USU's Caine College of the Arts Honors Friend Manon Caine Russell May 8

The Utah State University Caine College of the Arts presents a memorial concert Monday, May 8, in honor of Manon Caine Russell, long-time friend and supporter of the university, who passed away April 3. The concert will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Caine Performance Hall and is hosted by Craig Jessop, dean of the Caine College of the Arts. The memorial is free and open to the public, all are welcome.

Performers include the Fry Street Quartet, music department head Cindy Dewey, special guest alumna artist Tamara Mumford, along with faculty pianist Dallas Heaton. Caine College alumni Josiah Cordes, Brett McAllister, Megan Richards, Nathan Southwick and Jacob Spjute will also perform, as will students Alexandra Cook, Audrey Hudgens, Ethan Seegmiller and Kiah Spjute. 

“Remembering my dear friend Manon reminds me of the power of the arts in each of our lives,” Joyce Albrecht, former first lady of USU and close personal friend of the Russell family, said.  “A memorial concert in her honor in the beautiful world-class performance hall that she and her family built speaks to who she was and to her legacy that will forever be remembered with warmth and gratitude.”

The program for the evening includes Debussy’s String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10, Laudate Dominum by Mozart, Popper’s Requiem for Three Cellos and Piano, Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft (I breathed a gentle fragrance in!) by Mahler, the Flower Duet from Lakmé by Delibes and Somewhere from Bernstein’s West Side Story.  The evening closes with the final movement of Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20, performed by the Fry Street Quartet with current and former students.

“It is a privilege to be a part of this concert honoring Manon Russell,” Ethan Seegmiller, USU piano performance major and Caine Scholar, said. “Being involved in the Caine Scholars program has increased the breadth and depth of my education beyond what I can describe. The Caine Performance Hall itself will always be a reminder of her love and support of the arts at Utah State.”

In addition to the Caine College of the Arts itself and the Caine Performance Hall, which bear her family name, Manon’s legacy at Utah State University includes the Caine Scholars for Excellence Program, Caine Ensembles and numerous scholarships and programs in the college, across the USU campus and around the state of Utah.  Together with her husband Dan C. Russell, Manon established the Russell Resident Quartet Endowment in the Caine College of the Arts, held by the internationally acclaimed Fry Street Quartet.

“Manon’s commitment to supporting arts and culture — and especially to assisting students embarking upon artistic endeavor — has been astonishing,” Rebecca McFaul, violinist in the Fry Street Quartet, said. “The result is a community that we all feel fortunate to be a part of; one that’s connected through generosity, possibility and rich shared experiences. We will forever be touched by her philosophy and life’s work.”

“Our hearts go out to the Russell and Caine families who have meant so much to USU for generations,” Noelle E. Cockett, USU president, said.  “The university is honored to host this concert in Manon’s memory.”

Craig Jessop, dean of the Caine College of the Arts added, “I was honored to count Manon as both a friend of the college and as a personal friend. While we are all deeply saddened by her passing, my colleagues and I are grateful for the time that we had to get to know her and for her wonderful influence on each of our lives.  We hope many community members will join us to pay tribute to Manon.”

Tickets are not required for the event, but suggests an arrival time of 6:15 p.m. Overflow seating and a simulcast of the concert in FAV 150 in the Chase Fine Arts Center will be provided. A reception will follow in the Caine Performance Hall lobby.

For additional information, please contact Whitney Schulte in Caine College of the Arts Production Services, 435.797.3040, email: whitney.schulte@usu.edu