IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the archived stories for Belmont News & Achievements prior to June 26, 2023. To see current stories, click here.

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Carei Awarded 2020 Dr. Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary Scholarship

Nicole Jones
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Carei Awarded 2020 Dr. Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary Scholarship

Braden Carei, a graduate student of Audio Engineering and track student-athlete, was selected as the the recipient of the 2020 Dr. Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary Scholarship, a grant that was established in 2018 in honor of Genelec’s late founder Dr. Ilpo Martikainen.

Genelec offers this scholarship in association with the Audio Engineering Society Education Foundation to students who have a passion of advancing audio through innovation and technology development.

Carei told Genelec, “To receive a scholarship that is in memory of such an influential pioneer in audio technology is an honor that many people would dream of. For this upcoming year, this scholarship will give me the opportunity to focus on my final year of education in the field of audio, which will prepare me for my entrance into the professional audio world, where hopefully I can live up to the name of the scholarship and help to advance the field of audio, just as Ilpo Martikainen did with his time in the field.”

Now in his second year of Belmont’s Masters of Audio Engineering program, Carei also studied both audio engineering and computer science at Belmont for his undergrad. He worked closely under the direction of advisor Dr. Eric Tarr to develop a cochlear implant and hearing-aid simulator that runs in real time in a digital audio workstation. The project was later reconstructed as an iOS application, and Carei and Tarr presented this project at IHCON and the Midwest Conference on Cochlear Implants.

Another project of note is Carei’s website created with Dr. Scott Hawley to classify audio samples. In his first year of graduate research, Carei ran a study to find whether or not germanium transistors have a perceptual sonic difference when compared to a silicon transistor. He noted to Genelec, “Utilizing guitar pedals with these transistors, it was found that the there was a perceptual difference at low distortion levels and that there was no preference difference between the tones of the circuits.”

Carei and Tarr recently collaborated to develop tutorials for the Unreal Engine gaming architecture protocol, a project funded by video game developer Epic Games. The tutorials will focus on video game audio and audio processing within the engine.

Carei told Genelec that his future goal is to be an Audio Digital Signal Processing Engineer. “My degrees in both computer science and audio engineering will help me in this field,” he said. “I would like to help an organization make sure that the most recent deployments of software are running as efficiently as possible.”

Read more here.

TEDxNashville Event ‘We the People’ Presents Various Speakers for Belmont’s Presidential Debate Programming

Emma dela Pena
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TEDxNashville Event ‘We the People’ Presents Various Speakers for Belmont’s Presidential Debate Programming

In collaboration with TEDxNashville, Belmont University’s Executive Learning Network sponsored an event on September 17 that discussed what it means to be “We the People” ahead of hosting the third and final presidential debate on Belmont’s campus in October.

Hosted by Senior Partner with Southwestern ConsultingTM Emmie Brown, each guest speaker shared personal anecdotes and imparted wisdom onto the next generation of leaders. Nashville Youth Poet Alora Young kicked off the event with a reading that set the tone for a hopeful future as she presented the opportunity to change the world despite being in the midst of hard times. 

The first speaker of the night was David Plazas, opinion and engagement director with USA Today and The Tennessean, sharing advice on initiating adult conversations. With an election right around the corner, he spoke on the importance of civil discourse now more than ever. Plazas challenged the audience to ask themselves what civility means to them and to consider their responsibility as citizens. Encouraging qualities of mutual respect and open-mindedness, he stated that public disagreement occurs if we limit our perspective in each conversation.

Blake Simpson and Alora Young at TEDxNashville at Belmont University.
Blake Simpson and Alora Young at TEDxNashville at Belmont University.

Lebanese American host and creator of the popular syndicated radio program “Radiolab,” Jad Abumrad is also the creator of the podcast “Dolly Parton’s America.” His TED talk “How Dolly Parton Led Me to an Epiphany” was shared during the event, which ventures into his reasoning behind interviewing Dolly Parton, as the demographic of her fans is a diverse and accepting community of people. However, much of Parton’s music emphasizes her love for the state of Tennessee which does not always share the same diversity as her fans. Abumrad interviewed Parton 12 times to further understand this paradox between her fans and her music. 

Other speakers included Blake Simpson, Under Armour’s Senior Vice President of Communication, Philanthropy and Events, presenting on the dangers of media misinformation and the power of choice with “The Role of Media in Politics” and Titus Kaphur with “Using Art to Bridge the Gap.” Kaphur reflected on his artistic evolution and explained the timeline of his career — from “The Jerome Project,” which draws on religious icons to examine the US criminal justice system, to “From a Tropical Space,” a haunting body of work that centers around Black mothers whose children have disappeared. Kaphar also shared the idea behind NXTHVN, an arts incubator and community for young people in his hometown.

