The change, made to recognize the breadth and contribution of the arts at the Institute, will be officially announced during the School's 50th anniversary celebration on October 6 and 7, 2000. This change in the name of the School signals formally that the arts are essential to a complete educational environment and experience and are a vital part of the Institute. The School contains the Institute's undergraduate curricular offerings in music, theater and creative writing. The School is also home to some of MIT's most distinguished artists in these fields, including Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Harbison , pianist David Deveau , violist Marcus Thompson , playwright Alan Brody , and novelists Alan Lightman and Anita Desai .
Admission is free and the public is invited.
The main concert at 8pm features the MIT Symphony Orchestra, the MIT Concert Choir and Chamber Chorus, and acclaimed pianist David Deveau in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, under the direction of Dante Anzolini. A reception will follow on the Kresge Oval. MIT's Kresge Auditorium and the Kresge Oval are located at 48 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge.