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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Commercial Music Alumnus Stars in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’

Paul Chenoweth
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Alumnus Jimmy Saiz, a product of the University’s commercial music program, fills the role of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, the March production of The Center for the Arts in Murfreesboro.

“I think the thing that I like about him is that he is very complex,” he said. “He has this inner turmoil, this inner demon, that he’s really struggling with. I’m excited to try to bring that to the table.”

The musical will open on March 8, and be featured for four weekends. Shows are set for Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sundays. It will close on Easter Sunday, March 31. Click here to see video previews and interviews with the cast.

“The cast and crew have created such a powerful production that it was agreed that we should open early to give audiences more chances to see this show through the Easter season,” said Superstar producer Andrew Oppmann. “We are excited that the Center added shows to our run based on the strength of our rehearsals.”

Based on the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, the show is drawn from the Gospels’ accounts of the week leading to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

Tickets can be purchased at the Center’s box office at 110 W. College St. in Murfreesboro or by calling the Center at (615) 904-2787. Prices are $15 for adults; $13 for seniors (60 and older), students (ages 12 to 18 or with valid student ID and military; and $11 for children under 12. Group seating options and discounts are available.

 

English Faculty Present at Volunteerism, Service-Learning Conference

Paul Chenoweth
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Three faculty members from the Department of English, Jason Lovvorn, Linda Holt and Charmion Gustke, conducted an interactive workshop at the Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning, held in Franklin, Tenn. on March 4 and 5.  The title of their workshop was “This Isn’t Your Mother’s English Class: Using Service-Learning Experiences to Improve Writing in the Composition Classroom.”  The Belmont faculty members drew on their experiences as both service-learning practitioners and composition instructors and helped workshop attendees explore the integral role of reflective writing in service-learning classrooms.  In addition, the workshop addressed how service learning classes improve student writing, concertize knowledge initiate empathy, and impel important questions about social issues.

Phi Alpha Theta Tennessee Regional Conference Held at Belmont

Paul Chenoweth
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On Feb. 23, Belmont’s Xi-Alpha Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the History Honor Society, hosted the annual Tennessee Regional Conference.  Dr. Cynthia Bisson, faculty advisor to the Xi-Alpha Chapter and conference program coordinator, reported that the conference attracted 90 participants from 12 universities. The highlight of the conference was the luncheon keynote address “Going into the Belly of the Beast: The Underground Railroad and the Attack on Slavery” given by Dr. Richard Blackett, Andrew Jackson Professor of History at Vanderbilt University.

The conference also featured a best paper competition in the areas of American History and World History. Belmont Xi Alpha members, Steven Gallo and Sarah Nelson won first and second place in the American History competition while member David Suell won first place in the World History division.  Other Xi Alpha members who gave papers were Matthew Craft, Pamela D’Antonio and Ray Posada.  History Department Faculty members Dr. Douglas Bisson, Dr. Brenda Jackson Abernathy, Dr. Daniel Schafer, Dr. Peter Kuryla, Kevin Van Zant and Debi Back took part in conference as panel chairs and judges.

French Students Celebrate Poetry, Song, Food in Belmont Mansion

Paul Chenoweth
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Dr. Cheryl Brown, professor of French, organized a soirée francophone on Feb. 26 in the Belmont Mansion for Belmont French students. Professor Laure Bordas-Isner and Brown welcomed students and faculty to an evening celebration of the French-speaking world through poetry, song and food. The evening included performances of French and Québécois songs by students including traditional Québécois fiddle tunes, a song from the film Amélie played on the accordion, a song from “Massenet’s Manon,” Piaf’s La Vie en rose, et Jacques Brel’s Ne me quitte pas as well as a song by popular Québécois singer Coeur de pirate. Dr. Cynthia Cox, associate professor of English, read the moral to Perrault’s Le Petit Chaperon rouge (Little Red Riding Hood) in French, and Dr. Cynthia Bisson, instructor of history, read two of the more romantic letters that Napoléon I wrote to Joséphine.

