Home

Registration Info

Contact Info

DeBose Coordinators

DeBose Series

History

 
 

ORGANIZATION PROFILE AND PROGRAM
                                                                              ORGANIZATION PROFILE

  Established in l974 at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Tourgee DeBose National Piano Competition has developed into an annual Competition-Festival presented by the DeBose National Piano Competition Foundation, Incorporated and the Southern University Department of Visual and Performing Arts.  This annual commemoration is named for Professor Tourgee DeBose, former Chairman of the Southern University Division of Music and Piano Department.  For more than thirty years of service he was an innovative pioneer who motivated scores of music students; an influence that exemplified intense discipline and scholarship towards excellence in Music.
     As a specialist in music literature analysis and master of piano performance technique, his career as a teacher rivaled his success as a concert pianist of the highest caliber.  Artist diplomas, awards and recital/concert programs and reviews, kept in the Foundation Archives, attest to the breadth and scope of Professor DeBose’s capacity and accomplishments.  Uniquely, DeBose lived-in-and-of-a-time that prevented appropriate recognition deserved for his historic contributions and pianistic achievements.  This event is a commemoration to his life and legacy to youth and music.
Currently directed by its Founder, who has guided the growth of this program, the strength and longevity of the Competition is the result of university sanction and support, community involvement, and local, state and regional funding from the private and public sector(s).    General community support has been secured through individual interest, support and volunteerism, and financial contributions from social, civic, cultural and educational organizations.  Each year the competition staff of volunteers works to develop new audiences and expand community outreach.  University units, community organizations and parent support groups have contributed time and effort to encourage attendance and/or participation of youth whose primary environment may not provide cultural enrichment venues.
     
                                                                                 LEGACY & OUTREACH
     The DeBose Foundation, by its mission and its annual commemoration to the legacy of Professor Tourgee DeBose, has been elevated from its origins as a departmental project, to city-parish-state, and now national scope.  His name and reputation represent a tradition of African-American pianists, whose performances, achievements and advocacy serves as a foundation of professional artists today.  Since his death in l971, the DeBose Foundation and members of the Southern University Department of Visual and Performing Arts (formerly Music Division) have always found a link-of-recognition; many of whom were and are his colleagues and students for more than thirty (30) years. During his tenure at Southern University, added to the several years of professional service at other institutions, DeBose exemplified the highest standards of musicianship, which he inculcated into all with whom he had contact.
In order to expand the program to include new and under-served audiences, plans are constantly made for greater inclusions in programming; to encourage sponsorship of events, contestants and performance ensembles incorporating partnerships with provide periodic representations of all aspects of the music profession.  The goal of providing musical experiences of unparalleled quality makes this program unique.  The responsibilities of management, creation and development/evaluation are challenges for the continuance of this annual event, now celebrating more than thirty years of service.  Sacrifices of the past are the foundation for continuance and future growth. Members of the Greater Baton Rouge community, through families, business and industrial corporations have made annual commitment of financial support.  As an exclusive or partial sponsor of an event, or a contributor to the annual budget or awards fund, an organization, business or individual will be entitled to a number benefits.  Contributors’ recognition of the value of this program is through receipt of: (1) Master Program, (2) Quarterly Newsletters, (3) Community Concert Announcements, (4) Clinic and Workshop Announcement Invitations (5) Reception Invitations, (6) Tax Voucher Receipt of Donations, and (6) Letters of Appreciation.  Community support is encouraged through the solicitation of evaluations from Board Members, Visiting Artists and Clinicians, Judges, Arts and Humanities Professors, Arts Management Agencies, Visiting Teachers and General Public.  These factors serve to ensure perpetuation and credibility.
     The incorporation of community efforts and dedication, through the establishment of the Foundation was realized in l986.  This independent organization has committed itself to the perpetuation of an annual arts service program available to aspiring music students.  The DeBose Foundation is exempt from federal income tax under 501-(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  As a result of this formation, and the developed national focus, the Competition-Festival brings additional recognition to Louisiana.  1996 brought the additional challenge of this program as a potential international festival, unique to Louisiana.  As the only program of its kind, the commitment provides auditions for (a) Average-Age, (b) Late-Starter, and (c) Accelerated student musicians.  The Calendar of Events provides students, teachers, parents and general public with an advantage of the afore-stated opportunities represented by the investment of much time and money; with the commitment of current and new supporters, expansion in enrollment and programming to meet the needs of all who are annual participants and observers.
DEBOSE FOUNDATION CREDENTIALS
SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

