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The Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence

Established in 1984, the Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence brings regionally and nationally acclaimed artists to campus to work with students and the community in a dynamic atmosphere of unrestricted experimentation. Former recipients of this position include:

Louise Erdrich (2008-09) - Louise Erdrich is the author of twelve novels as well as volumes of poetry, children's books, and a memoir of early motherhood. Her novel Love Medicine won the National Book Critics Circle Award. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse was a finalist for the National Book Award. She lives in Minnesota with her daughters and is the owner of Birchbark Books, a small independent bookstore.

Lawrence Goldhuber (2007-08) - is a choreographer, dancer, actor, and performance artist who has worked in New York for more than 20 years.

The Second City Touring Company (2007-08) - The Second City Touring Company has been bringing laughter and joy to packed houses all over North America for over forty five years. Funny and fast-paced, The Second City is ideal entertainment for venues looking to reach both new audiences and old. Whether it’s a one night engagement or a sit down run, The Second City is always topical, highly interactive and sure to have audiences rolling in the aisles.

http://www.secondcity.com/?id=touring/us   

Mark Block (2007-08) - Talent Agent - The Block Agency is the Southeast's premiere and most selective modeling and talent agency. The Block Agency is focused on providing BOTH talent and clients the personal service they deserve and we will work our hardest to get talent paid as fast as possible. A brand new agency with young, fresh energy--The Block Agency is dedicated to placing the Southeast's top models and actors in the perfect roles.  www.theblockagency.com

 Annmarie Duggan (2007-08) - Lighting Designer

Karen E. Maguire (2007-08)

7 Stages Inc.  - Bernard Koltes (2007-08) - 7 Stages is a professional, non-profit theatre company devoted to engaging artists and audiences by focusing on the social, political, and spiritual values of contemporary culture. 7 Stages gives primary emphasis to international work and the support and development of new plays, new playwrights, and new methods of collaboration.
http://www.7stages.org/cgi-bin/MySQLdb?FILE=/about/index.html

Cantus (2006-07) - Cantus was founded in the fall of 1995 when a few college friends gathered on the campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. The Washington Post called the singers' sound "beaming and elastic" and referred to their music as "spontaneous grace." http://www.cantusonline.org/Concerts/CantusConcerts.html

Bodo Igesz (2006-07) - A career of over 40 years has taken Mr. Igesz across three continents. In the U.S. A. he is well-known for his work at the Metropolitan Opera

Tony Plog (2006-07) - The music of Anthony Plog has been performed in over 30 countries around the world. He is the recipient of numerous grants and commissions, including the National Endowment for the Arts ( for the American Brass Quintet), the Malmo Symphony ( Sweden ), Nick Norton and the Utah Symphony, the Summit Brass, the GECA Brass Ensemble in France, the Chicago Chamber Musicians, the University of Texas at Austin, and the St. Louis Brass Quintet.

John L.Whitwell (2006-07) - is Director of bands, Professor of Music and Chair of the Conducting Area at Michigan State University, where he conducts the Wind Symphony and guides the graduate degree programs in Wind Conducting.

Lee Hoiby (2006-07) - is an American classical pianist and composer. He is one of the most notable living composers of classical vocal music.  http://www.leehoiby.com/

Linda Norlen (2005-06) – graphic designer and critic

Michael Blumenthal (2004-05) – internationally renowned poet and memoirist, author of “Against Romance” and “All My Fathers and Mothers”

Louis Fantasia (2003-04) – internationally prominent actor, director, producer, theatre critic and arts commentator

Elizabeth Walton Vercoe (2002-03) – prominent 20th century composer

Carol Scott-Kassner (2002-03) – nationally known author of music education literature

George McCauley (2001-02) – acclaimed ceramicist

David Bradley (2000-01) – African American scholar and novelist, author of “The Chaneysville Incident”

Kelly Morgan (1999-00) – nationally prominent actor, director, producer, choreographer, teacher and administrator in stage, film and television

Dalton Baldwin (1998-99) – internationally acclaimed pianist

Matthew Harp Allen (1998-99) – ethnomusicologist

Donna Loewy (1998-99) – vocal coach/accompanist

David Holsinger (1998-99) – eminent band composer

Frederic Goossen (1998-99) – nationally known composer/music theorist

Cedric Dent (1998-99) – Grammy award-winning singer, pianist, arranger, conductor and producer

Frances Whitehead (1997-98) – internationally acclaimed sculptor

Carolyn Forche' (1996-97) – poet and global champion of the oppressed and downtrodden

Elizabeth Van Dyke (1995-96) – multi-award winning actress and director

Tim Gerber (1994-95) – music educator and co-author of the popular text "Music! Its Role and Importance in our Lives"

Jim Nutt (1993-94) – internationally distinguished painter

John Haines (1992-93) – two-time Guggenheim Fellow, poet and essayist 

Howard Stein (1991-92) – internationally acclaimed thespian, playwright and author 

Ron Nelson (1990-91) – nationally known composer of choral, band and orchestral works

Ted Orland (1988-89) – nationally recognized photographer/artist

David Madden (1987-88) – southern fiction writer, playwright, critic and author

Arthur Kopit (1986-87) – internationally acclaimed American playwright