Belmont University welcomed alumna and American Idol top-three finalist Melinda Doolittle (’99) home today during her hometown visit to Nashville Friday before performing in the American Idol semifinals next Tuesday.
Belmont proclaimed today “Melinda Doolittle Day” and unveiled a street sign marking “Melinda Doolittle Way” on the Belmont campus. Doolittle sang two songs, talked with the press and signed autographs for fans before leaving Belmont to make other stops in Nashville.
Click here to read People magazine’s coverage of Doolittle’s visit to Nashville.
Click “MORE” to see photos of today’s event.
Belmont Welcomes Melinda Doolittle Home
Belmont’s Idol is Coming Home!
American Idol top-three finalist and Belmont alum Melinda Doolittle (’99) is coming home to perform Friday, May 11.
Belmont invites the Nashville community to join the celebration!
Friday, May 11, 10:15 a.m.
Belmont University Amphitheatre
In case of rain, Massey Concert Hall
Free and open to the public
Her visit will air on American Idol!
Click here for a map of Belmont University. The Amphitheatre is No. 24 on the map; the Massey Concert Hall is No. 27. Parking is available in the Gordon E. Inman Center (No. 9 on map) and Curb Event Center (No. 17) parking garages and in all surface lots east of campus.
Belmont University Names New Theatre After Bill and Carole Troutt
Belmont University announced today that the 350-seat proscenium theatre located in the new theatre complex on Belmont Boulevard will be named after former Belmont president and his wife, Bill and Carole Troutt. The new theatre will be equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and audio equipment and will serve as a performance and teaching facility. The theatre complex, opening this fall, will also include a black box theatre accommodating audiences up to 150 and a scene shop.
The Department of Theatre and Dance currently resides in the Belmont Little Theatre, a makeshift performance space housed in Hail Hall, the oldest residence hall at Belmont. While the Little Theatre provides an intimate setting for theatre productions, it also presents certain challenges – the types of plays available to students are limited, dance students must utilize the Massey Performing Arts Center – a concert hall more conducive for musical performances than dance – and minimal teaching space for students interested in set design, costume construction, lighting and sound. The new theatre complex will better accommodate the talents of Belmont’s theatre and dance students.
Belmont Alumna Leads Mission in El Salvador
Deanna Gardenhire, 2006 Belmont graduate in biochemistry and molecular biology, recently traveled to El Salvador to establish free clinics in two towns. She is in her first year of medical school at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, and is serving on the leadership team of the Christian Medical and Dental Association(CMDA).
Belmont SIFE Wins Grand Prize for Anti-Piracy PSA
In the opening ceremonies of the 2007 SIFE National Exposition in Dallas, the Belmont University SIFE team won the grand prize of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) anti-piracy public service announcement (PSA) competition, as selected by the deans of the USC and UCLA film schools. The Belmont PSA video distinguished itself from more than 40 entries from other SIFE teams. Belmont SIFE team member Mark Ahlberg wrote, directed and produced the PSA. The MPAA plans to showcase the Belmont PSA throughout a number of forums, including the MPAA Web site and in-house movie screenings.
The Belmont video focuses on the idea of “file sharing” as a harmless activity while highlighting the ethical questions involved. The SIFE team also created a Web site, FileSharingFacts.com that contains answers to frequently asked questions about file sharing compiled by Dr. David Moser, associate professor in Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business.
Click here to watch the Belmont SIFE anti-piracy PSA.
Thorndike Receives National Alpha Chi Award
Dr. Jonathan Thorndike was one of ten individuals honored recently at the national convention of Alpha Chi, the national college honor society, as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Thorndike is currently the secretary-treasurer of Region II, is sponsor of the Tennessee Eta chapter at Belmont University and is a professor in the Honors program.
Award-Winning Soundtrack Features Song by Elliot
James Elliot, Assistant Professor of Music Business, co-wrote a song on the Dove Award-winning sound track “End of the Spear.” The song, “Time that is Left” was co-written with Mark Schultz. The album was named Instrumental Album of the Year.
School of Physical Therapy Hosts Health Fair for Elementary Students
On April 19, 80 fourth grade students from Cheatham County Elementary school visited Belmont University’s School of Physical Therapy for a healthcare fair. Second year physical therapy students organized and hosted the event. The elementary school students participated in a variety of educational activities and games concerning various aspects of health and wellness. The topics ranged from physical activity to dental health to fire and safety issues.
Reynolds Painting Selected for Central South Art Exhibition
Randall Reynolds, Director of Technology Services, will have a painting exhibited at the 42nd Annual Central South Art Exhibition. The exhibition is sponsored by the Tennessee Art League located at 808 Broadway and will run from May 1 through June 30. Of the 600 entries, 70 artists were accepted for the exhibition. A reception and awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 20, from 2-4 p.m.
Belmont Alumna Advances to Top Four on American Idol
Belmont alumna, Melinda Doolittle (’99), advanced to the top four on “American Idol” Wednesday night. She will perform Tuesday night at 7 p.m. CT on Fox. Click here for Doolittle’s official “American Idol” Web page.
