Johan Jonsson, MSU music department head, is the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra's concertmaster. Mutual Admiration Society: MSU, the Arts and Bozeman by Marjorie Smith Anyone in the Gallatin Valley who loves opera, theatre, serious music and dance understands that cultural life in the area would be much poorer were it not for the arts programs, faculty and students at MSU. But there's another side to the story, according to Greg Young, vice provost in charge of undergraduate education. Bozeman's vibrant arts community enhances the collegiate experience of MSU students. "Many of our advanced students get to play in the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra or sing in the Symphonic Chorale or in the chorus for the annual Intermountain Opera productions," says Young who moved into the provost's office after several years as head of the music department. "They get valuable 'gigs' to add to their resumes and have the opportunity to perform for large audiences." MSU Music Department Chair Johan Jonsson says the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and its large, loyal audience provides "a tremendous opportunity--both for music students and instrumentalists from other curricula--to play in a good, symphonic ensemble." Jonsson, who serves as the orchestra's concertmaster, says the BSO typically includes 20 to 30 students, all of whom have auditioned and all of whom are completely committed to the orchestra. Greg Young became involved with the greater Bozeman arts community from the moment he arrived on the MSU campus 16 years ago when he took his seat as first clarinet in the BSO. He also played his clarinet in the opera orchestra and was instrumental (pardon the pun) in bringing live music to the Bozeman-based Montana Ballet Company's (MBC) annual holiday production of "The Nutcracker." Young joined the MBC's board of directors and helped develop its successful "Company on Campus" summer program, which brings student dancers from throughout the Northern Rockies to Bozeman for an intensive two-week dance workshop that culminates in a dance concert (with live music) at MSU's Reynolds Recital Hall. Jonsson says that the kind of symphonic experience the students get in the BSO is "one which we are not quite able to offer at the university." The same is true for other "downtown" ensembles, such as Montana Ballet's "Nutcracker" and the Intermountain Opera's productions. Young points out that other MSU undergraduates find opportunities to perform in Bozeman's Jazz Montana concerts and to hear in person the jazz stars brought in for the annual concert. Students in MSU's Department of Media and Theatre Arts also find their acting and technical skills in demand among some of the dozen or so off-campus theatre companies Bozeman currently boasts. Jonsson contends that the opportunity to play with the BSO is an "integral part of our music majors' education and professional training. In many bigger schools, and/or bigger cities, students would not necessarily have this opportunity." He mentions a few recent students who have benefitted from this experience, which they will carry with them as they become professionals, including Billie Jean Howard, Christa Sheasby and Ian Nicklin, violin; Anna Jesaitis, viola; Kezia Vernon, bass; Brittany Kelly, Brian Bruner, Josh Stevens, and Joe Miller, cello. "The list could go on and on," Jonsson says. "And it's not just audiences and performances the Bozeman community provides," Young adds. "The Bozeman Symphony gives scholarships to our undergraduates as does the Intermountain Opera." MSU art professor emeritus Frances Senska has always insisted it is important to teach arts courses not just to art majors but to the general public. "One of the things you have to do is educate your audience," she said in a television program about her teaching career. "If you don't have people who appreciate art, well what's the point of doing it?" National Endowment of the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia underlined that question when a recent survey found that fewer Americans than ever do any reading at all. According to the New York Times, "The loss of readers fits right in with (Gioia's) position that the current problem in this country is not with the supply of art, but with the demand." As reported in the Times, it is Gioia's view that supporting audiences is a more urgent priority than supporting artists. MSU is still definitely in the business of supplying more art, and thanks to an enthusiastic arts-oriented culture in the greater Bozeman community, it caters to a very solid demand.