Sara Neal Eskew presented a gift of $150,000 for the creation of the Larry Roark Euphonium Scholarship at the UNT College of Music Dec. 17 in memory of her husband, who was killed in a car accident in 2001.

The gift creates the nation's largest scholarship endowment for euphonium and recognizes Roark's training in and love for the euphonium. Roark graduated cum laude from North Texas with a degree in music theory in 1978 and also completed some graduate work before leaving the university.

After college, Roark worked with stage lighting on the staff at Texas Woman's University and then played the euphonium with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus Band for several seasons. A consummate musician, Roark played with many other groups including B.L. La Cerda, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, the Austin Klezmorim and the Vacillating Discombobulators. Roark also was a host of the overnight show of Austin NPR affiliate KUT Radio for several years and then continued to guest host.

In 1989, Roark started his Music of the Spheres wind chimes company out of his garage. Today, the chimes are sold nationwide. Eskew continues to own and operate the Austin-based company.

BY KELLEY REESE kreese@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT to present gala celebration Feb. 14 to honor 50 years of desegregation
• Academy wins federal funds
• Equity, diversity workshop set
• Staff Council discusses insurance changes
• New UNT research center uncovers secrets of plants
• UNT performance of oratorio set for Jan. 29
• UNT to present films from eight countries during series
• Markley accepted into Leadership Texas
• 'Star man' fronts musically diverse band Crawfish

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