Students gain experiential education on ‘Happy Together Tour’
A class of Belmont University students have join their professor, legendary musician and The Turtles founding member Mark Volman, for an East Coast run of the “Happy Together Tour” for the third consecutive year. The tour’s “classroom” and schedule include one tour bus, a precious few hotel rooms, long hours and many stages—for two and a half weeks and a grade.
Under the guidance of Volman, assistant professor of entertainment industry studies, and staff adviser Lucas Boto, the students are working with touring artists and crew professionals in the areas of tour management, stage management, audio engineering, tour accounting and merchandise sales. These duties are in addition to their continued learning each day during the process of load-in, setup, tear-down and load-out. These hands-on educational avenues outside of the classroom provide networking opportunities with all of the supporting organizations while gaining an understanding of the revenue flow from music consumer to touring performer.
“Happy Together is a once in a lifetime opportunity where students get to learn first-hand what it’s like to be a touring professional. Not only are concepts taught, but they’re put into practice along the way,” Boto said. “I don’t know of any other university that partners with a professional tour to further the education of students in the realm of entertainment. The experiences gained are priceless and translate directly into potential job opportunities.”
Volman is excited to show students what he knows outside of the classroom, he said, and the students have added energy to the tour experience. The two previous classes have been so successful that Volman has hired two former students to work merchandise and as a photographer on the tour.
“I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to further explore my passions. Big thanks to Mark Volman for putting this together. It’s one thing to learn concepts in the classroom but having hands on experience takes it to another level,” said Erika Eenigenburg, a senior from Cedar Lake, Indiana studying music business.
Dr. Mike Pinter, director of the Teaching Center Director and professor of mathematics, has had an article published this summer in 
Dr. Manuel A. Cruz, an assistant professor in the School of Religion, explored the spiritual implications of divine absence in “The Trace of God: Difference, Time, and the Absence of God,” a paper delivered at the Annual Convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America, which took place June 5 through 8 in San Diego, California.
Dr. Douglas Murray, of the Department of English, performed twice at the biennial convention of the American Guild of Organists held in Boston, Massachusetts on June 22 through 27. He was named a semi-finalist in the National Competition for Organ Improvisation (NCOI), competed in the semi-final round on June 23 and won $2,000. He has also been invited to play in a public improvisation masterclass to be conducted by Thierry Escaich, professor of composition and improvisation at the Paris Conservatoire and and successor (at St. Etienne-du-Mont) of Maurice Durufle.
When Associate Dean for Performance Studies Jeff Kirk left campus Thursday afternoon, he drove by Compton Avenue where students handed him a crate of spinach, squash and lettuce, which his wife used to make lettuce wraps for dinner.
GRAMMY Camp® Nashville was held last week at Belmont’s 34 Music Square East facility, home to historic Columbia Studio A and the Quonset Hut, with 39 high school students from 25 cities and 12 states. Celebrating its 10th year, GRAMMY Camp is the GRAMMY Foundation’s signature music industry camp for U.S. high school students and is an interactive non-residential summer music experience focusing on all aspects of commercial music.
Belmont University’s Office of Communications and Office of University Marketing and Public Relations earned two 2014 Tennessee College Public Relations Association Awards during the association’s June meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. The University earned a gold award in the low-budget publication category for the Community Engagement brochure produced for the Office of Community Relations to share with elected officials, neighborhood associations and nonprofit organizations. In the printed magazine category, Belmont was given a silver award for Circle, a biannual magazine distributed to parents, alumni and donors. 