To mark the 500-year anniversary of King Henry VIII’s legendary warship the Mary Rose, the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) will participate in a trio of events, including a performance of the musical tribute "The Mary Rose" on Tuesday November 17th.
Kyle Dillingham, UCO’s Artist in Residence and accomplished violinist, will perform the symphonic work “The Mary Rose” with the Oklahoma Community Orchestra. Dillingham represents the university and the state when he tours overseas as a soloist or with his band, Horseshoe Road, and performs at UCO when it hosts delegates from different countries.
Written by Edmond composer Callen Clarke, "The Mary Rose” tribute is a fantasy-overture for violin and orchestra set to officially launch the Argosy Project, an initiative to revive symphonic music through creation and performance of new orchestral repertoire.
The Mary Rose sank in 1545 and was raised in 1982 by Margaret Rule and the Mary Rose Trust. The Mary Rose Trust was formed in 1979 to ensure that the hull and artefacts of Henry VIII’s warship, the Mary Rose are conserved, studied, and put on public display for the enjoyment, education and benefit of all.
The Mary Rose and her contents are located in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, attracting millions of visitors since the raising, and now the Trust is building a state of the art museum around the hull so that the full story of the ship can be told through reuniting the hull and artefacts in one stunning building.
Artefacts excavated from the Mary Rose will be on display in a special reception at the Donna Nigh Gallery in UCO on Monday 16th November. The event is sponsored by UCO’s Centre for Global Competency (CGC) and the Mary Rose Trust.
Dillingham, Clarke and two representatives from the Mary Rose Trust will be present at the reception, giving students unique opportunities for interaction.
"Our CGC represents a new model of academic, community and corporate co-operation which engages our students as they become global, competent individuals," said Dr. Dennis Dunham, Central''s Executive Director of International Affairs.
"The tribute serves to both connect our students to a major international event and also to increase recognition of the CGC. Some of our students enrolled in the CGC 2020 Certification Program will have a chance to meet the representatives from the Mary Rose Trust on an individual basis, learn about the artefacts, the history and take an active role in answering questions."
Additionally, Oklahoma City director Tim Fall will produce a 30-minute documentary about the tribute with filming and editing assistance from UCO''s Communications students, as well as using the university''s on-campus television studio for the project.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our Communications students to work with someone on a real life project. It will be great experience for the students to take part in such a memorable event, and have the project to put on their resumes," added Dunham.
