News

By Lisa Boykin Batts (Class of 1984) The Wilson Times

(August 19,2010)

Lauren Kennedy returns to the theater that bears her name, this time as performer.

The Broadway actress will be featured in the one-woman show, "Tell Me On A Sunday," running Sept. 2-5 at the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre at Barton College.

Kennedy said the Andrew Lloyd Webber show has a great score and that she's excited about the music and working with director Matthew-Jason Willis. Some of the music has been altered to be more accessible to the audience, she said.

"We're putting a little of our own spin and take on it," she said.

The show has changed in general with each production since it opened in 1979, she said. There are a number of materials and lyrics to choose from. Three of her favorite songs from the show are "Tell Me On a Sunday," "Unexpected Song" and "Come Back with the Same Look in Your Eyes."

She will play the role of Emma, an outsider to New York (not England as in the original show) who's looking for success in her career.

The show isn't performed often, she said. It's only 80 minutes, features one-person on stage plus a decent size band, and doesn't make sense for a lot of theaters. But it works well for these two stages.

Although she has directed at the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre, this show marks the first time Kennedy, whose credits include "Spamalot," "Les Miserables" and "Sunset Boulevard," has performed for the public in the theater.

"It is such an honor to even have my name on a building, let alone a theater where I can continue to hone my craft and entertain," Kennedy said.

It's no coincidence that the show opened Wednesday night as the season's final show of this year's Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy in Raleigh. That's been part of a master plan for several years now.

The Kennedy family, including Lauren's father, K.D. Kennedy, and brother Michael Kennedy started Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy. It was the Kennedy family who gave the major gift to fund the Barton theater. Once that happened, the wheels started turning, and plans were made to share performances at the Kennedy with productions at Barton's black box theater.

"We're hoping to form a real sisterhood with the two theaters," Lauren Kennedy said.

Barton's year-old theater needs to bring in programming other than what's produced at the schools and to build an audience, she said.

"It's just a great way to start and a great way to put it on the map."

The plan involves including Barton students working in the production of the summer shows, particularly the one that travels to the campus.

This summer, three Barton students, Wesley Pridgen, Jess Jones and James Duncan, and recent graduates Jenson Davis and Chris Wallen worked with the Hot Summer Nights productions.

Wallen is assistant stage manager for "Tell Me On A Sunday," Jones is running crew, Davis is spot light operator and Duncan is sound board operator. Pridgen worked on three other Hot Summer Night shows but not this one.

Kennedy described the Barton group as "hard-working kids."

"They have worked so hard and have been so joyful and sweet and patient," she said.

Jones said she transferred to Barton last year because she wanted to have this kind of internship experience. She's worked on sets for all the shows this summer and as a stagehand. "The contacts I've made have been priceless," she said.

Jones, who called Lauren Kennedy "a fantastic performer," said anyone who comes to Barton to see the show will love it.

"We're bringing it back to our community, which is a great thing to be able to do," she said. Lauren Kennedy is also happy to have the show in Wilson.

"I am so grateful to Barton and to my parents, K.D. and Sara Lynn Kennedy, for their generosity and support!"

lisa@wilsontimes.com | 265-7810

Photos courtesy of Keith Barnes, The Wilson Times.

"Tell Me On A Sunday"  Featuring Lauren Kennedy in the one-woman Andrew Lloyd Webber show Sept. 1-5 at The Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre at Barton College.  (The Sept. 1 show is by invitation only.)

Shows are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older and military, $10 for non-Barton students, and $2 for Barton students and employees if purchasing online or free at the door with a Barton ID. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at 866-811-4111 or by visiting http://www.barton.edu/theatre/.

WILSON, N.C. -  "Painting and drawing outdoors opens up the possibility of expressing an immediate present of nature in art.  My work focuses on creating interesting compositions by following the landscape's lyrical and ever-changing qualities of light and shadows."  Susan Fecho describes her latest exhibition of work, "Flutterings: Exploration of Nature," currently on view in the Barton Art Galleries.

An opening reception for the exhibition will be held Sunday, Aug. 29 from 2 - 4 p.m. with an artist talk scheduled from 3 - 4 p.m.  The exhibition will run until September 23.

Fecho, a prominent and award-winning Eastern North Carolina artist, views travel as an invaluable opportunity to expand her education and to bring inspiration to her work. Her wide-ranging art can be categorized in a number of distinct ways - by location for each series, by media, and thematically. Fecho travels to feed her artmaking, to find sources in nature and built environments, to carve out private time to work unhampered by everyday duties, and to keep a fresh artist's outlook.

Her artwork has germinated in her travels throughout three geographies: the Appalachians, the Tidewater region of North Carolina, and Newfoundland. Fecho uses her artist's sketchbook to record sketched images, and also to put down extensive written notes recording her impressions and ideas for transforming these impressions into the final artwork-a unique and complex layered visual expression.

Fecho's intention includes a reconstruction of each region's history, making this connection through stories that include the human-built environment - architecture in all its manifestations - within the natural landscape of woodland, farmland, and the community commons.

Her 2010 Newfoundland series was completed during an intensive three-week residency at English Harbour Arts Centre on the Bonavista Peninsula, a windswept coastal artist's haven isolated from most outside influences. The English Harbour Arts Centre provided the gift of direct nature-perception: immersion in the rocky terrain, a melding of land, sea, and mist. During this focused "art time," her remarkable and sensitive artistic production in monoprints, drawing, painting, and fabric combine to indicate the level of her intensity as a producing creative pioneer. The Newfoundland residency had aspects of the aleatory; each day was a chance experience of circumstance and opportunity. The individual artworks directly reflect the circumstances of the day and location.

Fecho's facility and experience in a variety of artmaking methods is a touchstone of her creative production, which shows evidence of skill in drawing, painting, lithography, relief printing, collage and assemblage, bookmaking, and computer-based graphic design. Her use of materials includes ink, watercolor, fabric, plus a diversity of found objects.

This lifelong devotion to art includes over 25 years of teaching and working with art students in the United States and abroad.  She has shown her work in 24 solo exhibitions as well as numerous regional, national and international invitationals.  Fecho also has published illustrations, designs, and photographs, including seven illustrative artist books such as "Portrait of the Outer Banks: an Artist's Sketch" in 1996 and "Trunkfull: an Illuminated Year" in 2003.  "Trunkfull: an Illuminated Year" was accepted into several major collections including the Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library, the Word and Image Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Women Artists in Washington, D.C., and the Zimmerli Art Museum, NAWA Collection, at Rutgers University in New Jersey.  Her works are also included in the collections of Phillip Morris in Winston-Salem, the Chancellor's Collection at East Carolina University, the Twin County Museum and Hall of Fame in Rocky Mount, and the Blount-Bridgers Museum in Tarboro, among others.

Currently serving as professor and chair of the Barton College Department of Art, Fecho joined the Barton College community in the fall of 1997 as an associate professor of art. She earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in printmaking, painting, and technology and a Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking and surface design from East Carolina University. She also studied at Goldsmith College: University of London, Northern Illinois University, Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, and the University of Maine.  Prior to joining the art faculty at Barton College, she served as associate professor and chair of the Art Department at Chowan College in Murfreesboro.

Fecho and her husband, Scott, make their home in historic Tarboro.

Gallery hours for the Barton Art Galleries are Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. For additional information, please contact Bonnie LoSchiavo in the Barton Art Galleries at 252-399-6477 or email: blloschiavo@barton.edu.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. - Barton College is pleased to announce Phyllis R. Parish Howard, as the featured speaker for the 109^th Opening Convocation.  The annual campus event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 31, at 11 a.m. in Howard Chapel.

Parish Howard is Director of Local Production for WRAL-TV, a CBS affiliate and division of Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. in Raleigh. Chosen as Employee of the Year by her colleagues, she was honored with WRAL's prestigious 5-Star Award in 1987.  Recognized for her outstanding broadcasting achievements with six Mid-South Regional Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Parish Howard's award-winning programs include her environmental documentary, "Troubled Rivers," WRAL's 'For the Children' campaign, WRAL's teen pregnancy prevention campaign "Sex, Lies & Education," two Emmy awards for "Smart Start Kids" and an Advanced Media/Community Affairs Emmy for WRAL's Komen for the Cure project.  In 2003, Parish Howard was presented the NC Prevention Performance Award for Excellence in Media by the NC Prevention Partners for her documentary, "Super-sizing Our Kids: NC's Epidemic of Overweight Children." She also is the recipient of a 2005 Gracie Allen Award for the same locally produced documentary.

A native of Wendell, Parish Howard graduated magna cum laude from Barton College (then Atlantic Christian College) in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.  She served on the Barton College Board of Trustees as an alumni representative from 1999 until 2003, and later returned to the Board as a trustee in 2004.  She currently serves as chair of the Board of Trustees' Enrollment Committee.  Parish Howard is a past member of the Barton College Alumni Board and was honored in 2004 with the Barton College Alumni Achievement Award.

In 2008, the Phyllis Parish Howard Television Control Room in the Department of Communications and Performing Arts at Barton College was dedicated in Parish Howard's honor.  This addition to the television studio on campus was made possible by a gift from the WRAL/Capitol Broadcasting Company Fund, and presented by Jim Goodmon, president and CEO of Capitol Broadcasting Company in honor of Phyllis Parish Howard.

Parish Howard also serves as an active member of Hillyer Memorial Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Raleigh, where she has served as a deacon, an elder, and chair of the board. She also volunteers with Wake County's Meals on Wheels and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

The daughter of Aileen and Bill Parish of Wendell, Parish Howard is married to Seab Howard III, and they have one daughter, Gabrielle.  The Howard family makes their home in Raleigh.

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Questions? Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. - Back by popular demand, the award-winning "Band Book Tour" returns to rock the Willis N. Hackney Library at its fifth annual Open House event on the Barton College campus. The event, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 26, will be held from 4-7 p.m.  The event focuses on introducing new students to the campus library as well as welcoming returning students back for fall semester.  This event is sponsored by the Friends of Hackney Library.

The "Band Book Tour" Open House will feature four bands with an evening line-up that includes "Straight-Up!" kicking off the event at 4 p.m. with some R&B, soul, funk, and Motown.  "TripleWide" and "Elemental P," at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively, will pick up the beat with blues, funk, and rock.  And, "The Oatmeal Conspiracy" will round out the jam session with a little indie, pop, rock, and acid jazz. Sound will be provided by Miller Music Center.

ARAMARK Higher Education will serve dinner alfresco to Barton students on the meal plan along Riley Plaza in front of Hackney Library while the bands perform inside. Members of the Wilson community are invited to join the Barton campus community inside for the musical performances.

"Like last year, the theme of this year's Open House riffs on the American Library Association's annual 'Banned Books Week' campaign, sponsored each September to celebrate intellectual freedom and to decry various attempts through the years to ban certain books because of their content," said Rodney Lippard, director of Hackney Library.  "In addition to the music, the Open House will include a contest with prizes awarded to Barton students, faculty, and staff who correctly guess the characters/locations of various attempted banned books. The campus community can also look forward to new 'Band Book Tour' t-shirts when they fill out a brief survey, and also will vie for door prizes donated by several local businesses, including Luna Bean Coffee Shop, Professor O'Cool's, Quince: A Southern Bistro, The Rib Hut, Subs Plus, Agave Grill, Target, and The Dog House Sports Grill."

As always, Hackney Library staff will be available to share news of recent updates to the library and, as an added bonus, there is a special giveaway for those who wear their "Band Book Tour" t-shirt from last year.

For additional information, contact Cynthia Collins, Hackney Library, at 252-399-6503 or email: cecollins@barton.edu.