Titus Kaphur presents "Using Art to Bridge the Gap" at TEDxNashville at Belmont University

The night ended with Grammy and Globe-nominated songwriter Tom Douglas, who spoke on the power of rehearsing your history. Douglas has been nominated for multiple singles, including “I Run to You” by Lady Antebellum and “The House that Built Me” by Miranda Lambert. Douglas shared how rehearsing his own history helped him to recognize where his ambition roots from. He shared, “we live in a culture that tries to dismantle us,” yet expressed the importance of confronting your past to heal. Douglas left the audience with many wise thoughts including “if you don’t know where you have been, you’re not going to know where you’re going.” 

As the University moves towards hosting the presidential debate, the TEDxNashville event re-emphasized the debate theme of “Ideas of America,” as the event not only discussed relevant issues, but also challenged the audience to continue the conversation after the evening ended to work toward being better citizens.

Members of the Belmont community can still access the event video through their MyBelmont account.

About TEDx

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

Belmont Alumnus Awarded West Tennessee Teacher of the Year

Emma dela Pena
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Belmont Alumnus Awarded West Tennessee Teacher of the Year

Daniel Warner, College of Theology and Christian Ministry alumnus, was named the West Tennessee Teacher of the year by the State Department of Education after considering eight other finalists. Warner teaches history at East High School in the Shelby County School system.

Warner also received the New Memphis Educator of Excellence Award and a James Madison Fellowship, which is given to secondary school history teachers.

Warner graduated in 2013 with his degree in Religion and the Arts. Recently, he was awarded a distinguished fellowship to work towards a master’s degree. Read the full story in the Daily Memphian.

Alumni Band Moon Taxi Joins Exclusive Conversation with Belmont Students

Emma dela Pena
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Alumni Band Moon Taxi Joins Exclusive Conversation with Belmont Students

Belmont graduates and current members of indie alternative rock band Moon Taxi virtually sat down for an exclusive conversation with current students at Belmont University to give advice on the music industry ahead of their performance at the University’s “Rock the Vote” event to celebrate National Voter Registration Day on September 22. 

The five-piece band consists of Trevor Terndrup, Tommy Putnam, Spencer Thomson, Tyler Ritter and Wes Bailey who shared how Belmont has encouraged and provided the band with many opportunities since their freshman year.

The band originally met on the steps of Belmont’s Maddox residence hall and have been playing music together ever since. Bailey, the keyboard player, was the last to join the band after playing a set at the Curb Cafe on campus. Early on, Moon Taxi started to gain a following through Belmont’s showcase series where they received the opportunity to play at the Ryman through the University’s Best of the Best showcase. 

When asked about advice on personal branding, the band mates shared that the best way to do it is to “play a ton and promote every show like it’s the last show you’re ever going to do.” The band started as their own businessmen and encouraged future musicians to take the initiative to do so. Putnam, bassist, shared that as an emerging artist, “you have to wear all the hats, manage yourself, promote yourself and book yourself. Then, one at a time, each one of those hats will come off and those responsibilities will start to go to someone else.” 

The band also shared how their songwriting process has evolved throughout the years. In their past couple of albums, the band has tried to progress simultaneously with music and technology while still maintaining their authentic sound. 

Moon Taxi has been presented with many opportunities such as traveling to Los Angeles, California and working with other talented musicians there. When it comes to touring, the band shared the excitement that comes from being on the road. Terndrup shared that being on the road is an incredible opportunity, but “you have to have leather hard skin.” Putnam added, “More excitement and connection with your fans is something you can’t replace.”

However, being a part of the music business means being prepared for both touring and recording. Luckily, for Moon Taxi, these are two components the band seems to thoroughly enjoy as the band cherishes their opportunities of recording and connecting with their fans. Moon Taxi imparted wisdom onto the future generations of musicians to be persistent in the work that they do. It’s important to “stick with it and figure out problems as they come up,” they explained.

Belmont University Presents Extended, Virtual Diversity in Entertainment Symposium September 23, 25

Haley Charlton
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Belmont University Presents Extended, Virtual Diversity in Entertainment Symposium September 23, 25

After a successful first year, Belmont University’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business is bringing its “Minding the Gap” Diversity in Entertainment Industry symposium back this year with a more extensive lineup of events, speakers and panelists on September 23 and 25. With the goal to heighten awareness of gaps in diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, the symposium will offer a series of virtual, open-to-the-public panel presentations to examine gaps in the industry, both artistically and in terms of executive decision-making, in order to create a solution-oriented dialogue.

