NATCHITOCHES – The Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts has named longtime faculty members Richard Rose and Tony Smith as the 2023 inductees into the CAPA Hall of Fame. Rose and Smith will be honored during the Nov. 4 homecoming game vs. Houston Christian. 

Rose and Smith served on the CAPA faculty for more than 30 years and were widely respected as both teachers and musicians. 

“I can’t think of any two individuals more worthy of induction into the Dear School Hall of Fame than Professors Tony Smith and Richard Rose.  Both gave many years of outstanding and dedicated efforts to the School of CAPA in the areas of teaching, research and service,” said former director of the School of Creative and Performing Arts Bill Brent, who worked with both for many years. “Professor Smith, in addition to his excellent studio teaching in oboe, served as the head of the music department and had the vision that NSU needed a fine arts survey course that has brought music, art and theatre/dance to life for thousands of students through the years. Professor Rose, a cellist, served as a conductor for the Natchitoches/Northwestern Symphony Orchestra and was highly recognized as a composer and performer across Louisiana and beyond.” 

Rose was on Northwestern’s faculty from 1968 until 2005. He was principal cellist with the Rapides Symphony for many years and performed with the Lake Charles and Natchitoches-Northwestern symphonies. Rose was conductor of the Ruston Symphony and Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony and conducted pops concerts for the Rapides Symphony. Rose played folk music with the Back Porch Band. 

“When I got the call informing me that I had been selected for this honor, I was surprised and overwhelmed,” said Rose. “I suddenly realized that my many years of working at Northwestern have been recognized by NSU and by my colleagues in the Department of Music. This is a very gratifying honor.” 

Rose thought it was important to pass along to students the knowledge he gained as a student, musician, conductor and composer. 

“I had excellent teaching and performance experiences that I wanted to impart to my students,” said Rose. “My own excellent educational opportunities where I was exposed to so much information made me realize that I wanted to pass that knowledge to future musicians/teachers. I wanted to give my students the knowledge and experience that I had received. I wanted to be sure that my students had the necessary skills and information that would enable them to succeed as performers and teachers. Also, I wanted them to maintain the high standards that I had taught them. I wanted them to be a positive influence on the students that they taught.” 

Rose admits composing music was a process that he worked on for years. Most of his works were written by request, 

“My early composing wasn’t very good,” said Rose. “In fact, my teacher said, ‘There’s bound to be something you can do musically instead of composing.’ At that time, I felt the same way. Fourteen years later I wrote my next notes. I had musical ideas that I wanted to express and, I admit, to show my teacher that I can compose, 

Among his compositions was “Requiem,” which he wrote to honor close musical friends who died in the same summer.  

“I hope I did them justice,” he said. “The work was debuted by the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony in an emotional performance. Composing is very difficult, but the results are deeply rewarding.” 

Rose composed or arranged music for several special occasions at Northwestern, including for the 125th anniversary of the founding of Northwestern. He also wrote an overture to commemorate the founding of Natchitoches. 

“My purpose for teaching was to train students to be successful in their musical career and to love music as much as I do,” said Rose. “I am deeply gratified that several students have gone on to have successful careers in teaching and performing.” 

For more than forty years, Rose filmed, photographed and video recorded all of the shows of the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. For 18 years, he recorded, audio and video, all of the music events in Magale Recital Hall. 

Rose is a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Natchitoches. He is in charge of sound for services and frequently appears as a soloist. For eight years, Rose coached in the Natchitoches Dixie Youth Baseball program. In 1997, he joined the Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches. He is a past-president and board member of that club.  

Smith joined Northwestern State’s faculty in 1977 and retired in 2010. He was coordinator of the music department from 2004-2008. He was president of NSU’s Faculty Senate for two years. Before joining Northwestern State’s faculty, he was principal oboe in the U.S. Navy Band for six years. 

“I was thrilled when I got the news. I knew of the award and am excited to be part of a group that includes Bill Brent, Jack Wann, Vicki Parrish and Burt Allen,” said Smith. “It is especially gratifying to be inducted along with my best friend Richard Rose.” 

Smith was one of the recipients of the university’s Teacher of the Year award in 1977. He helped create the university’s Fine Arts 1040 course which is part of NSU’s curriculum. He edited a textbook, “Exploring the Arts,” published by Simon and Schuster, that was used in all NSU fine arts classes for several years. 

“It was based on an undergraduate class I had at the University of Arkansas,” said Smith. “The class was great fun and reached undergraduate students who were not necessarily music majors. I wanted to do the same thing at NSU.” 

Smith taught the music literature course required of all music majors that was useful for students planning to attend graduate school in music. Smith said he also enjoyed working closely with oboe students. One of his standout students was NSU alumnus Josh Arvizu. Smith began teaching Arvizu twice a month when he was in high school in DeRidder. Arvizu became a First chair all-state oboist and eventually an oboist with the U.S. Navy Band, the same position Smith held while on active duty. Four of Smith’s private students became First Chair All-State on oboe. 

Smith chaired the NSU Artists Series which brought several touring plays to Northwestern along with top musicians such as Ray Charles and Doc Severinsen. He was president of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society in 2020-21 during the pandemic and served on the Symphony Society board for many years. He performed with the Shreveport, Rapides and Lake Charles symphony orchestras. As a faculty member, he made numerous presentations to professional conferences around the country. After retirement, he continued teaching a course, “Music for Stage and Screen,” a survey of opera, Broadway and film music, at Northwestern. 

Smith served as president of the Natchitoches Parish Friends of the Library as well as on the board of the Natchitoches Historic Foundation. He is a lay reader for Trinity Episcopal Church. 

 Caption

Richard Rose, left, and Tony Smith, are the 2023 inductees into the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame.