Composer and double alumnus Mark Van Hecke (BFA, Music, 1974; MM, Music Composition, 1977) established two new scholarships at the Peck School of the Arts. The Mark J. Van Hecke ’77 and Theresa Grzanka-Van Hecke Music and Art Education Scholarship endowments provide financial support to students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs in Music Composition and Art Education, respectively. Mark has had a truly varied career in music, composing many scores for theatre and dance companies, as well as scores for films, television, and video games. In addition to composing, Mark has conducted, performed, and produced music heard around the world. Mark also creates the scholarships in honor and memory of his dear wife Theresa, who taught art in NYC public schools for 35 years. She was a distinguished artist herself.
These two scholarships are meant to encourage art educators to teach art to children in schools both public and private, and to encourage composers to pursue music composition as a collaborative art with theatre, film, dance and more.