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Questions?  Contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu

Faculty and freshmen are looking forward to Bulldog Day on Aug. 21 at Camp Rockfish. This special day during Welcome Weekend at the start of the fall semester gives freshmen the opportunity to meet and bond with each other and to hang out with their faculty advisors in a fun camp atmosphere. If last year's event is any indication, our freshmen are in for a great time!

Although a brief rain shower greeted the 2009 freshman class as they arrived at Camp Rockfish last year, the rain soon disappeared. Barton's newest Bulldogs, their peer leaders, and First-Year Seminar advisers took full advantage of the camp's amenities. From the lake with its Blob and Iceberg to the pool to the climbing wall, zip line, and challenge courses, laughter filled the air as new faces became new friends and great moments became great memories.

"The day was successful and a lot of fun," said Dan Kennedy, director of new student programs and Greek life at Barton. "It was all about the students bonding and getting to know each other and having a good time together."

2010 freshmen, your Bulldog Day is coming; and we can't wait!

Questions? Contact Ken Dozier, web services manager, by email at kdozier@barton.edu or by phone at 252-399-6596.

WILSON, N.C. - Students, the countdown is ticking away for Summer Orientation at Barton College! With the first two sessions concluded in June, the third and final session of Summer Orientation, Aug. 18-20, will prepare you for the start of your academic career as a Bulldog.

Residential students, your Summer Orientation begins on Aug. 18 as you "take care of business" with the business affairs staff to finalize your financial obligations.  Then, you're off to the residence halls to move in!

Next is lunch.  Join your fellow Bulldogs in the Dining Hall or in Bully's Campus Grill, both located in the Hamlin Student Center; or venture off-campus to enjoy one of Wilson's great eateries.

After lunch, our students from other nations will assemble for the international student meeting.  Following that, all freshmen and transfer students will attend informal residence hall meetings where you will meet your floor mates and your Resident Advisor (RA).

Hamlin Student Center then welcomes you back for dinner; and you're off again to meet your Orientation Leaders, who will guide you through day two of Orientation.  You'll close out the day relaxing and having a great time during the fun-filled evening activities in the Hamlin Student Center.

Day two begins with breakfast for our residential students, while our commuting freshmen and transfer students will meet with the Office of Business Affairs.  All freshmen will then head out to take the mathematics placement test.

After the test, your Orientation session gets into full swing in Hardy Alumni Hall with a greeting from Dr. Norval Kneten, president of Barton College.  Then, George Solan, vice president for student affairs, and Dr. Terry Grimes, vice president for academic affairs, will present information on Barton's Honor Code and discuss student success.  You'll get to meet the Student Affairs staff afterward and then head to lunch.

After lunch with your Orientation Leader, you'll break into round-robin groups and head out to your information sessions where you'll learn about Barton College traditions, student activities, and the College's computer network.  Leaving your information sessions, you'll meet your First Year Seminar (FYS) instructors.  Then, some of you will take the foreign language and English placement tests if you have been advised to do so; and a commuter session will be available to help commuting students get connected on campus.

An all-campus picnic awaits you on center campus, followed by a session in Howard Chapel.  Motivational speaker Adam Shepard will tell you how to learn from failure and will discuss the importance of a positive attitude.

Then, you'll return to the Hamlin Student Center for Casino Night.  The Vegas-style games will give you a chance to win great prizes.  Following Casino Night, residential students will gather for residence hall meetings for their individual floors.

Breakfast will greet you in the Dining Hall the next morning, and then you'll meet with your FYS advisors to discuss your class schedules.  After that, it's lunch in the Dining Hall; and your Summer Orientation will be complete!

The full Orientation schedule, including the family schedule, is available here as a PDF.

That's a lot of activity packed into just a few days. Why do we do it? It helps make your transition to campus easier. With the preliminaries out of the way, you can focus on gearing up for class.

