Lindsey Jones

When Lindsey Jones started at Western several years ago, she knew it was the premier place to study music performance. What she didn’t know as a bright-eyed freshman was that plans were in the works for a state-of-the-art School of Visual and Performing Arts building on the university’s Westside campus.

“It will be fantastic to have a beautiful auditorium and space,” Jones said. “Having it tailored to the needs of the music students for practice and performance will only enhance our education and experience at Western. You can’t build a great faculty — and that’s what really matters.”

Completion of the building is scheduled for 2014, long after the 20-year-old Newtown resident anticipates her graduation, but Jones said that she plans on returning to watch performances or to perform. She will be performing on her violin at the Oct. 17 groundbreaking ceremony for the SVPA Center.

A music performance major with focus on classical violin, Jones is the recipient of the Behrens Music Scholarship, given by New Fairfield residents Rudy and Mary Behrens. Jones said the scholarship has meant much to her in terms of recognition; she is honored to see the Behrenses in the audiences at many of her performances.

Jones, who is expected to graduate in May 2012, is already benefiting from her experience at Western. She teaches violin and viola to 25 students — ages 5 to adult. The full-time student also fiddles with a local country band and plays in a quartet. She began studying violin with Professor of Music Eric Lewis as a high school student and worked with his wife, violinist Katherine Dorn, prior to that. The musical duo helped make Jones’ decision to attend Western an easy one and one that Jones doesn’t regret.

“After graduation, I’ll definitely be coming back to Western in some capacity,” Jones said. “I love the experience I’ve had here and wouldn’t change anything.”