The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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October 19, 2009

2 Enidites receiving Governor’s Arts Award

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer

Enid’s Julie Baird and former resident Kyle Dillingham will be honored today for their contributions to arts.

They will be presented awards at the 34th annual Governor’s Arts Awards reception in the state Capitol Rotunda at 4 p.m.

Dillingham will perform at the reception. The first piece is an original work by Edmond composer Callen Clarke. He also will perform, along with a 12-piece chamber orchestra, a song from his program, “Language and Lyrics,” which uses music to help learn a foreign language.

“I’m very honored. There are so many great arts things going on in Enid that I was just honored to be nominated and to accept the award on behalf of Enid and Leonardo’s,” Baird said.

Baird is being recognized for individual contributions to the arts, both as executive director of Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse and Adventure Quest and as chairwoman of the Enid Arts District Committee.

Baird has been executive director of Leonardo’s since 2005, and during that time memberships to the hands-on children’s science museum have doubled. The number of programs offered also has increased. Leon-ardo’s has tripled its educational outreach programs, started Art Smart and Passport Science classes both at Leonardo’s and in Enid schools. In addition, Leonardo’s personnel also teaches arts classes at Vance Air Force Base, and the museum hosts Continental Resources After School Science Adventure Club for middle school students on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Leonardo’s also started home-school programs last year, and Baird said Leonardo’s continually is increasing its outreach programs.

Baird has more than 90 people involved in the project to designate an arts district in Enid.

“I don’t feel I’ve done more than anyone else, but it’s a great honor,” Baird said.

Dillingham, now of Oklahoma City, is being honored with the special recognition award for his ability to connect to people throughout the world with his music.

Dillingham picked up the violin when he was 9 and performed on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry at 17, including a performance with the father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe.

He is a vocalist, violinist and ambassador in residence at the University of Central Oklahoma. He received a bachelor’s degree in music performance from Okla-homa City University, where he also served as ambassador.

Along with his band Horseshoe Road, he was sponsored by the U.S. government to travel to Japan and Thailand as the only recorded international Oklahoma Centennial event. He helped develop more than 30 relationships between universities in Oklahoma and overseas and increased the visibility of the state of Oklahoma in 29 countries.

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