ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD Photo Credit: Jess Talos
SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 1
Pincushion by Diana Jean Puglisi
2
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5
SPRING 2021
Front Cover
Inside Front Cover Contents Dean’s Message April Spotlights Featuring Seth Bechtold, Susan Ungaro, David Kerzner, and
8
Julianne Kearns
May Spotlights Featuring Hershell Williams, Lorra Brown, Diana Jean Puglisi, and Thomas Paster
12
12
ZHIYUAN CONG
June Spotlights Featuring Zhiyuan Cong, Kendra Chaiken, Alexis Cullen-Baker, and Miles Franco
16
A View Through My Lens: The Process of Art
18 20 22 23
Orpheus in the Underworld College-Wide News Upcoming Events College of the Arts and Communication: Office of the Dean
11
THOMAS PASTER
18
5
SETH BECHTOLD
ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 3
Dean’s Message: W
e made it! The end of the academic year is upon us and it was one of extraordinary challenge and change. We pivoted. We endured. We made it through. Was it easy? Definitely not; but we trusted in each other, supported one another and stretched ourselves beyond what we thought were our limits; we have found new strength that will serve us well as we hopefully move on to a more normal routine in the months ahead. To those who are graduating, and our faculty and staff who are leaving the university community - we wish you good luck as you move to the next phase of your lives and join new communities. Look fondly upon your time at William Paterson University and stay in touch with us. We would love to hear of your future plans and successes achieved.
We PIVOTED. We ENDURED. We MADE IT! 4
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
This is my last message to you as the Interim Dean of the College of the Arts and Communication as we fuse together with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences to become the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences under the accomplished leadership of Dean Wartyna Davis. This is an exciting time bringing opportunities for novel collaborations and programs of study both imagined and unexpected. I ask you to be open to the many possibilities the college restructuring can bring as you shed the old and embrace the new. It has been my honor to serve as your dean during this last year and I’ll cherish the work and time spent with students, staff and faculty I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with in this role. I wish you all good health and prosperity. Take care!
Loretta Mc Laughlin Vignier Interim Dean College of the Arts and Communication
Seth Bechtold
April’s Adjunct of the Month Department of Art Tell us about your work. While working on my BFA, I primarily focused on sculpture and it wasn’t until grad school that I started to apply a further conceptual element to my photographs. I started combining my skillsets, building ephemeral landscapes within nature and photographing them under the natural sky. This process has led to my series: Wasteland (2014 - ) and Terra Nullius (2017 - ). In my late 20’s I was working as a machinist, and found myself obsessed with the waste materials, both taken by their aesthetic and horrified by how much gets thrown into landfills. I started imagining a world completely overtaken with this stuff. Hence, Wasteland. Terra Nullius started to develop in 2016, shortly after finding out that I was to become a father. The cynical world portrayed in Wasteland was not the world I wanted for the future, so my thoughts changed from creating a warning, to creating a hopeful world of comfort. Blankets develop a deep symbolism for all of us, giving a sense of emotional security for our entire lives. They are a universal symbol that could create a sense of unity. In and between these pictures exist a world that everyone could relate to and hopefully feel safe in.
1.
You initially were passionate about music and studied classical trumpet. Do you ever merge the two artforms into your work? Not in an obvious way. I use music to help set a tone while I’m shooting and continue listening to that same music while editing and processing. For me, many of the pieces have a soundtrack to them. So, for the Wasteland series, with its post-apocalyptic undertones, I tend to listen to a lot of Steve Reich or Aphex Twin. Terra Nullius is a bit dreamier, so bands like, Chromatics or The Japanese House help set that mood. While the music isn’t visible in the works, it’s still very present in the process. What are two of your favorite art pieces that you’ve created? My favorite works are ones that I have a deep personal connection with. The green landscape from Terra Nullius is my grandmother’s blanket. I not only have memories of the blanket, but I also photographed it near her home. That piece will be in the Newark Museum this summer in an exhibition called ReVision and Respond. My other favorite might be Steel Array from Wasteland. It’s a piece I’ve been working on for almost 5 years, and finally figured out the right way to shoot it. I had the material and loved it, but couldn’t figure out how to get the mood I wanted. The production of it ended up being a lot more involved, using fog and homemade lighting. I’m very happy with the end result. For more information about my work, visit www.sethsteven.com.