Fall is approaching, and the clock is ticking. If you haven't signed up for Summer Orientation yet, now is the time. Visit http://www.barton.edu/orientation/ to sign up. We look forward to seeing you here!

Wilson's loss is New York's gain.

Kramer Sneed, who just finished his junior season at Barton College and had been a member of the summer collegiate Wilson Tobs starting rotation, is headed for New York after signing with the world champion New York Yankees on Tuesday evening.

Sneed was taken in the 32nd round in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft earlier this month.

"It's feels really good," Sneed said by telephone Tuesday night while signing autographs at the Tobs game in Fleming Stadium. "I'm pretty exciting that we finally got the paperwork done, and I'm excited about taking off for Staten Island on Thursday."

Sneed said he will fly into Newark, N.J., on Thursday and immediately become a member of the Staten Island Yankees of the short-season New York-Penn League, which runs from June to August.

The Yankees are at the Brooklyn Cyclones on Thursday night and the 6-foot-3, 185-pound left-hander will be in uniform.

"I think I'll be out of the bullpen to start with, so I'll be ready to throw Thursday night, if needed," he said. "I think they'll probably give me a night off to get acclimated."

Sneed, who was signed by Yankees area scout Scott Lovekamp, was delighted the Yankees met his contract demand, which was a $30,000 signing bonus and paying for the remainder of his two semesters of college.

"That's exactly what I asked for and I'm pretty excited," Sneed said, noting he wasn't sure if he was going to get it since he was a middle-round draft pick.

But the Yankees' decision to give Sneed what he asked for assured him they wanted him.

"And that's the biggest thing I wanted," he said. "I wanted the team that drafted me to value me and want me to be a part of their organization."

Sneed becomes the first Bulldog to sign a pro contract since Dennis Blackmon played in the Boston Red Sox organization in 2008. Sneed is the first Barton player to be drafted since Mark Raynor was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 13th round of the 1995 draft.

Barton head coach Todd Wilkinson was also happy to hear the news that Sneed was heading into professional baseball despite the fact the Bulldogs will certainly miss their No. 1 starter. Sneed was 6-3 with a 4.04 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings this spring.

"He got a great job opportunity and that's what it boils down," Wilkinson said. "He's going into a business that's got great upside if you perform. … It's an entry-level job in the beginning and you've got to be able to perform."

Wilkinson pointed out that one of Sneed's best qualities as a player at Barton might not necessarily serve him well in professional baseball.

"Kramer's always been coachable and he's always wanted to please people. Kramer's a team player and always has been for us," Wilkinson said. "As he works his way through the organization, he's going to have to learn to look out for himself first."

For the Tobs, Sneed led the team with an 0.79 ERA, which was third-best in the CPL, while going 3-2 with one save in seven appearances.

"As an organization, we're extremely excited for Kramer," Tobs General Manager Ben Jones said. "It's a wonderful opportunity and something we're sure he's dreamed of for a long time. We were happy to have him here with the Tobs in the short time we had him."

Sneed, a Winterville native and a graduate of Greenville Christian Academy, said he will miss Wilson.

"Oh, definitely! I'm going to miss all the people at Barton. From the teammates I've had and the friends I've made and the coaches who have helped me," he said. "I'm never going to forget the town of Wilson and the good times I've had and the people I've met here."

Story contributed by Wilson Times Sports Editor Paul Durham

WILSON, N.C. - Barton College is pleased to announce Douglas Kris Lynch of Charlotte as the vice president for administration and finance.  His appointment was effective June 7, 2010.

"I am pleased to welcome Kris Lynch to the Barton College community," said Dr. Norval C. Kneten, president of Barton College. "His credentials and experience will serve the Barton community well as he assumes the role of chief financial officer for the College.  Mr. Lynch's keen business acumen will guide decisions to advance Barton's position as a regional leader in higher education and will ensure the continued financial stability of the College's future."

