Dr. Thomas Loewenheim, a Fresno State music professor, and alumna Chris Hays and Richard Cencibaugh, both members of the university’s Class of 1979, will be honored by the Fresno Arts Council at the 27th annual Horizon Awards ceremony.

The event is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15, at the Council Chambers at Fresno City Hall (2600 Fresno St.) in downtown Fresno.

The awards recognize significant arts contributions to the Fresno community by individuals, organizations and businesses.

Loewenheim joined the Fresno State faculty in 2007 and is the conductor of the University Orchestra and a professor of cello and strings. He is also the music director of the Youth Orchestras of Fresno. In 2011, he was awarded the Provost’s Award for Outstanding New Faculty.

He will receive the Ella Odorfer Educator Award.

Hays will receive the Horizon Business Award. She is a third-generation who is the owner, artistic director and manager of The Door Gallery. The gallery, which opened in 1995, provides local artists with a place to create art and take classes in painting.

Cencibaugh, an organist, is the recipient of the Citizen Award.

He has “rescued, restored and placed countless organs in homes, churches and theaters throughout the San Joaquin Valley,” says the award citation. Cencibaugh is recognized as a performer, teacher and director of the American Guild of Organists local chapter, who also is a mentor to new pipe organists, helping preserve this classic art form for future generations.

Past Horizon Awardees include the CSU Summer Arts program, which received a special Horizon Award in 2011 for its contributions to the arts community during its 13-year tenure at Fresno State. Jacqueline Doumanian, former community relations specialist for CSU Summer Arts and now the assistant director for the College of Arts and Humanities development office, received the Horizon Award for business in 2010.

Tickets for the event are $20 per person and children 12 years and under are free.

For more information, contact the Fresno Arts Council at 559.237.9734 or Pablo Ruiz de Chavez at pablo@fresnoartscouncil.org. Additional details are available at the  Fresno Arts Council.

(Copy by University Communications news assistant Alejandra Garcia, a mass communications/journalism major.)

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