2.
1. Wasteland by Seth Bechtold 2. Terra Nullius by Seth Bechtold SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 5
Susan Ungaro
April’s Alumni of the Month Department of Communication You have a 40-year career span in publishing and in the non-profit industry. Tell us about this. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that for over four decades, I worked for just three organizations. I spent five years at McDonald’s, which helped me pay for college, and learn customer service and management skills. I also helped create and edit an employee newsletter (so I wasn’t only flipping burgers). Upon graduating, I started working at Family Circle Magazine as an editorial assistant. It was a dream job. I worked in Manhattan and had many opportunities to write stories and edit features that helped women in every aspect of their lives. I met celebrities, Presidents, First Ladies and people who made this world a better place. I often said I grew up there. My husband, Colin, and I got married, bought a house, had three children and juggled the hectic life of working parents. After spending 29 years at Family Circle, it was time to leave and take on a new challenge in my fifties. That’s when I pivoted and joined the James Beard Foundation as president. It’s a nonprofit best known for awarding the “Oscars” of the food world to chefs, restaurants and media. During my 11 years there, we increased scholarships for culinary students, started women’s leadership programs, and created television specials and cookbooks. For over a decade, I enjoyed the hospitality and delicious food of many of America’s greatest chefs. It was a career where my stomach and heart were always full.
6
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
What advice would you offer to our students pursuing a degree in Communication? I once read that the 10 most powerful two-letter words are “If it is to be, it is up to me.” To succeed in the world of media and the arts, you can’t be shy about communicating your ambitions and needs. I look back at the mentoring relationships I cultivated with some of WP’s most inspiring professors, like Dr. Anthony Maltese and journalist Herb Jackson, as one key to success. They boosted my confidence to reach out and expand my horizons. I suggest students to never be shy about asking professors or professionals they admire for the chance to meet or zoom with them to talk about their career path. Ask for any advice they may have for you. If you make a good impression, they’ll keep you in mind if they hear of any job openings. While at WP, you not only met your husband, who is also the president of COAC’s Advisory Board, but you also worked at the university’s radio station and newspaper. How has attending WP impacted your career path? There’s no doubt in my mind that WP’s proximity to New York City was a big plus. The opportunity to meet guest lecturers from news, magazines and media companies was positively exciting as a student. Now, whenever I interview a recent college grad, one of the most important factors I look for is the extracurricular activities or internships they pursued during their years in college. So, never underestimate the power of working on your college newspaper, radio station or other communication clubs. Your college years are definitely the time to discover your passions.
David Kerzner
April’s Faculty of the Month Department of Music You’ve ushered in numerous academic programs at WP. Tell us about some of your favorite programs that you’ve created at the university. I was originally hired to create a 4-year audio studies program within the music department. When I arrived, the recording facilities were quite modest and in no way modeled the professional audio industry. My first charge was to create a proposal which included a full curriculum and plans for constructing professional-level studios. With assistance from a wide range of staff and faculty, a significant construction project was launched along with a large outlay of funding for rather expensive equipment. With that, the Sound Engineering Arts (SEA) program was launched. The SEA program has turned out a large number of audio professionals that occupy positions in nearly every area of the industry from music production, to NFL films, to TV, to audio books, to audio post production, to facility ownership, and the like. About 10 years ago, I was on a committee that created the BA in Popular Music. At the completion of that process, it became clear that while the music department considered this a great idea, no one was able to launch and coordinate the major. I saw this as a huge opportunity to expand the offerings of the music department and, as an extension, the university. A very different sort of music major was now welcomed into a rather traditional musical environment.
