CONNECTIONS
from the College of Fine Arts Spring 2019 Edition
SCHEDULED TO OPEN FALL 2019
CONCERT CHOIR in
Carnegie Hall
The College of Fine Arts Concert Choir will perform for the prestigious Carnegie Hall Series in New York City on Feb. 16, 2019, at 8 p.m. In addition, the choir plans to perform in Washington, D.C. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and The Washington National Cathedral.
THEATRE SENIOR SHOWCASE
in New York
Musical Theatre BFA concentration seniors Alex Belli, Cadley Jackson, Michael Loman, BA Lovelace, Madison Johnson, Aaron Coleman and Robin Stevens are doing preliminary work for their upcoming combined school showcase in New York City in March 2019. The department is working with The Growing Studio on the showcase and the director and casting director will be Anthony Daniel.
MASTERCLASS WITH MICHAEL O’NEILL
ART IN PUBLIC SPACES
From left: Victoria Nichols, Christa Kimbrough, Kohlton Shaffer, Jo Northen, Samantha Keevan, Morgan Capps
Michael O’Neill (left) recently served as a guest artist for students interested in film and television careers. He conducted an on-camera workshop and hosted a Q&A discussion on campus to discuss the journey of his career.
DEPARTMENT Spotlight CONCERTS & PERFORMANCES The Department of Theatre presented “Stop Kiss” Oct. 4-7, directed by Marcus Lane. Dr. Lori Ardovino was guest artist/ clinician at the University of New Mexico where she premiered her newest composition, “Nattmara” for clarinet and CD. Emily Gill, associate professor of Theatre, built two specialty costumes for Red Mountain Theatre Company’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Dr. Eun-Hee Park presented a solo recital showcasing the new 7' Shigeru Kawai Piano at the Southwest Florida Music Teachers Association’s conference. She was invited to present a concert at the 41st Annual Festival of New American Music (FeNAM) as a member and pianist of the award-winning chamber ensemble, enhakē. The LeBaron Trio, Dr. Melanie Williams, soprano, Dr. Lori Ardovino,
clarinet, and Dr. Laurie Middaugh, piano, recently premiered works by composers Dr. Alan Goldspiel and Dr. Lori Ardovino at the College Music Society/National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors National Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. These works were also performed for the National Association of Composers, USA, at the University of Montevallo. The trio also performed as guest artists at Auburn University, Montgomery.
PUBLICATIONS BOOKS Dean Steve Peters, professor of Theatre, and co-author Al Romero, “DaVinci’s Children: Stories about Creativity by Arts Leaders that will Blow Your Mind.” The book will be published by the International Council of Fine Arts Deans in 2019.
JOURNAL ARTICLES Dr. Lori Ardovino, “Parley for
Tanner Young’s Art 475: Public Sculpture class has been invited to present their work in a temporary exhibition for the Sculpture Park of the Bonita Springs, Florida, “Art in Public Spaces.” The class submitted working drawings of their proposed pieces, and worked throughout the fall semester fabricating the the finished sculptures in steel. They will travel to Florida during spring break to install their work on site. This project was initiated by UM alumna, Jackie Hauserman ’64, a member of the Bonita Springs Art in Public Spaces organization.
Winds,” “Animal Anitics III” and “Eloquence IV,” Potenza Music. Dr. Ted Hoffman • “A Comparative Analysis of Influences on Choosing a Music Teaching Occupation,” Journal of Research in Music Education, coauthored by Dr. David Rickels, University of Colorado — Boulder, and Associate Dean William Fredrickson, Florida State
University.
• “How Did I End Up Here?: The Realities of Teaching Music Education at Small College and Universities,” Volume 31 of Visions of Research in Music Education. • “Practical Tips for Beginning Music Teacher Mentoring,” Maryland Music Educator, coauthored by Jennifer L. R. Greene and Christopher M. Baumgartner. Continued on page 4
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Kimberly McWhorter ’15 (BFA printmaking) resides in Athens, Georgia. As a first-generation college student, McWhorter was encouraged by the generous staff in the McNair Scholars Program to pursue her master’s degree. The connections she made at UM opened many doors for collaborations and opportunities across Alabama and beyond. McWhorter expects to receive her Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia in 2019. Miles Jenkins ’18 (B.M. vocal performance) is currently pursuing the Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville where he was awarded a full graduate assistantship. This past summer, he performed the role of Candide,
from the operetta of the same name composed by Leonard Bernstein, with the esteemed 2018 Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina. Savannah Willard “I am a communication and education intern for the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I applied for an internship at the Met in New York and got an interview for a curation internship in the Medieval department. My interest in museum work stems from a lot of time spent in museums as a kid; it was one of my favorite ways to learn because artists interpret and tell stories in ways that words cannot. My love for learning has fostered a love for teaching others, so with the help of my Communication Studies major I
INTERNSHIP NEWS • Alabama Power: Maggie Jo Benson (senior, COMS) • The White House: Mary Light (senior, COMS/POS) • Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga: Savannah Willard (senior, COMS) • 4H Foundation/Wallace State Community College: Camilla Summerford (junior, COMS) • First Avenue Ventures: Jonathan Mendoza (senior, COMS) • Disney College Program: Rhonda Warren (senior, COMS) Junior music education major, DeLee Benton, was the only collegiate member from Alabama to attend the National Collegiate Summit and Hill Day for NAfME in Washington D.C. this summer. She was included in the cover photo of the Aug./Sept. issue of Ala Breve magazine (the official publication of the Alabama Music Education Association). The summit provided training and an opportunity for students to meet with congressional representatives during Hill Day to advocate for better music education in the state of Alabama. The magazine also includes an article titled “10 Ways to Improve Your Collegiate NAfME Chapter” by Benton, who is vice president/president elect of Alabama’s state chapter of cNAfME.
want to go back to my museum roots and find ways to put those artists’ stories into words.”
Eric Poland ’06 (BFA drawing), designed the latest WBHM pint glasses and mugs for their 2018 fund drive. The design was selected with a competition. The energy and flow of information that WBHM delivers to the heart of Alabama every day was Poland’s inspiration for this design – transforming aural language into the visual language of design. In this piece, Poland is breaking down what he hears on WBHM into lines and vibrant colors that are interconnected, just as listeners feel connected to the stories they hear on the station. See more of his illustrations of Birmingham at epolandart.com.
Department Spotlight continued from page 3
AWARDS & HONORS Dr. Alan Goldspiel was inducted into Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity as a Distinguished Member-Friend of the Arts. Goldspeil also had a score he wrote, “Soldier of Mine,” selected for inclusion in the fourth volume of ABLAZE Records’ New Choral Voices series. It was chosen from a world-wide pool of seventy-three scores. Karen Graffeo received the Fellowship Award from the SECAC (Southeastern College Art Conference) for 2019. Dr. Becky Halliday was elected 2018-2020 president of the Sweet
Home Alabama Kodály Educators Chapter. Dr. Sally Bennett Hardig was elected president-elect and Dr. Raymond R. Ozley was elected executive director of the Alabama Communication Association. Dr. Jody Landers composed an original opera based on the historical book, “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men,” by James Agee in celebration of Alabama’s 200th anniversary.
Min Sun Lee was recently recognized by her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, for success in teaching, design and community service. Dr. Scott Meyer won the 2018-2019 Visual Artist Fellowship awarded by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. This is the second time Meyer has been recognized with the award. Dr. Eun-Hee Park was elected secretary for the Alabama Music Teachers Association during 2018-2020. Dr. Steve Peters, dean of the College of Fine Arts, was named Arts Patron of the Year by the Montevallo Arts Council.
