New York Philharmonic and Oklahoma State University Form Residency Partnership for October 2019
Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the New York Philharmonic announced a residency partnership marking the opening of the new McKnight Center for the Performing Arts at OSU in October, 2019. The partnership is made possible in part by the visionary $25 million programming gift to OSU by alumni Billie and Ross McKnight. The McKnights’ gift established a program endowment to benefit all students, faculty and the Stillwater community by bringing top-tier residency programs and performances to OSU.
In addition to multiple New York Philharmonic performances at the McKnight Center conducted by future New York Philharmonic Music Director Jaap van Zweden, the residency partnership will include educational opportunities for OSU students with Philharmonic musicians and management, such as masterclasses, audition workshops and lectures. Every season the Philharmonic reaches millions of people through concerts at Lincoln Center in New York, worldwide tours, educational activities and outreach. The partnership with OSU adds to the Philharmonic’s growing list of educational partnerships throughout the U.S. and world, which includes the University Musical Society at the University of Michigan and New York Philharmonic Global Academy partnerships with Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West, The Shepherd School at Rice University and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.
“This expansive partnership presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our music faculty and students to interact with and be inspired by members of one of the world’s greatest orchestras,” commented Burns Hargis, president of OSU. “I am confident we are well on our way to establishing a vital hub of creativity and collaboration for the performing arts in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Thanks to Billie and Ross McKnight’s generosity and forward-thinking leadership, learning experiences and the arts will be elevated in our community and region.”
“We salute Oklahoma State University, under the leadership of President Hargis, and the McKnights for their vision and generosity that will bring the New York Philharmonic to OSU to help launch this ambitious initiative and make the arts more central to the campus,” commented Matthew VanBesien, president of the New York Philharmonic. “While we often hear how residency partnerships benefit faculty, students and the regional community, I can say from experience that the musicians and management of the New York Philharmonic also benefit immensely from the creative energy stemming from academic and professional collaboration. We very much look forward to performing at what promises to be a spectacular new performing arts center and to engaging with the university and the community in Stillwater.”
The new partnership was celebrated at the McKnight Center groundbreaking event and during a special halftime performance at the OSU vs. Texas football game in Boone Pickens Stadium.
“Billie and I are thrilled that the new performing arts center will serve as a stage for global talent and will bring OSU students unique culturally enriching opportunities,” said Ross McKnight. “We believe in The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, and the partnership with the New York Philharmonic validates the caliber of programming that will truly make the center great.”
The 93,000-square-foot McKnight Center will stand prominently along the southwest corner of University Avenue and Hester Street.
“The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts sets the foundation to invite world-class musicians and artists to Stillwater, Oklahoma,” said Dr. Howard Potter, professor and head of the Department of Music in Oklahoma State University’s School of Visual and Performing Arts. “The residency program with the New York Philharmonic begins a new era for performing arts at our school and in our state.”