Carter Nominated for ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award

Paul Chenoweth
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Dr. Tracey B. Carter, associate dean for academic affairs, director of academic success and assistant professor of law at Belmont University College of Law, is a 2013 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award nominee. The Nashville Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., which has 200 members, nominated Carter.

The award recognizes an emerging woman leader, between the ages of 25 and 40, who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in her business or profession. In addition to excelling at her professional life, the nominee must also provide valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and serve as a role model for young women personally and professionally. Mayor Karl Dean will present the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award during the CABLE luncheon on March 13 at the Hutton Hotel.

Carter is the former president of Women in Higher Education in Tennessee and serves as a member of that organization’s Advisory Council as well as serves as the faculty adviser to Belmont Law’s Black Law Students Association and on Belmont University’s Teaching Center Advisory Board.

 

Belmont Presents First University Performance of ‘Les Miserables’

Paul Chenoweth
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Poster for Les MiserablesWho needs Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway? Belmont’s Musical Theatre program is stepping up to the plate to take on the challenge of being the first American university to stage a performance of the Tony Award-winning musical, Les Miserables.

“Belmont is fortunate to be the first university to receive the rights to stage a production of Les Miserables,” said Marjorie Halbert, coordinator of the musical theatre program.  “Until December, rights were only available for professional theatre companies and an edited version for high schools.”

With the success of both the Broadway musical and the recent movie (starring Jackman and Hathaway), Les Miserables is the most recognized musical in the world.  Forty-three musical theatre majors will be used in the 10 performances that tell the epic story of Jean Valjean amidst the destruction and passion in 19th century France.

Senior musical theatre major and Russellville, Ala. native Tucker Hammock is tackling the lead role of Valjean. “Les Miserables has such a beautiful message of grace, second chances and forgiveness… I have to say the biggest challenge is finding ways to make the characters/ story/songs our own. Most people are familiar with Les Mis; they’ve either seen the movie, or seen the show and heard the music. Our job is to make it like the audience is watching it for the very first time.”

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Belmont Nationally Recognized for Service to Community

Paul Chenoweth
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The Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education today announced Belmont University is among the nation’s leading colleges, universities, students, faculty and staff for its commitment to bettering Nashville through service.

Belmont University was admitted to the Honor Roll with Distinction for its students’ and employees’ support of volunteering, service learning and civic engagement.

“Being recognized now on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for a third consecutive time now is very affirming of the great work that so many folks at Belmont are doing with the community. The honor recognizes not only the breadth of our work, but the depth of it, and the fact that we’ve sustained our efforts over a number of years,” said Belmont University Director of Service-Learning Tim Stewart.

A total of 690 higher education institutions were named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Belmont is among the 113 institutions that earned the recognition of Honor Roll with Distinction.

Inspired by the thousands of college students who traveled across the country to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, CNCS has administered the award since 2006.

“Communities are strengthened when we all come together, and we are encouraged that these institutions and their students have made service a priority,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a news release. “Civic engagement should be a key component of every student’s education experience. Through reaching out to meet the needs of their neighbors, these students are deepening their impact, strengthening our democracy and ultimately preparing themselves to be successful citizens.”

More information on eligibility and the full list of Honor Roll awardees, can be found at nationalservice.gov.

The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll honors the nation’s leading higher education institutions and their students, faculty and staff for their commitment to bettering their communities through service. These are institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, the Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. Through the agency’s Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Matching Program, CNCS gives education institutions access to tens of thousands of AmeriCorps alumni with millions of dollars in Segal Education Awards for tuitions and fees. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

Ranked No. 7 in the Regional Universities South category and named for the fifth consecutive year as one of the top “Up-and-Comer” universities by U.S. News & World Report, Belmont University consists of approximately 6,650 students who come from every state and 25 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The university’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs, a fact made evident in the University’s hometown, Nashville, where students served more than 60,000 hours of community service (valued at $450,000) during the last academic year. Belmont is also home to the World Cup champion Enactus team, a group of 42 student leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. With more than 80 areas of study, 23 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual’s horizon. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.

