The Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Paul W. Hogle will bring his wit and wisdom to Bowling Green State University and the Dorothy E. and DuWayne H. Hansen Musical Arts Series at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 with a talk titled “Music: Turning a Commodity into Community.”
During the free, public presentation in Bryan Recital Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Center, Hogle, the executive vice president of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, will take listeners on an imaginary journey into their favorite relative’s home and ask them to think about what happens in the family living room.
“The more time I spend on university campuses,” Hogle said, “the more I observe that a university is a place where identity is created through the engagement with others, as in a family living room.”
As part of Hogle’s premise, the living room challenges the notion that isolation and independence are at the root of human nature. Research shows that people—given the right circumstances—can be caring, nurturing and collaborative. Presented with the opportunity, they gravitate toward actions and policies embodying empathy, fairness and trust, instead of competition, fear and greed. The regeneration of social ties and the sense of caring and purpose that comes from creating community drive this essential transformation.
Hogle will address his thoughts on how a major, influential university like BGSU can intentionally create a family living room dynamic that engages all with music, in a community of practice, thereby engaging the community itself with each other and with the university.
Hogle joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2010 to help develop broad and diverse audiences and expand the donor base for the organization. Previously, he was vice president for institutional advancement and learning with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and a fundraiser for nearly 20 years with symphony orchestras in Baltimore, Chicago and Indianapolis. He is an alumnus of the music management program at the University of Evansville (Ind.).
In addition to the evening presentation, Hogle will be on campus to speak with students and music administrators. He will speak to students in the Introduction to Entrepreneurship class at 1 p.m. Feb. 23 in 1007 Business Administration Building. The class presentation is also free and open to the public.
Established in 1996, the Dorothy E. and DuWayne H. Hansen Musical Arts Series Fund brings significant representatives of the musical arts and creative arts to Bowling Green to share their talent and knowledge with students and community residents. Dorothy Hansen is an alumna of the College of Musical Arts and DuWayne Hansen is a former chair of the Department of Music Education.
Previous series guests have included Marin Alsop, Bill McGlaughlin, Branford Marsalis, Benjamin Zander, Nancy Giles and Bob McGrath.
For more information, contact the college’s office of public events at 419-372-8654.
