A Sound Investment

Every year, the students enrolled in Radford University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) arrive on campus, full of creative energy and ready to share their visions with the world. Those artistic expressions take the form of paintings, drawings or sculptures; instrumental, voice or dance performances; fashion and interior design shows; and theater or cinema productions. The dozens of opportunities to experience these endeavors are an important part of the artistic culture in the New River Valley and across Southwest Virginia.

That is why Johann Norstedt, Ph.D., a retired professor of English, has been a generous benefactor to CVPA for more than two decades.

“My late wife and I started coming to concerts at Radford, and we were impressed by what we heard. It was very spontaneous, and there was a lot of talent there,” Norstedt said. “When I retired after 30 years of teaching, I was at that stage when you think about your finances and where that money should go.”

In 2009, Norstedt established the Johann & Marilyn Norstedt Scholarship for Voice in recognition of the many evenings spent enjoying productions. Norstedt said he knew that the Radford students were receiving an excellent education in classical music at a great value, and he felt that, by establishing a scholarship at Radford University, he could add even more affordability for students in need.

“I saw the quality of the programs offered through the College of Visual and Performing Arts,” Norstedt said. “It was important to me to ensure students could have access to the programs and continue to develop their talent.”

Since the implementation of the scholarship, many CVPA students have benefited from the scholarship, including Josh Brown, a CVPA graduate from the music therapy program with a focus in voice. Brown received the scholarship in 2014 and explained at the time what the scholarship meant to him.

“Winning the scholarship has given me the opportunity to put my primary focus into my studies,” Brown said. “As a college student, money is always a potential issue, but with this scholarship, I can spend extra time on studies rather than having to pick up an extra job.”

Brown continued by praising the contributions Norstedt has made to CVPA and the Radford artistic community. “Dr. Norstedt is a really kind, caring, generous man, who is a very strong supporter of the arts.”

Recently, Norstedt has expanded his generosity by establishing several new scholarships, including the Marie Powers Memorial Scholarship in Theatre, the Margot Fonteyn Memorial Scholarship in Dance, the Rudolf Serkin Memorial Scholarship in Piano and the Jack Butler Yeats Memorial Scholarship in Art.

“I wanted to extend the opportunities to students in the other arts programs at Radford,” Norstedt said. “So far, I’ve created five scholarships, and I plan to create one for the sixth program in design soon. I have been naming them after famous people I have admired and who inspired me.”

In addition to scholarships, Norstedt has supported Radford students in the arts in additional ways, such as purchasing named seats in Radford University’s performance halls, contributing to international trips to Ireland and Russia, and financing aspects of performances on campus.

At the Fall 2016 Department of Music Convocation, Radford University President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., recognized the importance of longtime donors like Norstedt to the diverse and dynamic success of CVPA students.

“We are dependent upon the generosity of individuals that step forward and invest in this institution by investing not only their time and ability but also their treasure,” Hemphill said.

Hemphill said that such generosity has helped fulfill the vision of “transforming Radford into an innovative, premier university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond with a keen focus on teaching, research and service.”

“I am so satisfied with the result of my donations,” said Norstedt. “Supporting Radford is an investment in the future of the cultural arts in the New River Valley, Southwest Virginia and beyond. It’s giving to the students, who will give back through their art for years to come.”