UT Tyler, Tyler ISD Partner to Promote the Arts

November 4, 2025 | Hannah Buchanan

Special art gallery showcase with music concert Nov. 18 at UT Tyler Cowan Center

The University of Texas at Tyler School of Performing Arts has partnered with Caldwell Arts Academy in Tyler to present a special evening showcasing the arts 7 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the UT Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center.

“We are delighted to partner with the Tyler Independent School District and Caldwell Arts Academy for a great evening that showcases not only our fantastic UT Tyler student musicians and new music by a guest composer, but also talented middle school art students from Caldwell,” said Dr. Neil Gray, UT Tyler College of Arts and Sciences dean.

Themed “Connections,” the evening highlights Caldwell students’ artwork that will be presented at 7 p.m. in a special gallery showcase, followed by a concert featuring the UT Tyler Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble at 7:30 p.m.

“This collaboration between Caldwell Arts Academy and UT Tyler celebrates the power of connection—between music and art, between university and community, and between young artists discovering how their creativity can respond to and explain the world around them,” said Jennifer Vaughn, Caldwell Arts Academy Middle School visual arts teacher and co-organizer.

To inspire the student artists, a group of UT Tyler musicians visited Caldwell to share musical selections from the upcoming concert.

“The music made me feel happy and calm, like a soothing breeze. I could see the colors of what they were expressing –– moments of sadness and waves of warmth. It moved me to create artwork filled with bright, vibrant and joyful colors,” said Caldwell eighth grader Zatzya Marvels.

UT Tyler director of bands Dr. Alexander Scott will conduct the concert. Selected music includes the world premiere performance of “Letters to Binka” by guest composer Peter Cohn, a music composition student at the University of Michigan –– Scott’s alma mater.

“We’re proud to present our fall concert this year in partnership with Caldwell Arts Academy and Tyler ISD,” said Scott. “I’m also excited to bring Peter on board for this special occasion. We hope everyone can join us for this free, one-night only event.”

Cohn will also visit the student artists the day of the event to discuss the creation of his piece, Scott added.

Part of Tyler ISD, the Caldwell Arts Academy is East Texas’ premier K–8 fine arts magnet school. Its mission is to enhance the whole child through the arts. Learn more at: tylerisd.org/o/caa/.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,500 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.