Austin Sound Takes Over University...
The new Center for American Music at the University of Texas will have "more blues than Bach, more rock 'n' roll than Ravel." Professors, too. And a label?

Yes. The University of Texas announced late last year that it was forming this new center, partly in order to help their music school achieve more national prominence.

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education (Jan. 3, 2003), the center will promote the entire range of American music among the school's various ensembles, as well as record and distribute their work under the University's own label. Associate Chair of the Center, Prof. Elizabeth Crist, observes that "It is easier to find recordings of music from 15th century Europe than... from 19th century America."

The first new faculty are expected to join by fall 2003, with 7 or 8 total expected within two years. 

Read the Chronicle of Higher Education article

Read an Austin American-Statesman article on the Center