The Belmont University School of Music presented the 2010 Encore Award to alumni Daniel and Sharon Lawhon Tuesday night, Sept. 28. The award was created in 2008 to honor a School of Music alumnus for achievement in the field of classical music.
The Lawhons were honored for their outstanding professional contributions as classical performers, educators and clinicians. After the award presentation Sharon, soprano, and Daniel, organist, presented a joint recital in Belmont Heights Baptist Church. A 1979 graduate of Belmont, Sharon is the chair of the Voice Department of Samford University. Daniel, a 1983 graduate, is the choirmaster and organist at the Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham, Alabama and is an adjunct organ professor at Samford University.
Previous Encore Award honorees are tenors Clifton Forbis in 2008 and Daniel Weeks in 2009.
Drs. Daniel and Sharon Lawhon Receive Encore Award
Belmont to Receive 2010 Iris Award
Belmont University will receive the 2010 Iris Award from the Japan-America Society of Tennessee. The award recognizes unique contributions of a company, organization or individual to the enhancement of Japan-Tennessee relations.
Belmont’s notable contributions include hosting the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia, a seminar for Tennessee public school teachers directed by Dr. Ronnie Littlejohn, director of Asian Studies; adding a Japanese language minor and 10 new courses in various departments focusing completely or substantially on Japan; and receiving a Nippon Foundation Book Award to improve library holdings in contemporary Japan studies and making them available to the entire community.
The award will be presented on Oct. 17 as part of the 34th Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S./Japan and the Japan-U.S. Southeast Associations (SEUS/Japan) in Nashville. Gov. Phil Bredesen and Jack O. Bovender, Jr., retired chairman of HCA, will host the meeting at the Renaissance Hotel. The theme this year is “In Harmony With Tradition and Innovation,” and more than 500 corporate decision-makers and executives will participate in the business discussions, networking sessions and hospitality that have become a trademark of this annual event.
Wind Ensemble to Perform at State Conference
The Belmont University Wind Ensemble was recently invited to perform at the Tennessee Music Educators Association State Conference in April 2011. A panel of music educators reviewed competitive submissions from high school and collegiate groups across Tennessee in July and made final selections for appearances at the conference. This is a significant event for the Wind Ensemble and the School of Music as it is the first juried performance invitation of this type made to the ensemble. The convention will take place April 6-9, 2011 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. The concert is scheduled to take place on the evening of Wednesday, April 6 (time TBA) on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House. The Wind Ensemble is under the direction of Dr. Barry Kraus, director of bands in the School of Music.
Belmont University Officially Recognized as All-Steinway School
On Sept. 8, Belmont was officially recognized as an All-Steinway school. During a concert by Cliburn Silver Medalist Yeol Eum Son, the School of Music received a plaque from the Steinway Piano Company commemorating its new status.
Belmont is one of only 110 colleges, universities, conservatories or schools world-wide to have the distinction of being an All-Steinway School. Other All-Steinway representatives include Julliard and the Yale School of Music. All-Steinway Schools must demonstrate a commitment to excellence by providing their students and faculties with the best equipment possible for the study of music. As of 2008, Belmont’s highly acclaimed School of Music boasts only Steinway-designed pianos throughout campus.
Dr. Cynthia Curtis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, said, “Belmont’s goal is to provide an outstanding music education for our students, and we are always seeking the best in terms of faculty, instruction, facilities and equipment. Steinway pianos have an international reputation for being the ‘best’ quality piano for performance, teaching and practice, so Belmont’s becoming an ‘All-Steinway School’ was a natural process. We are proud of this achievement because we think it serves our students, faculty and audiences well. We are honored to accept this recognition and become a part of the Steinway family.”
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Production Features Two Belmont Connections
Two members of the Belmont University community–freshman religious studies major Christopher Dean and Margaux Granath, daughter of associate professor of art Teresa Van Hatten-Granath–have starring roles in the Tennessee Rep’s upcoming stage adaptation of the classic To Kill a Mockingbird novel by Harper Lee. Dean and Granath will play the siblings at the center of the story, Jem and Scout.
