Students, alumni and friends of Freed-Hardeman University are invited to visit Tupelo’s Link Centre Saturday, Feb. 17, for “FHU at the Link! Celebrating Fine and Performing Arts.” This special event offers visitors a chance to celebrate the skills of FHU visual, fine and performing arts students. A showcase of visual arts and photography will be on display during a reception from 6-7:30 p.m., and members of FHU Theatre, FHU Chorale and the newly-formed FHU Legacy Jazz Ensemble will perform from 7:30-9 p.m.
FHU board of trustees member Chris Hallmark, a Tupelo native, has been a generous advocate for FHU fine arts. He and his wife Holly serve as the benefactors for this special event. “Link Centre is thrilled to welcome the Fine Arts Department of Freed-Hardeman University to Tupelo,” Hallmark said. “The talented artists and musicians from Freed-Hardeman are sure to be an artistic treat for the Tupelo community.”
The talents of around 75 students will be showcased during the evening’s activities.
Emma Kate Garrett, a senior majoring in business administration, is looking forward to sharing her musical talents with a wider audience. “This is an amazing opportunity and I want to make the best of it! It means the world that the FHU jazz band is getting to participate in something like this. I have spent my five years here hoping we would have a band program, and it is such a blessing to see our hard work come to fruition,” she said.
Luke Gibbs, a freshman history major, also has personal reasons to look forward to the event. “It is an important experience for me, especially since I used to live in the Starkville area, and I have a deep connection with that area of Mississippi,” he said. “I am looking forward to being back and showing what we have to offer here.”
For those in attendance, the evening’s reception will include light refreshments, beverages and exciting giveaways – including FHU scholarships and a sponsorship for The Celebration at the Ryman: FHU’s 60th Anniversary of the Benefit Dinner.
“We’re really grateful to Chris Hallmark and the Link Centre for giving Freed-Hardeman University’s fine and performing arts students a beautiful venue in which to shine,” said FHU Theatre Director Cliff Thompson. “We look forward to making new friends in the arts community in Tupelo! We also have a lot of friends in north Mississippi, and we’re excited to connect with them.”
Admission to “FHU at the Link!” is free, but visitors are asked to RSVP to the event by emailing alumni@fhu.edu.
The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.
