Wenzel-Miller Endowed Theatre Arts Scholarship

CMU Performing Arts is a hidden gem in our community that Anne Wenzel and David Miller discovered when they moved to Grand Junction in 2001.

Back east Anne and David spent many happy hours together as regular subscribers to professional dance and theater performances. They also enjoyed out-of-town professional and local community theater outings and being stretched by avantgarde black box experiences.

David has a long history of student engagement in band, chorus, orchestra, acting, dance, and technical theater spanning elementary school through graduate school. Living outside New York City, he frequently obtained student rush tickets to shows on and off Broadway, and at Lincoln Center. Anne’s parents were both English professors and she grew up going to local theater in the college town where she lived.

Their children were exposed to and embraced music and theater, becoming accomplished musicians, taking lessons with CMU music professors, and participating in honor bands at CMU and Colorado All-State. Now young adults, both children still play their instruments and attend live theater where they live.

Majoring in theater, dance or music requires passion, talent, some courage, and lots of grit. Western Civilization that originated in ancient Greece included philosophy, critical thinking, and theater as foundational components. In the 21st Century we need and benefit significantly from the important role the performing arts play in helping us better understand ourselves and the world.

It is a privilege for these donors to offer modest scholarship support to aspiring Theatre Arts (and Music) majors who want to use their gifts to help all of us more fully celebrate life and raise our spirits.