Dean said, “My Ensworth High School director, David Berry, encouraged me to audition. Neither of us thought I would land the part because of my age, but we both agreed it would be a good experience to at least audition. This is my first professional show and getting to work with the most talented actors in town is very humbling. Each day, I’m learning something new from them to help strengthen my acting on stage.”
The show runs October 2-23, and tickets are still available. Special discounts are being offered to Belmont students, faculty and staff for upcoming performances of To Kill a Mockingbird on Oct. 12, 13, 14 and 16. Click here for details on acquiring discounted tickets.
The Tennessee Repertory Theatre also offers a special Classroom InDepth opportunity for high school or college classrooms to directly interact with professional theatre. In addition to the discounted tickets, the Classroom InDepth package includes educator resource materials and either a pre-show Workshop or a post-show discussion with a member of the Tennessee Rep team. Educators may contact Tennessee Rep’s Artistic Associate, Lauren Shouse, for complete registration information and to schedule workshop dates that best serve their class.
Dickens Receives 2010 Joe and Honey Rodgers Award
Marty Dickens, chairman of Belmont’s Board of Trustees, is the recipient of the 2010 Joe and Honey Rodgers Leadership Award.
The award honors Joe Rodgers, head of a Nashville-based international construction company and U.S. ambassador to France from 1985-89. It is presented annually to a man or woman who demonstrates outstanding leadership and consistency in living the Christian faith through a life of personal integrity, godly character and concern for others.
Dickens was chosen for the award from a field of 12 nominees. In addition to his role in the Board of Trustees, Dickens has also served on the board of Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music and was recognized as Father of the Year by the Nashville Diabetes Association.
2010 Fraternity Recruitment Breaks Records
After the conclusion of the largest women’s recruitment in Belmont history, the men were prepared to step up to the challenge. Could they have a record breaking recruitment as well? Absolutely.
With an astonishing number of men interested, the fraternities–Alpha Tau Omega, Phi Delta Theta and Phi Kappa Tau–set out to show them what Greek life at Belmont is all about. From community service, academic support, leadership development to just good fun with a group of men, recruitment at Belmont is about creating connections. Now with over 200 men in the fraternity community at Belmont the fraternal system continues to grow and change in positive ways.
The Interfraternity Council (IFC) who governs Belmont’s fraternal system focused this year on building community and having a values-centered recruitment process. Their goal is that every man and every fraternity have an opportunity to interact and learn about one another. From Dodgeball, to Shrimp Boils, from Cookouts to Casino Nights, every exciting activity is focused on relationship building and communicating the core values of the fraternity to interested individuals.
Fraternity Recruitment concluded on Sat., Sept. 18 at the Greek Life open house during Belmont’s Parents Weekend. Parents, friends and families were there to welcome the 88 new members to the fraternal community here at Belmont as they excitedly poured into the Curb Café.
With more than 500 students involved, the entire Belmont Greek community is continuing to build and live into the values-centered community that makes Greek life such a positive experience at Belmont.
Arts Grant Funds Community Mural with Jairo Prado
Dr. Paulo Boero, assistant professor of Spanish, recently received a $3,400 grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The award, titled “The Art of Jairo Prado: Inventing Communities and Creating Identities,” will fund a community mural designed by Colombian-born artist Jairo Prado, Belmont students and community members.
The mural follows the theme of Belmont’s 2010 Humanities Symposium, “Giving Shape to Airy Nothings: Inventing Communities, Creating Identities.” The mural will strive to give shape to the identity and community dynamics that emerge when immigrant and native cultures come across one another, forcing each other to revisit their identities and to create new ways of imagining themselves in the Middle Tennessee community they now constitute together. The four-panel, portable mural will be displayed at various prominent locations during the symposium, sometimes as a backdrop for keynote speakers.
On the afternoon of Thurs., Sept. 9, Prado gave a public lecture/visual media presentation in the Bunch Library Multi-Media Hall which was followed immediately by a reception in the Leu Gallery Foyer to celebrate the opening of Prado’s art exhibition on campus. The presentation also served to jumpstart the creation of the community mural project.