Festival in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Other screenings include Lanett City Film Festival, 2018 Great Lakes International Film Festival, F-Stop Film Festival, Kingdomwood International Film Festival, Hollywood Divine International Independent Film Festival, Franklin International Independent Film Festival, Veritas Film Festival and Branson International Film Festival. Dr. Tiffany Wang was elected to an executive committee position for the Central States Communication Association (CSCA). Wang was also elected UM Faculty Senate president-elect. She will serve as Faculty Senate president for the 2019-2020 school year. Michael Willett, Lee Somers, Ryan Foster, Tanner Young and Amy Feger were invited to participate in a significant exhibition organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
GRANT RECIPIENTS Dr. Alan Goldspiel was awarded The NAMM Foundation-College Music Society Grant. Research and Creations Grant recipients 2018-2019:
• Dr. Joe Ardovino • Dr. Kelly Wacker • Dr. Eun-Hee Park • Emily Gill • Dr. Melanie Williams • Karen Graffeo
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS Brook Pruitt’s documentary, “Essie,” was accepted into an international film festival in Israel. “Essie” examines the extraordinary woodworking talents of Essie Ebrahimi, who, along with his wife Pat, retired from UM after many years of service. The film was awarded Best Cinematography, Inspire Award, Fan Favorite and Best Documentary at Christian Film
Dr. Ted Hoffman • “Influences on Academic Major and Career Selection: Implications for Student Recruitment in College and University Music Programs,” joint conference of the College Music Society (CMS), Association for Technology in Music Instruction (ATMI) and the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. • “Teacher Certification Examinations in the State of Alabama,” Alabama Music Educators Association’s 2018 fall Collegiate Summit. Dr. Eun-Hee Park, “My Favorite Chamber Music Pieces to Teach,” panelist, Conference of Alabama Music Teachers Association. Scott Stephens, print included in “Our People, Our Places, Our Collection,” Mobile Museum of Art. Michael Walker, reading of new play, “Canfield Drive,” Theatre Communications Group Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Tiffany R. Wang • “Identity at Play: Renegotiating Educational Identity in First-Generation Sibling Dyads,” National Communication Association, with others. • “Creative Pedagogy: Reflections on Successful Integration of Technology into the Basic Course” with co-panelists. Dr. Charles Wood, lecture and master classes at University of Évora in Évora, Portugal.
EXHIBITIONS/ TOURS Karen Graffeo • “Selma 1965-2018,” Cuba National Library Gallery in
Havana, Cuba.
Dr. Bruce Finklea, “Teaching with Trek,” Star Trek Las Vegas.
• “The Butterfly Effect: honoring the legacy of Gay Burke” at The University of Alabama Gallery, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Dr. Scott Meyer, “Process, Product and the Iconic: Ceramic Sculpture by Kenneth Baskin and Scott Meyer,” Springhill College’s Echoeld Gallery. “The Crucible Project,” McNeese State University’s Museum of Art. Lee Somers and Scott Stephens, collaborative print from Cahaba River Watershed Project included in the 2018 International Academic Printmakers Alliance Invitational Exhibition in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China.
