Southwestern’s Fine Arts Festival features student musicians and artists. Special guests, including artist Nathan Greene and composer Jamey Ray, provide an extraordinary experience for participating students.

Southwestern Adventist University recently presented its 33rd annual A Night at the Meyerson concert.  For the second year, the evening included an art show, as part of the University’s expanded Fine Arts Festival. The concert and art show was hosted at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in downtown Dallas, Texas. The A Night at the Meyerson concert annually raises funds for scholarships for students with music and art talents, regardless of the degree they pursue.

This year’s concert featured the world premiere of Joshua, composed by Jamey Ray, renowned as the founder, sole arranger, and producer of Voctave. The Symphonic Band, led by SWAU alum Connor Mason (‘16), performed Amazing Grace by Sean O’Loughlin. SWAU alum Lindsey Camille Johnson (‘20) was featured on the Lay Family Concert Organ performing Adoration by Florence Price. The University Singers, Southwestern’s international touring ensemble, and the Festival Mass Choir sang additional songs by Jamey Ray such as the The Star Spangled Banner, Ubi Caritas, Amazing Grace, and Wade in the Water.

The art show featured guest artist Nathan Greene, world famous for his works that tell beautifully vibrant and articulate stories, inspiring an understanding of God’s love. Participating art students had the opportunity, during the festival, to learn from Greene. Their art was exhibited at the Meyerson as well. Greene donated some of his prints to be sold at the auction that evening.

The evening was made possible by the following sponsorships: the Conductor’s Circle is the Powell Family Group; the Concert Masters are the Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and Texas Health Huguley Hospital; the Symphony Circle is Pinnacle Bank; the Overture Club is 88.3 The Journey, Cleburne Ford, City of Keene, the Oklahoma Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Special mention to the Keene Chamber of Commerce.

In 2024, the University was able to expand the Music Festival programming to the new Fine Arts Festival, thanks to a generous gift from the Sensabaugh Family. The 4-day event, originally designed as a music clinic specifically for high school students in the Southwestern Union of Seventh-day Adventists, now includes clinics on painting and drawing. Guest clinicians for both music and the visual arts attend, giving the participating students special access to renowned artists and musicians. Students from all over the country now attend, including North Texas public schools. The culminating concert and art show often features the guest clinicians and other artists, including world premieres of new compositions. The Southwestern Fine Arts Festival has featured artists such as Eriks Esenvalds, Kim Andre Arnesen, Craig Courtney, and American composer Brandon A. Boyd.