The result has been a large range of new courses that focus on songwriting, entrepreneurship, laptop-based production, and popular music performance. This has made the department rather complete in its offerings and musical diversity. What led you to pursue an audio engineering career? As a high school senior, I visited college campuses for audition purposes and took the requisite campus tours. As the group walked through the music building at SUNY Fredonia, I found myself standing in a recording studio. I had experimented with recording and sound in my home but had no knowledge of any academic programs in this field. That moment launched my career as both an audio professional and as an educator. Some of your students have won Grammys and Emmys. How does it feel to see your former students obtain this level of success? I have had and continue to have the distinct honor and great fortune of teaching a select group of individuals who are smart enough to concurrently live in the music practice room and the physics lab while simultaneously dedicating time to their passion for audio. I live a truly blessed academic life. When I learn of one of these graduates earning this sort of accolade, I am so very pleased for them that their hard work and tenacity finally paid off. I’m also thrilled to have bragging rights.
SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 7
Hershell Williams
May’s Student of the Month Department of Art What have you learned about yourself while attending William Paterson University? I learned that I have the ability to take on several tasks and not only weather the storm, but also stand out while doing so. I’m extremely proud of all of the things I’ve done while attending William Paterson University. You’re the recipient of The Kraus Family Scholarship. How were you impacted by receiving this scholarship?
Julianne Kearns
April’s Student of the Month Department of Communication How has attending William Paterson University impacted your field of study? When I started at the university, my initial major was Communication Disorders. I knew deep down that this was not the right path for me, but I wasn’t sure what major I wanted to pursue. After speaking to some PR students and professors such as Professor Lorra Brown, I knew that I wanted to pursue Public Relations. I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of incredible opportunities through the program and I’ve met so many people who have helped me along the way. What advice would you offer to students interested in pursuing a career in Public Relations?
“DON’T BE AFRAID to PUT YOURSELF out there and take ADVANTAGE of every OPPORTUNITY you can get.” Making it in the Public Relations world has a lot to do with connections and experience. Get an internship, network whenever possible, and look for ways to improve your skills on and off campus. What are your future plans? I’ve been considering different graduate school programs, possibly in either marketing or digital marketing. I would love to work in New York or do PR for Disney parks.
8
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
I’m incredibly thankful for the Kraus Family Scholarship. It was tremendously helpful. While attending WP, I was a student athlete, who also worked two jobs. You can imagine how much stress I was under. I cannot express how much this scholarship eased my stress levels; it allowed me to breathe, knowing I would be able to pay for school. What are your future plans? I will produce animations and build a fan base. My goal is to show diversity and the importance of inclusion. I’ve always felt anime hasn’t been culturally diverse; so, I have taken on the task of providing examples of art that depict characters of color. I also want to produce films and start my own animation studio.
Lorra Brown
May’s Faculty of the Month Department of Communication What advice would you offer to students pursuing a career in Public Relations? It is so important to be versatile and intellectually curious. The career is ever-evolving, so students must stay nimble and keep abreast of changes in social media and digital technologies. They should keep their writing skills sharp and believe in their ability to solve problems. The best public relations professionals are able to think both strategically and creatively to help businesses understand the needs and perspectives of key stakeholders and audiences. Much of public relations is problem-solving and identifying creative ways to influence and advocate on behalf of their clients. Please expound on the importance of students obtaining internships. In public relations, internships are essential. In fact, most companies won’t hire a graduate if they have not interned. Gaining real-world experience before entering the job market is required in our industry. The good news is many public relations and social media internships are now paid and we have numerous yearround opportunities for our students. Internships are also a great way for students to test the waters to determine if they are better suited for a small firm or global agency environment. Many interns are offered full-time employment upon graduation from their internship site. Are there any projects that you’re working on? The pandemic has forced everyone to adapt. As the advisor to the Student Public Relations Association, I have led annual career and internship fairs, alumni networking mixers and New York City field trips. Being virtual has forced us to work on creative ways to help our students access professional and alumni networking opportunities. We’ve done this through Zoom workshops, one-on-one mentoring and a revision of remote internship standards for our students. I also publish a weekly COMM INTERN newsletter sharing insights, tips, opportunities and resources with our students and I also publish my PR109 website: www. pr109.com which features career articles, exclusive internship listings, alumni news, resume samples and industry resources.
SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 9
Diana Jean Puglisi May’s Alumni of the Month Department of Art
Your work is on view in the university’s Gallery exhibition, Fertile Ground. Tell us about your piece and how it feels to be an alumna showcasing your work at your alma mater? It’s an honor to be in an exhibition celebrating the retirement of Professor Elaine Lorenz and in the company of so many amazing fellow artist alumni. I am appreciative of the opportunity to exhibit and for all that William Paterson University has done to support me throughout my career. In my work, I dissect known forms associated with women’s work and/or sewing, such as thimbles, sewing pins, lint rollers, dresses, and in this case, the pincushion, to try to understand it thoroughly and in a context different from its original. Pin cushions are objects that hold waiting-to-be-used pins and sewing needles with your occasional static-adhered thread, but what happens when they evolve and the cushion becomes a home for these objects? I create playful scenarios and question how the arrangement and interaction of materials and forms anthropomorphizes them. Underlying stories and histories of an object's strangeness, even objects that we consider common, pique my curiosity. What are some of your favorite pieces that you’ve created? I created a work called “approach the amber flits” that was in my MFA thesis exhibition and a series of “White Slips” in 2016 @massartboston. I think that work continues to influence my practice, but I am not sure if I have a favorite. I am really digging the playfulness of the thimble and pincushion works at the moment. For me the new work I am creating is usually what I am attached to. How has attending William Paterson University impacted your art? William Paterson University gave me the openness to explore my artistic path and I am grateful to all the faculty that I have stayed in touch with over the years who have become mentors and friends. If it wasn’t for my full-tuition scholarship and other financial support I am not sure I would have been able to continue onto my graduate studies.
10
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
Thimble Sculptures & Pincushion by Diana Jean Puglisi
Thomas Paster with the WP Pop Ensemble
Thomas Paster
May’s Adjunct of the Month Department of Music
Thomas Paster performing
You’re a composer, arranger and ensemble coach. What do you enjoy the most? I enjoy all aspects of what I do, but I think the most rewarding has to be hearing a group, whether it’s a group I direct or not, just crushing one of my arrangements/compositions. There’s a great sense of satisfaction watching a group of students find joy and success in something I’ve created. The great thing about writing for any kind of musical ensemble is that, while you may write it alone, it takes a group of people to turn it into music. Having your solitary writing project be turned into a piece of music by a group of talented musicians is absolutely thrilling! What advice would you provide to our students majoring in Music? Music, be it performance or education (for most musicians it’s both), is a difficult field to enter because jobs are scarce and competition is fierce. I would tell students majoring in music to be as prepared as they possibly can. I often tell students that “you never know when an opportunity is going to come and when it does, it certainly won’t wait for anyone to get ready, it’ll just find someone who’s already prepared.” Make sure that someone is you! When one of my high school students tells me they want to major in music, I try to talk them out of it. If they can be talked out of it, then they weren’t passionate enough about it to begin with and they probably shouldn’t do it. If they can’t be talked out of it, then at least, they have the fire to make a go of it. As the old saying goes, “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Tell us about the projects that you’re working on? With the current pandemic, performances have gone from in person to all virtual. If you have to be stuck at home, you might as well learn something, and I have learned a lot about audio production during this time. It has helped me engineer the many virtual performances I’ve had to put out in the last year and it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience. You can watch one of the WP Pop Vocal Ensembles virtual performances here: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=Bh1jcb-hmMg. When I started in music, I was learning from people twice my age. In the past year, I’ve learned a lot about audio production from people half my age and their energy and passion have revived me. While I make my living as a musician and music educator, I plan to continue to be a student for the rest of my life.
SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 11
Zhiyuan Cong
June’s Faculty of the Month Department of Art What advice would you offer to students pursuing a career in Art? A good artist must possess three abilities: artistic expression, artistic appreciation and artistic creativity. These require solid basic skills, extensive knowledge and artistic imagination. It all depends on your own interest and investment in art. What inspires your art? My inspiration comes from three sources: nature, tradition and my heart. Nature includes the natural movement and rhythm of the heavens, the earth, and human society. Tradition includes ancient times, modern times, China and the whole world. The inspiration of the self is embodied in your knowledge, thoughts and emotions. These are the sources of inspiration for my creation. For example, in my creation of Paradise, I think of the rhythm, speed, power and vitality of modern American society through Americans’ passion and love for basketball games. I thought about the connotation of contemporary religious fanaticism and life movement. I used religious symbols in ancient
12
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
Chinese murals to interpret modern American society. Chinese angels have become basketball cheerleaders, and basketball has evolved into the starry sky in the universe to express the continuous movement and vitality of human life. For more information on my work, visit www. zhiyuancong.com. What project(s) are you currently working on? I’m currently working on the following projects: • At the invitation of Zhejiang People’s Fine Arts Publishing House in China, editing and writing, The Essence Collection of Foreign Printmaking-American Volume. The aim is to introduce and promote the art and history of American printmaking to the Chinese art world. It’s planned to be published by the end of this year. • Creating a batch of prints that combine Chinese tradition and American modern elements this summer. • Continuing to strengthen the construction of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University and the Chinese Art Gallery in New York, developing art education exchange projects between Chinese and American universities, and preparing Through Time and Space: An International Symposium and Exhibition on the Silk Road and the Silk City for next fall. Cong Zhiyuan, Paradise, Color Etching, 37 x 56¼ in, 2012
Kendra Chaiken
June’s Student of the Month Department of Music What memorable piece of advice have you received from a music professor pertaining to your work? I’ve received two memorable pieces of advice from two professors. The first piece of advice that I carry with me as I enter my professional career is from Dr. Timothy Ruedeman. He always emphasized the importance of not just being an education major, but a music major as well - that even though I would be doing a million things, I should always continue to be a musician first. The second piece of advice is from Dr. James Noyes, who advised that any experience that you have whether good or bad, shapes the way you are as a person and how you perform. I’ve taken each professor’s advice with me as I use them in my daily life, as well as my teaching philosophy. What have you learned about yourself while being in the music program? I’ve learned that even though things may get challenging, there will always be a way to solve any problem. Sometimes, I felt like I was being pulled in a million directions for rehearsals, concerts, clubs, and academics. Even when I felt overwhelmed, with the connections I made with professors, peers, and other musicians, I always knew I could reach out to someone when I needed help. I learned in the music program that it’s okay to ask for help and that there is always someone who will have my back. What are your career plans after graduation?
William Paterson University’s faculty and students attended the opening ceremony of Zhiyuan Cong’s art exhibition held by the National Museum of China, Beijing, 2015.
I plan to teach and I’m open to teaching anything, but I find my love in instrumental music. I really enjoy working with high school students and I’m open to teaching elementary and middle school students, who are getting acquainted with their instruments. SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 13
Alexis Cullen-Baker
June’s Adjunct of the Month Department of Communication
What are the fundamentals of comedy writing? I tell my students to start with a topic or premise that they find funny. Then, try to connect emotions and images to the original topic. I also tell them to carry around a notebook and to truthfully observe the things that go on around them. I urge them to use situations in their own lives to create funny anecdotes. A lot of times, students bring in stories about their families, friends, co-workers, and significant others which all make for very funny material. The audience especially loves when they can relate to the comedian and what the comedian is talking about. That is a big focus of our classes. What advice would you offer to students who are interested in taking your courses? Just go for it and come ready to laugh! What do you enjoy about teaching in the Department of Communication? My students! They are truly a wonderful, diverse, and talented group of individuals. They are always willing to take chances, work hard, and trust the process of creating comedic content. My students bring unique experiences and perspectives to every class and I find that I am often learning from them. Most of my students take several of my courses so I get to really know them and their strengths. 1. Alexis Cullen-Baker and an animal expert in Hamilton Hall’s Studio A. 2. Alexis Cullen-Baker performing stand-up comedy in NYC.
1.
2.
