January 20, 1997

Peskin Delivers 1997 Robert van de Velde Memorial
Lecture

This January, Bob Peskin, director of music ministries
at the Unity Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, delivered the 1997
Robert W. van de Velde, Jr. Memorial Lecture at Middlebury College.
Mr. Peskin, a former Middlebury resident, is known to many throughout
the area as the founder of The Fat Tones, an a-cappella trio,
and for his work as associate director of alumni affairs at the
College. The title of this year’s lecture was, “The Arts
in American Society: What We Have, What We’re at Risk of Losing,
and What You Can Do About It.”

After graduating from Princeton University in 1978,
Mr. Peskin came to Middlebury and worked as an announcer, program
director, and news director for Addison Broadcasting (WFAD-AM).
Before joining the Middlebury College staff, he was director of
marketing and album producer for Philo Records in North Ferrisburgh,
Vermont. Mr. Peskin moved to Minnesota in 1992.

Other professional work by Mr. Peskin includes arranging
vocal music for a-cappella ensembles, directing music for theatrical
productions, commercial voice-overs, and preparation of commercial
recordings for editing the Dale Warland Singers and the Houston
Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, for eight years Mr. Peskin was
advisor to the campus radio station, WRMC.

The Robert W. van de Velde, Jr. ‘75 Memorial Lecture
was established in 1981 by Mr. van de Velde’s parents, R.W. and
the late Barbara van de Velde, his widow, Diana Mooney van de
Velde, and other family members and friends. The series involves
an annual lecture dealing with public affairs and journalism,
particularly broadcast journalism. Previous speakers in the series
have included Frank Sesno ‘77, Cecil Forster ‘64, Robert Abernethy,
Governor Madeleine Kunin, Raymond Benson, Jane Bryant Quinn ‘60,
and E.D. Hirsch.