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It's show time!

Tye, a Marshalltown woman who died in 1998, was committed to the arts and arts education. Her $1.1 million in gifts to Campaign Destiny established a performing arts scholarship and the Martha-Ellen Tye Performing Arts Institute, and renovated the Music Building's recital hall, which was named in her honor.

Thirty Iowa State music students have received Tye scholarships since 1998. The Martha-Ellen Tye Performing Arts Institute, coordinated by the Iowa State Center, provides educational programs for Iowa State students and area residents. In the first year of programming, more than 5,000 students of all ages watched and worked with world-class performing artists in area schools and on campus.

This fall, the institute hosted a Showcase Recital, featuring Iowa district winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. The singers worked with a nationally known coach and presented a public recital.

The institute also brought guest violinist Stefan Milenkovich to campus for a public concert, workshops, master classes and demonstrations for area schools, community organizations and Iowa State students.

The recital hall renovation included a new multi-media, surround-sound, audio-video system; a new multi-channel audio workstation enabling high-digital recordings; and a new theatrical lighting system.