Organized by Dr. Cheryl Carr, associate dean of the Curb College and frequent author and speaker on issues of diversity and inclusion in the entertainment business, the event promises open conversation about topics timely in Nashville’s entertainment scene and beyond. Carr said, “As an academic institution, our mission is to investigate and understand what’s happening now, with a view to shaping the future. Not because a topic is popular, but because it matters. And inclusive excellence is important for the entertainment industry. I believe this Symposium is an idea whose time has come. Anyone who is interested in being part of a forward-thinking and balanced discussion is invited to join us.”

“Minding the Gap: A Diversity in Entertainment Industry Symposium” is part of Belmont University’s sixth annual Diversity Week, a lineup of virtual events designed for members of the community to engage in meaningful conversations surrounding diversity, inclusion, privilege, cultural humility and more. 

The schedule for the “Minding the Gap: A Diversity in Entertainment Symposium” can be found below. All events are virtual and open to the public, but registration is required for some of the events. Please visit Belmont University’s Diversity Week website to register for events or use the hyperlinks below.

Wednesday, September 23

12 – 1 p.m.: Educator’s Forum: Teaching the Next Generation about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice in the Entertainment Industry

This session invites faculty to hear research presentations funded by the Curb College’s Diversity Research grant, and to engage in discussion about DEI pedagogies. Research presentations by Professors Amy Smith and Jodi Marr in the Curb College. Register for this event here.

3 – 4 p.m.: Should I Change My Name? Artist Names in an Era of Racial Unrest

Moderator: Dr. Cheryl Carr, Belmont, Curb College. Simon Tam is an author, musician, activist and self-proclaimed troublemaker. Best known as the founder and bassist of The Slants, the world’s first and only all-Asian American dance rock band. In 2017, he won a landmark case at the U.S Supreme Court, unanimously, helping to expand civil liberties for marginalized groups. His work has been highlighted in more than 3,000 media features across over 150 countries, including Rolling Stone, TIME, NPR, BBC and the New York Times. This discussion with Tam will provide an introduction to the Supreme Court case and examine just how controversial a band name can be, and why it matters. Event Access: Watch Here

Friday, September 25

9 – 9:50 a.m.: Black Female Filmmakers: The Power of Film to Create Empathy

Black women in film have unique stories to tell, and ways to tell them. These panelists discuss their experiences and expertise. Moderator: Dr. Amy Bertram, Belmont, Curb College. Event Access: Watch Here. Panelists include:

  • Roxane Pajoul, assistant professor of French at Tennessee State University, a Historically Black University. Her scholarly interests surround Taboo Topics (the perception of non-heteronormative sexualities in the Francophone Caribbean, mixed-race couples and race relations in France); Women and Gender Studies, particularly the representation of women in the media; and research interests pertaining to Black France.
  • Kayla Young, researcher, The Kelly Clarkson Show and alumna of Belmont University’s Motion Pictures program

10 – 10:50 a.m.: The Foundation: African American Recordings from Nashville: 1946-1970

This seminar provides a look inside the rich world of Nashville’s history of African American music and tells a little-known story as chronicled and told by Belmont Professor of Music Business Dr. Don Cusic, music historian, composer and author of more than 30 books on American music. Event Access: Watch Here

11 – 11:50 a.m.: The Black Music Action Coalition: Moving Toward Diversity and Advancement for Blacks in Entertainment

Moderator: Professor Eric Holt, Belmont, Curb College. Explore the status of trailblazing initiatives by the Black Music Action Coalition and other related industry groups to encourage diversity in entertainment and to create awareness of the disparities and possible solutions associated with minority representation, management and ownership in the entertainment industry. Event Access: Watch Here

12 – 1 p.m.: One Vote Won: Opera Watch & Talk-Back

As Belmont University prepares to host the 2020 Presidential debate, watch this opera world premiere about an African American’s woman’s story of voting. Produced by the Nashville Opera Company, composed by Dave Ragland and directed by John Hoomes, artistic director of the Nashville Opera. The streamed opera runs 35 minutes, followed by a live talk-back discussion with Ragland, librettist Mary McCallum and Hoomes. Event Access: Register Here

1 – 2 p.m.: The Role of Faith and Racial Justice in the Entertainment Industry

Join E.J. Gaines, co-executive director of Motown Gospel and vice president of marketing at Capitol Christian Music Group, Stellar Award Winner Janice Gaines, gospel recording artist, and Michelle Duffie, D3 Entertainment Group, as they discuss the intersection of faith and racial justice in the entertainment industry. Event Access: Watch Here

7 – 8:30 p.m.: The Value of the Vote: Pressing for Freedom

This program will start with a special presentation from C-Span entitled “Make Up Your Own Mind” highlighting how the non-partisan organization is a window into Washington. Afterward, a panel of distinguished journalists will address some of the most pressing issues surrounding the Election, voter suppression, fake news and more. This session is offered in partnership with the Nashville chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Moderator: Marissa Avnaim, Belmont, Senior Journalism major. Panelists:

  • Ameshia Cross, Producer & Host, “Cross Point” Sinclair Broadcast Group
  • Dwight Lewis, Retired Veteran Gannett Tennessean Columnist

Register for this event here.