As vice president for administration and finance, Lynch's responsibilities include overseeing the College operations for personnel, business and finance, information technology, administrative computing, and physical plant. He keeps official corporation records and executes administrative policies determined by or in conjunction with other officials. Lynch is responsible for analyzing financial records to forecast future financial position and budget requirements, as well as providing advice to the governing board on investments and loans for short and long-range financial plans. He also serves as a member of the president's senior cabinet.

"I am very excited to join the Barton College community," shared Lynch.  "Everyone I have met is so warm and welcoming that it truly feels like a family environment already.  After 27 years in the business world, it is both refreshing and stimulating to be in a higher education environment with so much positive energy and enthusiasm. Hopefully, my experience in the business world will help us successfully face and conquer the many challenges we face in today's unsettled economic and social climate."

A native of Middletown, Ohio, Lynch completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance, graduating with honors from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  He holds Certified Public Accountant certification in the states of Ohio and North Carolina.

Prior to joining the Barton administration, Lynch served as vice president and chief financial officer for the Wurth Wood Group headquartered in Charlotte.  Other professional appointments have included senior manager of the Audit Department of McGladrey & Pullen in Charlotte, chief financial officer for Metropolitan Printing Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, and certified public accountant for Price Waterhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Lynch has been a member of the Morningstar Lutheran Church in Mathews where he served in a number of leadership roles including, but not limited to, treasurer, council member, usher, and communion assistant. He is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and holds a private pilot license.

He is the son of Donald Lynch of Pinehurst and the late Wanda Lynch.  Lynch and his wife, the former Cindy Chase of Norwalk, Ohio, have two grown sons, Nathaniel and Matthew.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. - Roger Benjamin, Ph.D., president and Chief executive officer for the Council for Aid to Education (CAE), will be the featured speaker at the 108th annual commencement exercises of Barton College, scheduled for Sunday, May 23 on center campus at 1:30 p.m. Wilson Gymnasium is the rain site. Dr. Norval C. Kneten will preside over his seventh commencement program as president of Barton College. Dr. Terrence L. Grimes, vice president for academic affairs, will present the graduating class of approximately 220 seniors.

Dr. Benjamin will receive the Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, from Barton College during this year's commencement.

Participating in this year's commencement ceremony will be students who completed their baccalaureate degree requirements in December 2009 and May 2010, as well as candidates who expect to fulfill requirements over the summer.  The three highest honors presented to Barton students: the Coggins Cup, the Hilley Cup, and the Hemby Leadership Cup, will be awarded. The Coggins Cup is presented annually to the student voted best all-around by the Barton faculty and staff. The Hilley Cup is presented annually to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average. The Hemby Leadership Cup is presented to the graduating senior, who in the estimation of the college community (including students, faculty and staff) has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout a career at Barton College.

The Jefferson-Pilot Faculty Member of the Year awards will also be presented. The awards, given annually to two faculty members, include a cash stipend for international study.

Dr. Phillip H. Warren, class of 1971, outgoing president of the Barton College Alumni Association and its Alumni Board, will bring greetings to graduating seniors on behalf of the Alumni Association.

Barton's Commencement Day program will begin with the baccalaureate sermon Sunday morning at 11 a.m. in Howard Chapel. The Reverend Hollie E. Woodruff, chaplain of the college, will officiate at the service. The Reverend Terry Harper, co-pastor of First Christian Church in Greenville, a Barton College alumnus and father of graduating senior Peter Harper, will deliver the sermon.

Lunch will be served in the Hamlin Student Center Dining Hall from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at no charge for seniors and $5.00 each for family members and guests.

The Commencement festivities will include a luncheon for seniors and their parents on Saturday afternoon, May 22 from noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Norval C. Kneten at the Barton-Graves House.  The pinning ceremony for the graduates of the School of Nursing will follow at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at First United Methodist Church.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.