»  Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Louisiana State Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts.
»  Community Fund for the Arts Recipient Organizations Allocation, Project Assistance Fund and Multicultural Organization Assistance Fund as administered by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.
»  In-kind support from the Southern University-Baton Rouge Campus, East Baton Rouge Parish Library System, Baton Rouge Gallery, East Baton Rouge School System, and Baton Rouge Community College.
»  IRS Non-profit Organization Designation, 501 (c)(3)
 
COMMUNITY SPONSORS                                                  RECORD OF CORPORATE SPONSORS
Baton Rouge Gallery~Center for Contemporary Art                    Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation
East Baton Rouge Parish Schools                                                Target Store-Siegen Lane, Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Parish Library                                                 Entergy of Louisiana
Thompson Investments, Incorporated                                          Pennington Foundation
ExxonMobil Cultural Matching Gift Fund                                     Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Southern Teachers & Parents FCU                                             Junior League of Baton Rouge
Tornado Mortgage, Incorporated                                                Milton J. Womack Foundation
O’Neill’s Music House                                                               Freeport-McMoran Corporation
Zeagler Music Stores                                                                  Louisiana Lottery Corporation
Zueleza Literary Society                                                              Novartis Foundation
                                                           
                                                                 ORGANIZATIONS

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated                                  Music Teachers National Association
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated                                    Music Educators National Conference
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated                                   Federation of Music Teachers
The Links, Incorporated , Baton Rouge Chapter                          National Guild of Piano Teachers
Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity                                             Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity                                    
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated                                   Baton Rouge Community Chorus
Top Ladies of Distinction, Incorporated                                       Keyboard Musicians Club
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated                                           Heritage Ensemble

                                                    INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Southern University                                                                   Louisiana State University
College of Arts & Humanities                                                    College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Visual & Performing Arts                                   School of Music & Creative Arts
Baton Rouge, Louisiana                                                             Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Southeastern Louisiana State University                                      University of Louisiana
College of Arts & Sciences                                                        College of Arts & Sciences
School of Music                                                                         School of Music
Hammond, Louisiana                                                                  Lafayette, Louisiana

Baton Rouge Community College
Magnolia Arts Center & Library
5301 Florida Boulevard
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Tourgee Albion DeBose, Professor of Piano

35th Anniversary Celebration
DeBose National Piano Competition
REFERENCE GUIDE
Established: 1974
Incorporated:  1986
ORGANIZATION:    The DeBose Foundation, Incorporated/
Tourgee DeBose National Piano Competition Foundation, Incorporated

EMAIL:                      DeBoseFestival@aol.com OR  DeBoseFineArts@aol.com    
                         
WEB:                            www.debosenationalpianocompetition.org
                                         www.debosefineartsseries-competition.com 
 
ADDRESS:    DeBose Foundation, Incorporated                    DeBose Piano Competition
                        Post Office Box 64614                                     Southern University
                        Baton Rouge, LA  70896                                 Post Office Box 11153
                        Tel/Fax:  225-387-5932                                   Baton Rouge, LA  70813
                                                                                                Tel:  225-771-3440                 
 FREQUENCY:           PRE-COLLEGE-
                                                Annually-April, First/Second Weekend
                                    COLLEGE/YOUNG ARTIST                      
                                                Biennially (Every Two Years):  April 2011, 2013, 2015.

APPLICATIONS:      Downloadable

     
The Mission of the DeBose Fine Arts Festival-Competition is dedication to the pursuit of Artistic excellence (Literary, Visual and Performing Arts). More than thirty years of programming have served to:  (1) discover artistic talent among young performers and exhibitors; (2) provide competition-festival events for students that will instill and reinforce standards of excellence and achievement in the Fine Arts; (3) promote achievement by providing pre-professional presentation opportunities; (4) provide  tutelage, presentations, performances and exhibits by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and dedicated local professionals accessible to festival participants,  visitors and the local community.
   Culminating events and ceremonies recognize contestants and participants at various proficiency levels. All events are -open-, providing the community with a schedule of events designed to inculcate national standards, educate and enhance general cultural awareness. The strength and longevity of the Competition-Festival is the result of community institutional sanction and support, community involvement, local, state and regional funding from the private and public sector(s).

 

McKinley Middle Magnet School
Document
DEBOSE NATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION DOWNLOADS
Document
FINE ARTS DOWNLOADS
Document
DEBOSE ARTISTS ALLIANCE
Home | Registration| Contact Information| Coordinators| DeBose Series|History
.

Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

Website powered by Network Solutions®
 
 
 

2010 DeBose Fine Arts Series·National Piano Competition

"Aspiring young artists in the pursuit of Excellence"