new facilities.

By Katherine Miller

Published Oct. 24, 2008

Since arriving in July, new School of Music director Robert Shay has been planning to improve the music program at MU.

Shay replaced the previous director, Melvin Platt, after deliberation on the part of the school's faculty. Steve Geibel, the associate flute professor at the School of Music Education, has seen five different music directors pass through the school.

"I got to know Dr. Shay somewhat during the search process, which was a very long and involved process where we brought some of our best candidates to campus," Geibel said. "He was decided upon and wanted by all of the members of the faculty and the administration."

Before coming to Missouri, Shay was the vice president for academic affairs and the dean of the conservatory at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Mass., according to the School of Music Web site.

"I know whenever he sees people, he always greets them," senior Christine Jarquio said. "He's very friendly and very personable. I just think he's friendlier, in general. Not to say the last director wasn't friendly, but you can tell he goes out of his way to try to get to know people."

Shay's agenda to improve the music school includes new faculty appointments, changes in curriculum and a new facility. Music Education Program director Wendy Sims described Shay's means to go about changing the practices at the music school.

"He's developed a strategic planning process for the department, and so he's involved the faculty and will be continuing to involve the faculty in that process over the course of the school year," Sims said.

In addition to planning, Shay made some changes to benefit the school.

"He's helped the music education program specifically by being very creative in the use of some open positions to create two music education positions that we're going to hire for next year," Sims said. "It's very exciting that we're increasing the music ed. faculty here by one."

Shay is also implementing changes that affect students directly.

"I know he was responsible for getting an orchestra to play with (the opera) in our production next semester," Jarquio said. "We used to just have a piano, and so I think it just helps build your musical background to be able to work with other musicians, and not just one other person on one instrument. With that full group, it's a nice ensemble experience."

Perhaps the biggest project being discussed is a new music facility. Geibel said it is important because better facilities could be found at the other campuses in the UM system - UM-Kansas City, UM-St. Louis and the Missouri University of Science and Technology, formerly UM-Rolla.

"The most important thing that we all want is a new building," Geibel said. "It's frustrating when campuses like UMSL and UMKC have good performing halls, but it's even more so when Rolla does. Rolla has a better performing arts center than we do, and they don't even offer a music degree. I think that's probably our biggest focus. We're outgrowing our building."

Overall, the music department believes Shay has breathed new life into the school by implementing and discussing changes for improvement.

"It feels good. It feels vital," Geibel said. "I appreciate his energy, and I think he seems like a very clever man. I'm very happy we have him."