WILSON, N.C. - The Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra will present their Spring Concert on Sunday, May 2, at 3 p.m. in the new Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre on the Barton campus. The symphony, under the direction of Mark N. Peterson, will welcome back to the Barton stage the internationally acclaimed pianist Jeremy Thompson to perform Edvard Grieg's hauntingly romantic "Piano Concerto in A Minor." The orchestra will also play two beloved works of Franz Schubert: the "Unfinished Symphony" and "The Rosamunde Overture."

Currently residing in Goldsboro, Dr. Thompson has performed throughout North America and Europe, thrilling audiences with his virtuosity and the emotional and intellectual depth of his playing.  He was born in Dipper Harbour, a small fishing village in New Brunswick, Canada. In 2005, Dr. Thompson earned a Doctorate of Music in piano performance from McGill University, where he held two of Canada's most prestigious doctoral fellowships. During his studies, he performed with orchestras such as the Saint Petersburg State Academic Orchestra, the Saratov Philharmonic Orchestra, the Georgian National Orchestra, and the McGill Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Thompson has performed and given master-classes at various colleges and universities throughout North America and is in demand as a collaborative pianist. He is comfortable with music from all eras yet specializes in a highly virtuosic repertoire. Although his range is expansive both as a solo performer and as a collaborative pianist, Dr. Thompson has a personal interest in championing the works of Canada's major composers such as Brian Cherney, Jose Evangelista, and Jean Papineau-Couture. He currently serves as the Director of Music Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of Goldsboro.

Dr. Thompson will be performing on a Fazioli concert grand piano furnished by Ruggero Piano Company of Raleigh. Hand-made in Italy, the Fazioli pianos are considered by concert artists the world over to be the finest pianos anywhere. "It's like driving a Lamborghini," said Thompson. "There is no way to describe its amazing responsiveness and power." Dr. Thompson considers this piano to be the perfect instrument for the Grieg concerto.

Ever since its triumphant first performance, the "Grieg Piano Concerto" has been a warhorse of the classical repertoire. It has been performed and recorded countless times by the world's finest pianists and orchestras and is considered by many to be the greatest concerto ever written. Its reputation is justly deserved, for this is a concerto of many moods, which spins an almost magical lyricism that audiences find utterly captivating. Grieg, composing this work at the age of 24, infused his concerto with German romanticism along with rhythms and melodic patterns from his native Norway. In spite of such enormous success, Grieg never completed another concerto; thus this work can be perfectly and precisely identified as the "Grieg Concerto."

No one knows for sure why Schubert's "Symphony no. 8″ is unfinished, although speculation abounds. This much is certain; after the Austrian music society in Graz gave Schubert an honorary diploma, he reciprocated by submitting the score for a symphony in B-minor to his friend Anselm Hüttenbrenner, who was the Viennese representative of the society. Inexplicably, Hüttenbrenner never delivered the work but kept it in a desk for over 42 years. When he finally showed the two-movement score to conductor Johann von Herbeck in 1865, the symphony was finally given a proper premier in Vienna and quickly became an indispensable part of every orchestra's repertoire.

When Schubert's attempt at grand opera, "Alfonso und Estrella," failed, he did everything possible to save the opera's wonderful overture. One year later, the work became the overture to the incidental music that he composed for the play "Rosamunde." The play was also a dismal failure, but the incidental music has survived to become a favorite orchestral suite. The overture was first written for a long forgotten play called "The Magic Harp," and since this was the only version truly related to the text, it is frequently titled "Overture to Die Zauberharfe." Whatever its origins or its name, this is one of Schubert's finest orchestral pieces, filled with ingratiating tunes and demonstrating his characteristic warm-heartedness and good humor through a masterly use of the orchestra's resources.

Following the concert, the audience is cordially invited to meet the musicians at a reception, hosted by ARAMARK Higher Education, in the Bridgestone Americas Atrium of the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre.

Admission for the fall orchestra performance will be $10 at the door or by season ticket. All students within the community will be admitted free of charge as well as faculty, staff and students of Barton College. For additional information, please contact Arlene Bishop-Giese at 252-399-6309 or email: albishopgiese@barton.edu.

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Questions? Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.