Rehearsal hall named for Buddy and Bernie Arnold, to honor artistic legacy

Lipscomb University has honored the late Buddy Arnold, known as one of Lipscomb’s most influential faculty members by generations of Lipscomb students, and his wife, Bernie Arnold, by dedicating the rehearsal hall in the Thomas James McMeen Music Center in their honor and establishing the Buddy and Bernie Arnold Scholarship in Theater.

 

The Buddy and Bernie Arnold Hall is the heart of the music department, where Lipscomb’s A Cappella Singers, Jazz Band and Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Concert Band and other ensembles practice every day. Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry felt the hall’s prominent role in the music department made it the perfect location to honor Arnold, a man who had a defining influence on four decades of music and theater education and worship services at Lipscomb.

 

“Unfortunately, I did not know Buddy Arnold, but I have been able to clearly see his impact on the students, faculty and staff who are at Lipscomb now,” said President Lowry. “We are honored to dedicate this hall in recognition of his legacy of excellence and the influence he and Bernie have had on this community and beyond.”

 

The Buddy and Bernie Arnold Scholarship in Theater will be awarded to at least one incoming freshman majoring in theater each fall. It will be awarded by the university based on a high level of artistic skills, academic excellence and the potential to live a life of faith and leadership.

 

“The Buddy and Bernie Arnold Scholarship will accomplish two things,” said Craig Bledsoe, Lipscomb’s provost. “It will perpetuate the influence that Buddy and Bernie have had at Lipscomb and encourage our students toward excellence in their theatre pursuits. But in a broader sense, it will encourage them
to embrace for a lifetime the Christian characteristics and spirit that have made the Arnold family so deeply intertwined in the life and history of Lipscomb University.”

 

 

Henry O. “Buddy” Arnold (‘48) taught music and led various choral groups at Lipscomb from 1948 to 1968. After 10 years as drama instructor at Hillwood High School, Arnold returned to Lipscomb in 1978 as professor of music and theater. He directed many of Lipscomb’s most ambitious drama productions (including “1776,” “Oklahoma,” “Man of La Mancha” and “Brigadoon”) until his retirement in 1989.

 

The rehearsal hall was dedicated to both Arnold and his wife Bernie (’48), who was an active presence behind the scenes, often hosting new students in the Arnold home and providing invaluable support for Lipscomb productions and its students.

 

Outside the hall, adjacent to Willard Collins Alumni Auditorium, passers-by can now view a permanent exhibit illustrating the rich history and value of the performing arts at Lipscomb, including photographs of several generations of student plays and music groups and a reflection of the Arnold family’s influence through the years.

Buddy and Bernie Arnold also had a major influence on the arts community in Nashville as well. Buddy Arnold reviewed classical music for the Nashville Banner during its existence and The Tennessean. He directed numerous productions for local school and community theaters, appeared as a soloist with the Nashville Symphony and performed lead roles in “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Camelot,” “My Fair Lady” and many others.

 

Bernie Arnold was also an accomplished actress, singer and writer both at Lipscomb and in the community, and worked as a food writer or editor at various Nashville publications including Nashville Magazine, The Nashville Banner and The Tennessean. She was even dubbed “ the Julia Child of the South,” on one occasion.

 

 

Jim Thomas, now professor of communication and the special assistant to the president at Lipscomb, recalled his first visit to the Arnold home when he was a student 42 years ago. He remembers how the Arnolds’ hospitality defined his vision of Lipscomb as a place where people truly cared for one another.

 

“Buddy was this huge personality that made you instantly feel warmth. He greeted you like an old friend. He had a baby grand piano, and I was so impressed,” said Thomas. “Bernie was the most gracious hostess. I was so impressed with their graciousness and their true concern for the students there.”

 

He was perhaps best known to students, however, as the director of chapel singing. He began leading singing in church at the age of 13 and is considered by many to be a pioneer of the “worship leader” concept, which recognizes the role of the “song leader” in establishing the assembled worship experience and makes that role an integral part of worship planning. His goal was to bring creativity to the act of worship and to inspire and encourage believers in Christ Jesus. He led worship at Otter Creek Church of Christ for more than 35 years and led worship in daily chapel at Lipscomb until his retirement.

 

All of the Arnold children -- Nan Gurley and Chip, Tim and Chris Arnold -- attended a dedication ceremony earlier this spring, where they heard tributes from former Lipscomb students Wesley Paine and Thomas; retired professor Fletcher Srygley; and Jerry Masterson, who spoke about Arnold’s involvement at Otter Creek Church of Christ in Nashville, where Arnold also served as the minister of music.

 

“When I heard Buddy put together scripture readings and songs and tie it all together in a song service, I started to see what church could be and should be, rather than what I had thought it was,” said Thomas, reflecting on his youthful view of worship.