“JUST GO FOR IT AND COME READY TO LAUGH!” 14
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
Miles Franco
June’s Alumni of the Month Department of Music You released an album entitled, Long Overdue. Tell us about the album and how you came up with the album’s title? Long Overdue was my first distributed instrumental solo project. I’ve been producing for a number of years and wanted to show everyone my capabilities as a producer hence the title. During the shutdown, I felt it was a good time to focus on putting out a project expressing myself through promotion and marketing, and getting in touch with people around the world via music during a time of isolation. There are many talented musicians and producers, especially at William Paterson University, and it is awesome to be able to learn from and collaborate with other artists and producers. Long Overdue is available on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3mv5cfe. What is your favorite track on your album and what musical artists inspire you? My favorite track is Grover. It’s a perfect track for any situation and encapsulates my style as a producer - a deep R&B/jazz feel with dancing hi-hats, deep bass, and a goosebump worthy outro. I grew up with a lot of R&B, hip-hop and jazz on a daily basis. Artists and bands such as Prince, Miles Davis, Grover Washington, Jr., Heavy D, The Isley Brothers, Morris Day & The Time, The Gap Band, Outkast, UGK, and Mint Condition come to mind. In terms of production, I think Timbaland, Pharell and Jermaine Dupri influenced me the most. They were always breaking the mold and showing everyone that it was cool to be different. My parents were also a huge influence on me musically as they are both jazz musicians and have always encouraged my musical endeavors. What advice would you give to students pursuing a career in music? Internships are a great way to find what you enjoy doing and what you are great at. I didn’t know coming into the MBA program that I would become a numbers guy, but as I experienced different areas of the industry, I realized how important it is for the company’s operations to be involved in the financial area of the business. The industry can be tough, and you must be able to roll with the punches, but the rewards outweigh those challenges. Set yourself up to be able to experience as much as possible in class and in the field, be kind to people, keep in contact with everyone you meet and get out there and network!
Mile Franco’s album cover, Long Overdue SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 15
16
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
A VIEW THROUGH “The Process MY LENS: of Art” By: Megan Martinelli
Junior, Department of Art Student and COAC Office of the Dean Photography Intern
I
most cases, when looking at artwork, viewers only see an artist’s finished piece. I believe the process that goes into creating is equally as important as the finished product. As a result, I photographed the duration of Maeve Klepper, a sophomore majoring in Fine Art. She is pictured painting a three weeklong still-life that is entitled: Full Color Still-Life.
SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 17
ORPHEUS
IN THE
UNDERWORLD By: Dr. Christopher Herbert
Assistant Professor of Music, Vocal Area Coordinator In Spring 2021, the Music Department produced Jacques Offenbach’s satirical operetta ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD, performed in English with a translation by Nathaniel Merchant and me. The story takes the traditional Orpheus myth, and then turns it on its head, finishing with the famous can-can. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, performances took place outdoors on Shea Plaza on April 21, 23, and 25. Eighteen students were cast in the production, which included staging by myself, musical direction by Charity Wicks, costumes by Rashidah Nelson, lighting design by Ed Matthews, set design by Al Schaefer, sound design by Cooper Davis, and stage management by Shari Selke. These performances were made possible by the Ruth Siverman-Rosenbloom and Victor H. Rosenbloom Foundation.
