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Last modified: Friday, April 21, 2006

IU President Adam Herbert's statement regarding student deaths in plane crash

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2006

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University President Adam W. Herbert released the following statement in response to the deaths of five IU students in a plane crash this morning:

"It is my very sad duty to confirm that the victims of this crash are graduate students enrolled in the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. They were returning from a community concert rehearsal in the city of West Lafayette.

This is a devastating loss that is deeply felt on the Bloomington campus. The entire Indiana University family is saddened by this tragedy. Our loss is all the more tragic because each of these students had a rare talent. Three of the students were voice majors and the other two students were enrolled in the choral conducting program at the IU Jacobs School of Music.

We lament the fact that lives of such great promise have been cut short by this terrible tragedy. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of these very special young people. Campus and school leaders will be meeting with their families to express personally the university's condolences and to assure that we are doing everything we possibly can to assist them in this time of such great sorrow."

The names of the students killed in the plane crash are:

Georgina Joshi (Master of Music, Voice); South Bend, Ind.; born 21 October 1981. Bachelor of Music, Royal College of Music, London, 2003. She began the Master of Music program in fall 2003. Georgina was a student of Alan Bennett.

Zachary Novak (Master of Music, Choral Conducting); Anderson, Ind.; born 17 September 1980. Bachelor of Arts, Anderson University, 2004. He began the Master of Music program in fall 2004. Zachary studied with Brian Horne.

Garth Eppley (Master of Music, Voice); Wabash, Ind.; born 7 February 1981. Bachelor of Arts, Anderson College, 2003. Garth studied with Tim Noble.

Chris Carducci (Master of Music, Voice, 2005); Monroe, Mich. Bachelor of Music, Bowling Green State University, 2002. Master of Music, Voice, Indiana University, 2005. Chris was a student of Tim Noble.

Robert Samels (Doctor of Music, Choral Conducting); Medina, Ohio; born 2 June 1981. Bachelor of Music, Bowling Green State University, 2002; Master of Music, Voice, Indiana University, 2004. He began the Doctor of Music program in fall 2004. Robert studied with Costanza Cuccaro.