Speech and Debate Team Defends State Champions Title

Paul Chenoweth
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The Speech and Debate Team defended its state championship title when Belmont University hosted the Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics State Tournament. Eight teams participated in the competition on Feb. 16 and 17. Belmont placed first in the tournament overall for the second year in a row. Belmont students won several individual event categories, including Rhetorical Criticism and Impromptu Speaking. Their success was a product of weeks of preparation.

Each week, students meet both for individual and team practices. During the practices, varsity students returning to the team mentored novice students. Communication studies instructor and the team’s adviser Jason Stahl said the team used rehearsals and strategy to achieve its success the team

Each competition day, the team assembled in gravel lot behind Kennedy Hall and danced around a car to energize themselves for the day of competition ahead. After the dance party, students split up for their individual events before reconvening at the awards ceremony.

This year, there was even more pressure on the team to be gracious hosts while beating their competition. They succeeded in both endeavors. Following the competition, a number of universities emailed Stahl and praised the quality of the tournament, he said.

Several Speech and Debate students are preparing for the American Forensics Association National Tournament. In order to qualify for entry into the national competition, students must qualify in  a certain number of tournaments each year. This year, Belmont will send four students to the national tournament.

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Belmont Hosts Minority Caucus’ Recognition of Metro’s 50th Anniversary

Paul Chenoweth
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For the second consecutive year, Belmont hosted Metro government officials, local business owners and community leaders as part of the Metropolitan Minority Caucus anniversary celebration. This year’s program honored the 50th anniversary of Nashville-Davidson’s County’s consolidated government. More than 100 people attended the reception in the Frist Lecture Hall on Feb. 28.

“It is great to have on our campus people who have been a part of making Nashville such a great city,” said Belmont President Bob Fisher, welcoming the guests.

Harriette Bias-Insignares, the first poet laureate of Nashville, read a commemorative poem from Tennessee’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. Lois Jordan, Metro’s first African-American Councilwoman, shared stories from her election campaign and working on Metro Council with 39 men. She urged current council members to make their constituents feel important. Former Councilman Ludye Wallace, a strong advocate for Belmont’s shared use of E.S. Rose Park, also spoke on the founding of the Metropolitan Black Caucus. It was later renamed to include all minority council members.

“Thank you for paving the way so we could walk down the road more easily,” said caucus Vice President Fabian Bedne, Metro’s first Latin-American councilman.

The caucus presented special awards to current and former minority council members. Belmont junior Chelsea Stratton accepted an award on behalf of her late grandfather, James Hawkins, the first African-American councilman to be a committee chairman.

Students Featured on FOX-17 for Unique Internship Opportunity

Paul Chenoweth
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FOX-17 profiled Belmont students this week who participating in a unique, hands-on internship opportunity. In a special collaboration between the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, the School of Music and Red Light Management, student instrumentalists auditioned for the chance to be the backing band for new Big Machine Records’ artist Ella Mae Bowen.

When presented with the opportunity by Red Light Management’s Tracy Gershon, the Curb College and School of Music recognized the value of the idea for students in both areas.  CEMB Internship Coordinator Jamie L. Stamey said, “Today’s professional musicians must be equipped with knowledge of management, marketing, booking and various other aspects of touring, so we see many students focusing their studies on both the performance and business sides.  This has been an excellent opportunity for them to develop their skills in both areas.”

Four students were chosen, including junior songwriting major Bryce Cain (guitar), who is interviewed for the piece, as well as junior commercial music major with MBU emphasis Andrew Galucki (guitar), junior commercial music major with MBU emphasis Erik Coveney (bass) and senior music business major Cameron De Fur (drums). Click here to watch the story.

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