18
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
Photo Credits: Megan Martinelli and Jess Talos
SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 19
College-Wide News: Keith Obadike, Department of Communication professor, (and partner Mendi Obadike) premiered a 14-minute music and video work entitled Lift, which mixes original music, drone footage, and archival aerial film. It’s based on the 100-year-old African-American national anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing. The piece was commissioned and screened by the Yale Center for Collaborative Arts and Media and Artspace New Haven. WPSC Brave New Radio and WPTV won several awards at the recent 81st annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) awards virtual ceremony. This is the third IBS award for WP Sports Desk, a weekly half-hour studentproduced sports talk show on WPTV that includes the following producers: Stephen Bologna, NCAA football; Joe Paolantonio, WP Sports; Dante Vocaturo ‘20, former host and coordinating producer; and Justin Valentovic, NFL. WPTV also won the Best Video Comedy Program award for its show, The Fake News Network, Switzerland Takes a Stand! episode. A satire news series, the show features Jonah Arnault, head writer; Enrico Cruz, graphics designer; Regan McClure, casting director; Spencer Roda ‘20, former executive producer; and Skye Gugliuzza, social media director. Al Clarke, WPTV studio manager and adjunct professor, is the advisor for the television station that also won awards for Best Student Station Manager, Shaffer Johnston, and Best Social Media Director, John Conlow. Other IBS awards went to William Paterson’s radio station WPSC for Best Specialty Music Show produced by Tiernan Doyle, student. Department of Communication faculty member, Professor Birge, was quoted in a www.northjersey.com article entitled, Does social media unleash our worst impulses? To read the article, click the link: https://njersy.co/3gO1jBl. In celebration of his 1000th show, G-Man, host of Rewind to Now on Brave New Radio, led a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the radio station, a scholarship and for the WP Office of Veterans and Military Affairs. A total of $3,662 was raised with $2,382 designated for the radio station, $825 for a scholarship, and $455 for the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs. Department of Music faculty member, Dr. Payton MacDonald’s, Explorations is a series exploring the sonic expression mainly centered around marimba, with collaborations and solo recordings – some of which are from Department of Music students and alumni. The link to the video’s first track is here: https://youtu.be/iau5QSH8qwo
20
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
and for more information about his project, visit www. explorations.bandcamp.com. Department of Music faculty member, Dr. Christopher Herbert, released another album with New York Polyphony on BIS Records. The album, entitled AND THE SUN DARKENED, features Renaissance motets alongside modern compositions by Cyrillus Kreek and Andrew Smith. To listen to a track, click the link: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=pic1b2VEtgk. Dante Portella, Department of Music adjunct professor and IRT employee, audio engineered the Grammy nominated project, Carthage, composed by James Primosch and performed by The Crossing with Donald Nally as conductor. The project was nominated in the Best Choral Performance, Classical category. Sal Montero ('23), Music Education - Voice student, placed second in the New Jersey NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) competition. To hear one of his performances: click the link: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=AMm_xrsjsmM. Department of Music alumnus ('14), Nate Alexander, composed and produced music for the Disney film Clouds. After graduating from WP, he earned a M.M. in Screen Scoring from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. Robert Bannon, WP alumnus ('08) is releasing an album, entitled Unfinished Business on July 2, 2021. For more information, visit his website: www.RobertBannon.com. COAC faculty, staff and students pivoted from inperson to virtual during the middle of the 2020 Spring semester. Click on the video, which shows how COAC faculty, staff and students pioneered through COVID-19 and continued to educate, engage and entertain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJq6GMZzbOo.
SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 21
Upcoming Events: Summer Jazz Concerts: Monday, July 19, 2021: The Dave Stryker Organ Quartet Tuesday, July 20, 2021: The AVQ (John Allred with Warren Vaché) Wednesday, July 21, 2021: The Samara Joy Quartet Thursday, July 22, 2021: Frank Lacy’s Tromboniverse Friday, July 23, 2021: The Sylvia Cuenca Group For additional information, visit: www.wppresents.com. Summer Courses: https://www.wpunj.edu/summersession/ Performing Arts: https://www.wpunj.edu/wppresents/
22
SPRING 2021 SPOTLIGHT
College of the Arts & Communication Office of the Dean: Loretta Mc Laughlin Vignier, Interim Dean Dr. Lauren Fowler-Calisto, Dean’s Fellow & Assistant to the Dean & Associate Professor, Department of Music Lavene Gass, Marketing & Community Liaison Amy Nemery, Executive Staff Assistant Rosario Urena, Administrative Staff Assistant Kaeli Brady, Intern: Graphic Designer Tekoa Cridell, Intern: Graphic Designer Megan Martinelli, Intern: Photographer John Conlow, Intern: Videographer Julianne Kearns, Intern: Social Media
Interviews & Edits by: Lavene Gass Layout Design by: Kaeli Brady To submit news, email Lavene Gass at gassl1@wpunj.edu.
SPOTLIGHT SPRING 2021 23
Follow Us on Social Media:
@wpacnj
@wpucoac
@wpacnj
@wpacnj