INNOVATION IN TEACHING Kodály Institute (UMKI) held all three levels of Kodály certification this summer. Dr. Becky Halliday is director of the UMKI. Dr. Sally Hardig represented UM as a research fellow at the Kettering National Research Foundation in Dayton, Ohio, where she collaborated on projects related to civic engagement and community deliberation currently occurring around the U.S. Hardig returned in July to serve as a research fellow at the Kettering Professional Research Exchange in another deliberation project focusing on the national opioid crisis and ways communities might address it. Dr. Eun-Hee Park coordinated a music education event, Mr. Mozart and Musical Instruments for children ages three and four, who attend the UM Child Study Center. The program was designed for young children to explore different musical instruments and their unique sounds, to experience rhythmic movement and to learn concert etiquette.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS Over the past 10 years, 98% of COMS alumni accepted graduate school offers or landed full-time, communication-related jobs. COMS alumni currently work at the Heart Gallery Alabama (Alaynna
Pruitt ’18, B.S. COMS); APCO Employees Credit Union (Brianna Carter ’18, B.S. COMS); Bungie in Bellevue, Washington (Mollie Boynton ’18, B.S. COMS); Marshall County Economic Development Council (Brittany Davis ’17, B.S. COMS); Champion Home Exteriors (Jordan Strong ’17, B.S. COMS/ HIST); Infinity Insurance (Jeff Davidson ’17, B.S. COMS); the University of Montevallo (Ashley Dancy ’17, B.S. COMS) and Shipt (Brittany Campbell ’18, B.S. COMS). Ryan Ahrendt ’17 (B.S. COMS) is a docent at Rosa Parks Museum at Troy University. Rebecca Aparicio ’07 worked as an Assistant Director to the Tony Award winning director, Diane Paulus, on the new play “Gloria” in New York City. Zach Banks ’12 (B.M. choral music education) accepted a new position as the director of choirs at McAdory Middle School, in McCalla, Alabama. Tim Batten ’04 works frequently in film and TV in Atlanta and presented a Q&A session to theatre majors about the business side of pursuing an arts career. Marc Brenner ’97 (B.S. MC) has joined the Outtech Team at The Outdoor Wire. Brenner will be working with accounts in Tennessee, northern Mississippi and Alabama. He is a lifelong hunter, skilled outdoorsman and Certified Hunter Education Instructor for Alabama. Giselle Casadaban ’17 (B.A. COMS) earned her M.A. in Advertising and Public Relations from The University of Alabama. She is a senior associate at Markstein. Michael Cleary ’16 is in the musical “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Dollywood.
sity of Alabama and has accepted a new position as the director of choirs at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, in Trussville, Alabama. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and is also the choir director at Cahaba Heights United Methodist Church. Carl Dean ’96 became the artistic director of the Jefferson County High School Theatre Academy and was guest choreographer for “Carrie the musical.” Stephen Elkins ’08, a New York City based composer and performer presented a workshop and Q&A session for musical theatre majors. Blane Freeman ’18 (B.M. choral music education) is choir director at Dauphin Junior High School in Enterprise, Alabama. Greg Funderburg ’06 (B.S. MC) was a finalist for the “Best of the Best: TV Personality,” by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Funderburg is an anchor at NewsChannel 9 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Sarah Jenkins Hanson ’11 (B.M. instrumental music education and saxophone performance) and M.M. in Multiple Woodwind Performance (with distinction) from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (2014), currently lives in Dayton, Ohio, with her husband, Chris, and their two cats. She works for the Air Force on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Education Department as a training facilitator. She is also a pit orchestra member in Wright State University’s annual musicals. Laura Ingram-Booras ’03 (B.A. music and art) was a performer in Tulane Lyric Theatre’s production, “Bernstein at 100,” in June. Ingram-Booras is an adjunct voice instructor at Tulane University in New Orleans.
Tahauny Cleghorn ’17 was Wendy in “Peter Pan” with Birmingham Children’s Theatre. Zach Clemons ’10 appeared on the season premiere of “Dynasty” and is an Atlanta-based actor. Ben Cook ’06 (B.M. choral music education) completed a Ph.D. in Music Education from The Univer-
Maggie Jobe ’17 (BFA printmaking) showed 10 new works at Seeds Lakeview in downtown
Birmingham. Belle Prosser ’17 (BFA painting) also showed works at Seeds Lakeview. These exhibitions are in conjunction with Morii Collective, a group of Montevallo-based visual artists who use visual arts as a catalyst for culture-making and community engagement. Xavier Johnson ’17 (music) is pursuing a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance with a cognate in Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Mobile. He also performed the role of John in Menotti’s “The Consul” with the University’s MainStage Opera. Brinkley Jones ’17 (B.S. COMS) began as a State Department of Family and Protective Services Family Based service specialist in Dallas, Texas. Ashley Kelly ’08 (B.M.) joined the faculty of Tennessee Technological University’s School of Music in 2018, where she teaches saxophone performance and saxophone chamber music. Prior to joining the faculty at TTU, she served as a lecturer at the University of New Mexico. Kelly has enjoyed notable performances with the New Mexico Philharmonic, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and, most recently, the Santa Fe Opera. Carl Maguire ’08 and Brett Glass ’07 debuted their new film, “Blotholes,” at a film festival in New York City. Brent C. Mauldin ’14 (B.M. piano Performance) earned a Master of Music in Music Direction for Musical Theatre at Arizona State University and is music directing regional theatre productions nationwide. Highlights include, “The Robber Bridegroom” at Jenny Wiley Theatre (Kentucky), the world premiere of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Redemption” at Seven Angels Theatre (Connecticutt) and “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Arizona State University for which he received an AriZoni Award for Best Music Direction. Roosevelt Mendez ’16 (B.A. COMS) began as Jefferson State Community College coordinator of recruiting and student activities. Haley Myers ’16 (B.A. MC) currently works at WHNT 19.
