The OSU Madrigal Dinner Concert, held each December, is a combination of singing, dancing and dining set in medieval times. While they enjoy their meals, more than 2,000 guests each year are entertained by jesters and other medieval characters.
 
 

Although these images may not seem to go hand-in-hand with the Oklahoma State University College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, they do. 

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Madrigal Dinner Concert is a joint effort among the department of horticulture and landscape architecture, the department of music and the OSU Student Union.

A once a year event, the Madrigal Dinner provides experience and scholarship money for some CASNR students.

The event is unique in several ways. Unlike similar productions at other universities, this event is conducted solely by students. Other universities may utilize professional designers and decorators. But that's where the OSU department of horticulture and landscape architecture comes into play.

Students enrolled in the advanced floral design class (HORT 3553) are responsible for transforming the Student Union Ballroom into a medieval fantasy land. Doug Needham, associate professor in the department, said the event provides a unique opportunity for students.

"This is an excellent experience because it's very much like doing a large gala event such as a wedding reception," Needham said. "It's very practical from the standpoint that students have to come up with the ideas, develop the product, implement it and install it in a short time frame."

This practical experience was appreciated by Shaun Dalrymple, horticulture and general business senior from Stillwater, who took part in the 1997 event.

"We were doing designs on a large scale, and working on a scale that large makes a big difference," said Dalrymple, who plans to begin a floral shop specializing in weddings.

The planning and designing for the Madrigal Dinner Concert is no small undertaking for horticulture students.

"Beginning the first class period in August," Needham said, "students discover the year's theme, which ranges from love to forest animals." 

Once Allen Reding, director of the event, and the OSU music department have selected music, the horticulture students enter a new phase of planning.

"We interpret the music selection in floral material," Needham said. "We try to support the theme in floral decorations."

Students are given a month to develop individual floral designs for the event. They then present their designs to a "madrigal jury," comprised of Needham, a representative of American Floral Services and representatives from the Madrigal Dinner Concert committee.

"The students have about a four- or five week period to develop an idea or concept of how the student is going to interpret the madrigal theme, create a mock table arrangement and a mock wreath, and present that to a jury," Needham said. 

Although the jury presentation may be stressful for students, the experience prepares them for the "real world."

"Why do we do this? Why is it important? Well, it's very much like selling a concept to a potential client," Needham said.

"Once a design is selected, students determine the amount of materials needed and begin preparations for implementing those designs."

Two weeks prior to the dinner, actual assembly of the designs occurs. In addition to class time, students work about 20 hours in their spare time to assure the designs are just right for the event.

Dalrymple said the extra work and late nights taught students many life lessons.

"It was kind of hard work because we had a lot of different creative minds together," she said. "It was difficult at times. But we got really close as a class. We seemed to be a really cohesive group compared to the other classes I've taken." 

The extra effort and difficult moments pay off in the end for students. 

"The greatest benefit is the real life experience," Needham said. "There are very few situations in the classroom that can be taken directly to real life. This is one of them." 

But experience is not the only thing gained from the event. Ticket sales provide scholarship money for the department of horticulture and landscape architecture and the department of music.

The department of horticulture and landscape architecture uses the scholarship money as work in progress ? the previous year's earnings provide funding for the current year's materials.

This funding ensures the music will play on for years to come. And a medieval fairy tale will continue to flourish because of the talent and hard work of students in the department of horticulture and landscape architecture.

By Christy Couch

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