Colorado Mesa University has partnered with the Colorado Flute Association (CFA) in a joint effort to promote flute players that are in the rural communities of Colorado. This partnership was made possible by the Ruth Maurer Endowment, which made a donation of $150,000 to help in the effort. This donation was made to help high school students afford to go to college and pursue their love of music. These students are not required to be music majors.

[media-credit name=”Courtesy of CBS Denver” align=”alignleft” width=”420″][/media-credit]“I decided that I’d like to give some money to CMU because they have been really nice to me in the music department,” Maurer said in an interview with CBS4 Denver. “They make it feel like home. You want to put your money where you can do the most good on something you like.”

Maurer has the hope that by giving this money, more people will learn to play the flute and love it. She is on a mission to spread flute playing to every area of Colorado.

In an interview, CMU President Tim Foster had said that “Ruth Maurer is a remarkable woman with an incredible life story.” He also talked about how she had a career as a mathematician, as well as being a talented artist.

CMU initially contacted the CFA about the partnership and has been working with Association Vice President Michael Williams. The mission of the CFA is to serve flute players throughout all of Colorado.

The CMU Music Department is planning to host an annual flute competition which will be open to high school seniors that are from rural communities. The CFA is looking into sanctioning the event. The winner of the flute competition will not only receive a scholarship, but will also have access to the CFA in the areas of talent, expertise and opportunities.

[media-credit name=”Max Moore for The Criterion” align=”alignnone” width=”300″][/media-credit]CMU Head of Music Calvin Hofer believes that music is a universal language which can eliminate the barriers between rural and urban division and bring those people together.

On Feb. 14 there was a celebration of the endowment. President Foster attended this celebration along with Maurer and Hofer. Maurer herself gave a performance playing the flute. Along with her performance, there was a commissioning of a chamber ensemble rehearsal room in her name.

More information about the CFA is available at at coloradoflute.org.