Murray State to host A Taste of the Arts dinner and live auction event Oct. 15
By Rebecca Dyer | Sep 29, 2026
The annual fine arts scholarship fundraiser will help kick off Homecoming 2026 festivities
MURRAY, Ky. — The College of Humanities and Fine Arts at Murray State University invites the public to attend the annual A Taste of the Arts dinner and live auction event, with proceeds designated to provide scholarships for fine arts students.
The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 in Lovett Auditorium. Doors open at 5 p.m. for a cocktail hour, and dinner will be served at 6 p.m.
The event is sponsored by FNB Bank and will showcase performances by fine arts students, a fine dining experience provided by Sodexo and a live auction conducted by professional auctioneer Tanner Roberts.
“A Taste of the Arts is a scholarship event that provides vital support for talented students in our fine arts majors,” said Dean Nicole Hand of Murray State’s College of Humanities and Fine Arts. “The impact of the Taste of the Arts goes far beyond fundraising. This event brings our community together to celebrate the arts and their role in enriching our lives. Supporting the arts invests in creativity, culture and the voices that help us better understand ourselves and the world around us. This is a great way to spend an evening with friends, family and alumni, entertained by our emerging artists, musicians and performers, and supporting Murray State students!”
As part of the event, the College of Humanities and Fine Arts annually awards the Outstanding Alumni in the Fine Arts. Murray State University will honor Dr. Edwin V. Lacy as the 2026 Outstanding Alumni at the Taste of the Arts event, celebrating his remarkable 48 year career in music education and performance. Lacy, who holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Murray State along with a master's degree and doctorate from Indiana University, retired from full-time teaching after 41 years at the University of Evansville (UE), where he founded and directed the UE Jazz program for four decades and served as chair of the Department of Music. A recipient of the prestigious Oramay Cluthe Eades Distinguished Professor of Music title and a national "Advisor of the Year" honor, his legacy extends deeply into performance as the principal bassoonist and saxophone soloist for the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra for 44 seasons. A lifetime member of the International Double Reed Society, Lacy has performed at renowned venues such as the Kennedy Center, and continues to mentor future generations of musicians.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Todd Hill shared, “Dr. Lacy started teaching before I was born, and I just retired at 62. His passion is not only for music education, but performing as well. At 89, he is an inspiration to the men and women that make up The Todd Hill Orchestra. His performance chops on saxophone, clarinet and bassoon are like those of a much younger professional. He pushes all of us to be our best in challenging situations. His narrative of playing on the road from the 1950s to now is priceless, and should be a book. I've heard more than one of our members say ‘When I grow up, I want to be Edwin Lacy!’ The man is a gem.”
The College also selects an annual recipient for the Outstanding Fine Arts Young Alumni award, and this year’s winner is Justin Ford (’10). Originally from Calvert City, Kentucky, Ford is a Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate with a double emphasis in graphic design and printmaking. He currently serves as the Vice President (VP) of Creative, Design & Branding for Borchetta Entertainment Group, Big Machine Records and Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Over his distinguished 15 year career in Nashville, he spent more than a decade with Big Machine Label Group rising to VP, where he shaped the visual identities, album packaging and integrated marketing campaigns for major icons such as Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, Carly Pearce and Thomas Rhett. An award-winning creative recognized by PRINT Magazine, Ford is also a former president of AIGA Nashville and was recently named to MusicRow Magazine’s prestigious Next Big Thing Industry Directory of emerging music industry leaders.
Art & Design Professor Jim Bryant remarked, “Justin Ford was the kind of student we all hope for: hard working, curious, intelligent, helpful and on time. Justin came to us from the small town of Calvert City, Kentucky — and commuted so that he could keep his job at the Calvert Dairy Queen. In his school work, Justin pushed the boundaries of media and creativity and combined those with his impeccable craftsmanship to create beautiful and original work. While a student, Justin volunteered at a national design conference being held in Memphis and participated in every school event that was available to him. Now in his role as Vice President of Creative Design & Branding at Borchetta Entertainment Group in Nashville, it is no surprise that Justin works with some of the biggest names in the music industry.”
All proceeds benefit the Taste of the Arts scholarship fund, which directly supports students in the fine arts in their pursuit of a quality arts education. This fund has supported hundreds of student scholarships since the 2009-2010 school year.
Advance registration is required, and the reservation deadline is Friday, Oct. 2 or until all seats are filled. Individual tickets are $85, and full tables of eight are $650. To sponsor a table, RSVP to reserve individual seats, or request more information, visit murraystate.edu/homecoming or contact Aviva Yasgur in the Office of Development by Oct. 2 at 270-809-4518.
To make a direct contribution to the Taste of the Arts scholarship fund, please contact Rebecca Dyer at 270-809-3940 or rdyer@murraystate.edu.