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Westminster Choir College of С����Ƶ celebrated the opening of the 2014-2015 academic year by holding the traditional Opening Convocation in the new Marion Buckelew Cullen Center’s Hillman Performance Hall.  It was standing room only for this historic event as 400 students, faculty and staff were joined online by alumni, parents and friends watching a live webcast around the world.

The program featured performances by pianists Phyllis Alpert Lehrer, Ingrid Clarfield, William Hobbs, J.J. Penna, and Stefan Young.  Conductors James Jordan, Joe Miller, Tom Shelton and Amanda Quist led everyone in singing anthems and hymns that included Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, which was sung at the 1934 Convocation that celebrated the opening of the Westminster Choir College campus in Princeton.  The Westminster Chapel Choir was core ensemble for the premiere of Ron Hemmel’s composition Advice, which was sung by everyone in the hall.

President Mordechai Rozanski welcomed back returning students, faculty and staff, and told the new students, “You are here because you are among the best and the brightest from all over the United States and the world.”  He thanked the major donors to the Marion Buckelew Cullen Center – the estate of Mrs. Cullen, Elsie and Henry Hillman, and the Sunup Foundation.  He also announced that the fundraising campaign for the renovation of The Playhouse is nearly complete and that, when the project is finished, the renovated Playhouse will be named the Robert L. Annis Playhouse in honor of Dean Robert Annis’ “20 years of outstanding leadership of Westminster Choir College and, more recently, Westminster College of the Arts.”

Provost DonnaJean Fredeen noted that the construction of the long-awaited Cullen Center was an example of “reaching for the stars to make a dream come true.” She reflected on her first year as Rider’s provost and recalled such inspiring Westminster moments as performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the support for fellow students shown at Spring Convocation and Commencement, and learning about Westminster’s rich history through a presentation by alumnus Joe Beck.

Dean Robert Annis praised the team that helped to make the Cullen Center, the first new building on campus since 1975, a reality and ready for the start of classes.  He also reflected on his 20 years at Westminster’s helm and his December retirement saying, “I will take with me cherished memories of not just this building, but our sense of community, our creative and dedicated faculty, our talented and spirited students, our engaged and devoted staff, and countless inspiring performances.  Word can’t begin to express the joy I feel when I think of Westminster Choir College.”

Dean Annis also showed a video about many of the named buildings on the Westminster campus and a time-lapse video documenting the Cullen Center’s construction.

Both videos, as well as a video of the Opening Convocation, will be available on the Westminster Choir College of С����Ƶ website and YouTube channel in the near future.