Lawrence University

Lawrence University is both a liberal arts college and music conservatory, based in the town of Appleton, east Wisconsin. The institute received its charter in 1847 and is named for its founder, Methodist minister and philanthropist Amos Lawrence. There are over forty areas of study at the Lawrence, from Biomedical Ethics to Film Studies.

Opened in 1989 The Wriston Art Centre is a 33,000 square foot complex designed for both the viewing and creation of artistic projects. The building is bordered by a distinctive curled walling, and contains a climate controlled environment for the university’s extensive art collection.

The Conservatory offers majors in Performance, Music Education, Theory, and Composition. There are also no less than thirteen ensembles at Lawrence, open both to those taking Music as a major and aspiring performers taking other academic subjects. The three choirs at the conservatory are Concert, Cantala, and Viking Chorale, and a particularly innovative ensemble is the Improvisation Group combing various instrumental styles.

Some alumni of Lawrence are editor of The Moscow Times Lynn Berry, children’s author Bonnie Bryant, actor Jeffrey Jones, congressman Scott Klug, and Oscar winning documentarian Eric Simonson.

Known as the Vikings, there are a combined total of 22 men’s and women’s sports programmes at Lawrence, and teams compete at the NCAA Division III in university colours of navy and white. The sport of fencing is competed at varsity level in both men’s and women’s teams, one of only eleven universities in the division to offer this.

The city of Appleton itself can boast of an international airport, and cultural activities such as the Performing Arts Centre and a Fox Cities baseball stadium, which hosts the NCAA Division III College World Series.