K. Brandon Ironside to serve as Assistant Professor
DMA candidate K. Brandon Ironside was recently offered the position of Assistant Professor of Violin, a full-time teaching position, at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Brandon is excited to embark upon this next phase of his journey.
Music Education keeps the research–and the publishing–going.
Congratulations go to Christen Mack (below left) and Mark Dillon, both and PhD students, as well as Dr. Rebecca MacLeod (left) in the Music Education (MUE) Department.
They recently learned their article, titled “Tradition bearers as educators: A multi-case study of the teaching behaviors and beliefs of three old-time musicians”, went into print and is officially in press in the String Research Journal (SRJ). The SRJ is the premier journal in the nation intended to disseminate string research and scholarship.
UNCG Dances in the Heart of Italy
Department Head and Professor of Dance Janet Lilly traveled with fourteen UNCG dancers to Italy in late July. “Dancing in the Heart of Italy” was a a two week long study abroad opportunity, giving the students a chance to learn in residence at the Pieve International School located near the historical Medieval hill town of Corciano, in Umbria, often referred to as the “green heart of Italy.” Lilly said that, “surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards and olive trees, Villa Pieve is the perfect location for immersing students in the art and practice of dance.”
While in residence, the students had a unique opportunity to rehearse with New York City based choreographer Jacquelyn Buglisi. They performed with thirty five Italian student dancers in Buglisi’s collaboration with Italian visual artist Rosella Vasta, The Table of Silence. The performance took place on August 2nd at Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Perugial. Shell called the chance to work with Buglisi, “…incredible. It made us step up as performers and rise to the challenge of the work.” Nolan described the experience, “Performing with another culture is interesting, especially when there are 14 of you and 50 of them. The rehearsals were mainly in Italian, so there were some confusing moments, but by the end of the week we were able to talk somewhat about the dance and ask each other questions.”
Dancers participated in contemporary dance technique, Iyengar yoga, Italian language, and Dance for Film classes. They also took day trips to nearby Assisi, Perugia (including the Perugina Chocolate Factory), Cortona, and Florence. BFA dancer Mary Beth Nolan said, “The view was always beautiful with fields of grapes or sunflowers. The cities were full of historical architecture that was just amazing.” MFA dance student recalled that, “…the Umbrian region is an agricultural region and every year the crop rotates. This year we were fortunate that the crop was sunflowers. We were surrounded by fields and fields of gold, moving with the sun. It was an incredible sight to see.”[slideshow_deploy id=’250′]
Life and Legacy of Jan Van Dyke Celebrated
Family, friends, students, and members of the community gathered at the UNCG Dance Theater on August 22nd, 2015, to celebrate the life and contributions of Dr. Jan Van Dyke. The former Department Head and Professor Emerita of Dance at UNCG passed away on July 3rd, 2015. Presenters at the memorial included members of Van Dyke’s family, colleagues and students, sharing stories of her life and speaking of her passion for dance and the community. Portions of Van Dyke’s notable works Waltz, Spike, and The Life and Times were screened and the event closed with a live performance of Round Dance. Those who attended said that the event was a perfect way to honor Van Dyke’s memory.