Classical Guitarist Michael Patilla ’93 (B.M. guitar performance) was awarded a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, in 2003. Having served on the faculty of the Department of Music at Mississippi State University since 2001, he was promoted to the rank of professor in 2017. He currently resides in Starkville, Mississippi, with his wife, Sophie, son, Trevor and daughter, Alexandra. Sophia Priolo ’15 (B.A. music) received a master’s degree from the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama in London in August 2018. Over the summer, she performed in “Serious Says in Funny Ways” at the Yard Theatre, and also in “Page to Stage,” at the Arcola Theatre, London’s most award-winning Off West End Theatre Company. Priolo was recently hired as a guest lecturer (acting) for the B.A. acting course at the University of Chichester in West Sussex, England. Charlotte Quinn ’15 (B.A. COMS) is working at The Foundry as marketing manager. Jade Rice ’12 is a production assistant on a new Netflix series shooting in New Mexico. Kayla Rollins ’18 (B.M. choral music education) is director of choirs at Northridge Middle School, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Jamie Schor ’07 is the assistant marketing director at Red Mountain Theatre Company. Brad Simmons ’97 (B.M. vocal and piano performance) is a Broadway music director, composer and concert artist. He currently performs with Tony Award winners Alice Ripley and Tonya Pinkins, “Madam Secretary’s” Erich Bergen and impressionist Christina Bianco. He has five Broadway shows in development, a weekly show at Birdland Theatre, and he recently released his newest CD “The Simon & Garfunkel Collection.”
Danielle Stallworth ’17 (B.A. MC) is copy editor at The Anniston Star. Alex Tejada ’17 (B.A. MC) is a reporter on KEYC News 12 in Mankato, Minnesota. Thad Walker ’16 (B.M. instrumental music education) is the director of bands at Winston County High School, in Double Springs, Alabama. K. Bryan Ward ’89 (BME instrumental) with an M.A. — ESL/ bilingual education (2004) and a Doctor of Religious Education from Covington Seminary (2015), is an ESL specialist for the Tuscaloosa County School System. Ward lives in Moundville with his wife, Bonnie, and their three daughters. They have two granddaughters. Cameron Watson ’83 directed a revival of “The Little Foxes” in Los Angeles that is receiving glowing reviews (with UM faculty member Michael Walker working as vocal dialect coach). Cody Webb ’13 (music) enjoyed a two month run as a cast member in “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Silver Dollar City Productions in Branson, Missouri. Trey West ’10 (B.M.) accepted the position of director of music and worship at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church in Mobile. Maria Hanvy Wilson ’05 (B.M.) began a position with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra as part of their education team. Lee Wright ’03 (B.M. choral music education ), M.M.E. ’13, completed a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Georgia in the summer of 2018. Wright now serves as a visiting professor of choral music education at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. Daniel Yates ’18 (B.M. choral music education) is minister of music at First Baptist Church in Alabaster, Alabama.
100% of COMS alumni who graduated in academic year 2017-2018 accepted graduate school offers or landed full-time communication-related jobs.
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