Amundson Appointed Member of the Metro Historical Commission

Nicole Jones
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Amundson Appointed Member of the Metro Historical Commission

Dean of the O’More College of Architecture and Design Jhennifer Amundson was recently appointed as a new member of the Metro Historical Commission.

The Metro Historical Commission works to preserve, protect and document the history, historic places, buildings and neighborhoods of Davidson County through education, technical assistance and advocacy.

Bursch Named Honoree for Arthritis Foundation Bone Bash

Haley Charlton
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Bursch Named Honoree for Arthritis Foundation Bone Bash

Gail Bursch, PT, MSEd, CWS, FACCWS, has been a physical therapist for 42 years and joined Belmont University’s School of Physical Therapy as Director of Clinical Education in 1997. Bursch has served on the TN Board of the Arthritis Foundation since 2003 and was named the adult honoree for this year’s virtual Bone Bash Event on October 29.

Serving as Administrative Director of Rehabilitation Services for Centennial Medical Center in Nashville from 1984 through 1995, Bursch led 90 multidisciplinary employees, developed community rehabilitation programs and established a 20-bed inpatient Rehabilitation Center. Her clinical focus is wound management, attaining national board certification as a Certified Wound Specialist in 2009.

Bursch served as vice president of the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) for six years and as chair of the Nashville District for twelve years. Since 2004, she has been a national Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program Trainer for the American Physical Therapy Association and is currently the chair of the Tennessee Clinical Education Consortium.

OT Student Wins Scholarship from the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Foundation

Emma dela Pena
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OT Student Wins Scholarship from the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Foundation

Belmont University School of Occupational Therapy student Rebecca Denton recently won the Scholarship of Distinction Award from The Tennessee Occupational Therapy Foundation.

She earned the award and scholarship by maintaining a GPA of 3.97 in the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program while serving in the community with the Leah Rose Residence for Senior Citizens and Dismas House. In addition, she serves on the TNOTA Student Involvement Committee.  

Anderson Receives International Fashion Design Scholarship

Nicole Jones
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Anderson Receives International Fashion Design Scholarship

Belmont fashion design junior Marian Anderson was recently selected as the recipient of Regent’s University London Will Conard Scholarship for Fashion Design. This scholarship enables Anderson to study abroad in one of the fashion capitals of the world for the Spring 2021 semester. She will also be honored at the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) virtual conference in November.

“The opportunity of studying abroad will expand my life experience and world view in a way that can only enhance the scope of contributions I will be able to make to the fashion world,” said Anderson. “Living and studying internationally for the first time will also help me learn better communication skills, empathy and resilience which will translate directly into my professional development.”

Throughout this experience, Anderson hopes to gain the beneficial skills of global communication, different kinds of study and work ethic and more advanced design techniques. Anderson looks forward to this next step in pursuing her career goals to work in product development, innovating fashion in order to promote cleaner production, safer working spaces and clothing longevity, as well as continually designing custom clothing for clients.

Belmont Students Perform with Kane Brown on ‘Worldwide Beautiful’ for 55th ACM Awards

Haley Charlton
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Belmont Students Perform with Kane Brown on ‘Worldwide Beautiful’ for 55th ACM Awards

Country singer Kane Brown delivered a powerful performance at the 55th ACM Awards on September 16, 2020, with a little help from a lucky group of 12 Belmont students and alumni who provided his backup vocals. Brown and the students took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to sing Brown’s new single “Worldwide Beautiful,” which is all about racial equality.

Before the song began, Brown said, “I just want everybody to love everybody. And this is a song that I wrote for it.”

Executive Producer of Lion’s Heart Entertainment RAC Clark has produced the ACM’s for CBS since 1999, and also produced Belmont’s collaboration with Ed Sheeran for NBC’s “Elvis All-Star Tribute” that aired last February. This opportunity is a result of that excellent collaboration. Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities Dr. Jeffery Ames prepared the students musically and attended the event as their advocate and sponsor.

The singers from Belmont included current students Katie Grigsby, Cassie Henriksen, Ava Jackson, Tori Kocher, Chamberlin Little, Karis Mitchell, Wilson Smith and Grayson Thurman, as well as alumni David Cistrunk, Ally Jackson, Andriana Haygood and Tyra Thompson.

The full performance can be viewed here.

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