Dr. Robin Koozer, professor of music and chair of the department at Hastings College, was named state scholar for the 2009 Nebraska tour of “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music,” a traveling exhibition by the Smithsonian Institution, brought to the state by the Nebraska Humanities Council.

As state scholar, Dr. Koozer, helped produce and contributed to the tour’s companion publication called, “The Nebraska Companion,” a 36-page publication that documents Nebraska’s rich music history with samples from and exploration of such topics as barbershop music, 80 years of the Hastings Symphony, Nebraska’s heritage of jazz, traditional community and fraternal bands, music of the pioneers, local musicians, enduring Native American music and the renaissance of Nebraska’s opera houses.

Dr. Koozer worked with many contributors to ensure the Nebraska tour of “New Harmonies” highlighted the state while complementing the exhibition’s national focus. The traveling exhibition can be seen at four more sites in the state, including the Platte County Historical Society Museum in Columbus, June 13-July 24; the Trails & Rails Museum in Kearney, August 4-29; the Cherry County Historical Society Museum in Valentine, September 3–October 11; and Loves Jazz & Arts Center in Omaha, October 18-December 31.

The exhibition celebrates through roots music the quintessential American values of freedom, democracy, independence, diversity and ingenuity and explores the origins and development of spirituals, gospel, country, bluegrass, blues, tejano, polka and more.

“The Nebraska Companion,” is available at each of the exhibition sites or by mail. It was produced with support from Cornhusker Press, a division of Dutton-Lainson Company of Hastings.

Additional sponsors of the Nebraska exhibition include the Berman Music Foundation, the Nebraska Rural Radio Network, Brown Transfer Company, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment and the “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Hastings College students and faculty have been making music since the beginnings of the College in 1882. During its first century, the Music Department established an enviable reputation throughout the Midwest for its quality programs, dedicated faculty and talented students. Hastings College's commitment to music is a proud tradition and offers a glimpse into a future where the arts will be an even more important part of the college program.