The work of 10 Belmont students bore its fruits this summer when a track from their album of uncut songs was chosen to be recorded by 2011 “American Idol” Scotty McCreery. The song, “Out of Summertime,” is expected to be released as the second radio single from McCreery’s debut album following “I Love You This Big,” which had the highest Billboard Hot Country chart debut for a new artist’s first single since 1990.
“It feels awesome and exciting to know that we worked on this all semester and to know that a group of students can have such a great accomplishment,” said Jordan Ureckis, who graduated from Belmont in May and is now working at Sony/ATV Music Publishing. “It is kind of like a dream come true, and it makes me excited for my future song placements because I am an aspiring song plugger.”
Ureckis was among the group of then- juniors and seniors in Belmont’s music business program who spent their spring semester on BMI’s Catalog Cast working with Nashville music publishers to give uncut tracks a second chance on Music Row.The spring 2011 BMI Catalog Cast included: Jimmy Chapin, Nathan Drake, Cameron Hail, Madison Hardy, Richard Patci, Dan Storm, Colleen Taylor, Jordan Ureckis, Megan Wagner and Hailey Whitters.
On their first day, students split into five teams of two and gathered compilation CDs of uncut songs and back-catalog tracks from Music Row publishing companies. The group met every Wednesday during the spring semester to present their favorite songs to each other and narrowed more than 1,000 tracks down into a 10-track compilation album of potential hits.
“The whole goal of the Cast was one big project to make a compilation CD. For weeks we presented these songs that we thought were hits and talked about why and which singers we could see using them,” said Megan Wagner, a rising senior and aspiring publisher.
Music Business Students Choose Song for ‘American Idol’ Scotty McCreery
OT Students Present Research Findings at AOTA Meeting
Three graduating students in the doctoral program for occupational therapy presented research findings this spring at the annual conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Jessica Henry, Rebekah Cooper and Cheryl Smith (pictured left to right) joined with faculty members Dr. Yvette Hachtel and Dr. Christine Manville to present their project, entitled “Perceptions of Persons With Acquired Spinal Cord Injuries Regarding Rehabilitation Experiences”.
The study investigated the views of injured persons to determine how well their rehabilitation programs prepared them for discharge. Four themes were identified as being important considerations for rehabilitation practitioners: gaining perspective, community, honoring the individual and sensitive material.
New Director of General Education Appointed
Dr. Alison Moore, associate professor of chemistry, has been appointed director of general education at Belmont. Dr. Moore has been at Belmont since 2004 serving with distinction as a teacher, advisor, mentor to new faculty and a faculty leader. In the application process for this position she demonstrated strong understanding of the philosophical foundations and practical applications of the BELL Core. Associate Provost, Dr. Jimmy Davis said, “We express deep appreciation for Dr. Moore’s willingness to serve the Belmont community of learners in this important role.”
Dr. Moore attended Transylvania University for her undergraduate degree and received her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to her arrival at Belmont she spent two years as a post-doctoral fellow at Boston University.
Belmont Book Award Presented at ICMC
At the International Country Music Conference, held last weekend at Belmont University, the Belmont Book Award for the best book on country music was presented to Bar Biszick-Lockwood for her book, Restless Giant: The Life and Times of Jean Aberbach & Hill and Range Songs, and the Lifetime Achievement Award “for linking books and country music” was presented to Ralph Emery by Don Cusic, founder and chair of the Belmont Book Awards. Pictured, left to right, are Don Cusic, Bar Biszick-Lockwood and Ralph Emery.
Belmont Professor Published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
Andy Webster in the School of Pharmacy co-authored an article published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. The paper is titled Pharmacy Faculty Workplace Issues: Findings From the 2009-2010 Council of Deans – Council of Faculties Joint Task Force on Faculty Workforce. Many factors contribute to the vitality of an individual faculty member, a department and an entire academic organization. Some of the relationships among these factors are well understood, but many questions remain unanswered.
The authors examined the literature on faculty workforce issues. They identified and focused on 4 unique but interrelated concepts: organizational culture/climate, role of the department chair, faculty recruitment and retention, and mentoring. Among all 4 resides the need to consider issues of intergenerational, intercultural, and gender dynamics.
Al-Shamma Presents Paper at Chicago Theatre Symposium
Dr. James Al-Shamma, Department of Theatre and Dance, presented a paper at the Chicago Theatre Symposium at Columbia College in Chicago on May 19. It was titled “Sarah Ruhl’s Chicago Roots: Improvisation and Literary Adaptation.”
Belmont Professor Named Tennessee Music Teachers’ Association Composer of the Year
Mark Volker, Belmont’s coordinator of composition and a School of Music professor, was named 2011’s Tennessee Music Teachers’ Association Composer of the Year. Volker was chosen by a committee that worked with the theory-composition chairman after professors were nominated by their local associations. Following the nomination the committee receives a submission of scores, a tape and other information on the candidate.
The selection process is made on the basis of excellence by the composer and contributions to musical composition throughout Tennessee. The award includes a commission to compose a piece for the Tennessee Music Teachers’ Association convention held next summer and consideration for the national composer of the year award.
Curb College Advisory Board Member Invited to Washington, D.C. for Best-Selling Novel
Ruta Sepetys, author of New York Times best seller Between Shades of Gray and Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Advisory board member was invited on May 25 to Washington, D.C. for a reception at the Lithuanian Embassy. The reception served as a presentation, discussion and signing of her work and the associated history to the U.S. Administration, Congress, Washington think-tank members and the local Lithuanian community.
Sepetys novel, the first she has written, describes a terrifyingly honest account of the mandated Lithuanian relocation in the aftermath of the 1939 Soviet invasion. Sepetys’s heroine Lina is forced from her home at age 15 and travels north with her family to a work camp in the northernmost part of Siberia. There they are required to dig for beets and endure the cruelest conditions to live.
Lina’s only escape is her art, dangerously documenting what she sees through drawing, with the hope that her pieces will make it to her father’s prison camp to tell of her survival. The journey covers 6,500 miles but through her continued determination and passion, Lina survives.
The Lithuanian Embassy said about Sepetys novel, “Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.”
Belmont Wins Best in Show at TCPRA Conference
This past week Belmont University received six honors at the Tennessee College Public Relations Association (TCPRA) annual awards. There were 27 schools represented this year, and Belmont entered in eight categories, taking home six awards. The 2010 President’s Annual Report not only received gold in the “Report” category, but also was awarded “Best in Show” from all 228 entries in all categories.
Awards Received:
“Report” Gold and Best in Show: 2010 President’s Annual Report
“Media Success Story” Silver: Living a Better Story
“Specality Item” Silver: Christmas at Belmont
“College Magazine” Bronze: Fall Circle
“Newsletter/electronic” Bronze: Belmont FYI
“Special Publication” Bronze: The Miracle of Belmont
Education Faculty Partner with Haitian Teachers
Belmont University Education Department Chair Sally Barton-Arwood and faculty member Annette Little are in the Republic of Haiti this week training local educators to use teacher collaboration to better benefit students. Both Belmont professors Barton-Arwood and Little hold doctorates in education and are working with Haitian school directors and key staff to develop Professional Learning Communities. “Their training was very well received by Haitian school directors and key staff of their schools,” said John Engle, with Haiti Partners, a Florida-based organization that works to change the developing country by educating its youth. “Haiti Partners is thrilled to be in partnership with Belmont University.”
In Haiti, 75 percent of teachers lack adequate training, with no formal teacher training at all, according to Haiti Partners. Half of primary school age children are not enrolled in school. Click here to view a clip of Barton-Arwood and Little interacting with school-aged students and their workshop and with Haitian educators.
