Regarding our state university system, it’s common to speak of “The University of Maine” as referring to any of the campuses in general, when, in fact, it is the name of only the Orono campus.

I bring this up in reference to last Tuesday’s article concerning the Mount View Chamber Singers’ performance at the White House. Kelli and Bethany Couturier were able to go on the trip, while Robert Couturier, who had graduated from Mount View last year, was not.

I am happy to report, however, that Robert is still singing beautifully; he was a soloist (along with Sarah Hamilton-Parker, another first-year student) in a tenor-alto duet in a Bach cantata last week during the Millennium Celebration Concert of Chorale, a collaboration between the townspeople in the Machias area and students of the University of Maine at Machias (note the full title). I met the Couturier family at the concert and thanked them for Robert’s rich high school background.

Congratulations to David Stevenson and the Mount View Chamber Singers on their fine musicmaking, Motivated students will carry their positive experiences and their preparation with them throughout their lives.

Gene Nichols

Faculty president

Director of music

University of Maine

at Machias