The Jairo Prado art exhibit is now on display in the Foyer of Bunch Library’s Leu Art Gallery until Oct. 22. Click here to see more photos from recent mural sketching/painting sessions.
CEMB Christian Showcase Breaks Attendance Record
Last Saturday, the Curb College’s Christian Showcase set a record for attendance with more than 2,000 audience members filling seats in the Curb Event Center to see bands Colorfire (winner), The Gloria Dei Project, The Weight of Glory and Jamie Smyth perform two original works and one contemporary Christian cover. In addition to the exceptional talent and visionary production featured in the show, the evening’s success may be attributed to a partnership with Student Affairs to book and promote the show on a Parent & Family Weekend and to newly implemented marketing teams in the showcase series who reached out directly to campus and community residents.
Producer Philip Hagood said of the show, “The 2010 Christian Showcase is a place where the students of Belmont and members of the Nashville community can come together to celebrate music that glorifies God.” Emphasis on community outreach and involvement is what sets the show apart from others.
Guitarist and vocalist of The Gloria Dei Project and participant in multiple Belmont showcases, Jordan Reynolds describes his experience, “The production staff was one of the best I have worked with in any showcase. I was very impressed by the lighting, and the intimacy it created between us (the artist) and the audience.” Numerous dimly lit hanging lanterns and dozens of un-level lamps spread across the stage added a sense of familiarity between audience and artist.
First to take the stage, The Gloria Dei Project is a quintet that includes Stephen Whitfield, Haley Hamilton, Jeremy Brown, Jordan Reynolds and Blaine Reedy. Four-member band The Weight of Glory varied instrumentally with musicians on the cello and ukulele, and the band’s eclectic style brought indie qualities to the Christian scene. Solo act Jamie Smyth is an experienced worship leader who makes appearances in churches across America. Her radio ready worship songs added a splash of mainstream to the night. Winners of the showcase, electronica-pop trio Colorfire, continue to give Christian music exciting new sounds and textures that live up to their name. The group prompted one of the better crowd responses of the night with bright, energetic musicality.
Jim Cooper, Stewart Clifton Speak on Integrity in Politics
Dr. Pat Raines, dean for the College of Business Administration and interim provost, moderated a panel discussion last Friday about ethical issues in today’s political environment. Panelists included Congressman Jim Cooper, D-5th district, and lobbyist Stewart Clifton. Clifton is an attorney and lobbyist for such groups as the League of Women Voters, the Alzheimer’s Association and National Association of Social Workers. U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn, R-7th district, was supposed to participate; however, she had to attend a press conference in Spring Hill announcing the re-opening of the area’s GM plant.
During their opening statements, both Cooper and Clifton stressed the importance of integrity in politics. Cooper opened by announcing, “Well, if I had 400 jobs to announce in my district, I’d probably miss this, too,” addressing Blackburn’s absence. Cooper went on to lament the “cocooning effect of news” and stress the importance of informed voting. Clifton, on the other hand, used his opening address to make general observations on the role of integrity in politics. He noted that “to make any impact on the political process requires relationships. There are no lone ranger success stories in public policy.”
Before starting the question-and-answer session, Dean Raines said, “Ethics in politics should not be an oxymoron.” The panel brought out several interesting observations from Cooper and Clifton. Both panelists agreed that political figures are held to a higher standard—but that’s a good thing. While referring to figures such as Mark Twain, Will Rogers and Jon Stewart, Cooper said, “Thank goodness we have those folks because it shines a spotlight on the ridiculous.” Clifton said, “I don’t think public officials have a monopoly on bad behavior… but no one gets scrutinized quite like public officials.”
When asked about the current state of news, both Cooper and Clifton drew a line between journalism and entertainment and agreed most televised news falls into the entertainment category. Cooper said, “The news gatherers, the truth tellers, are in short supply.” He blames the lack of truly well-educated journalists. Clifton said we still have legitimate journalism, but he said, “It is sad to see the failure of a general shared body of information… There are just separate realities out there created by media.”
