In the 1960s, J. Perry Watson became Music Director after serving as a full-time music faculty member and conductor under Robert A. Barnes. In February of 1965, a student set fire to old Pullen Hall, and the music program lost over 300 instruments totaling over $54,000 in damages to instruments alone, as well as around $15,000 worth of sheet music. Thankfully, many of the instruments were insured, and Watson was determined for the music program to bounce back, making plans to start rehearsals again just a few months later in May, and bounce back we did!