News

WILSON, N.C. - Step back in time as the Barton College Friends of Hackney Library host "War Bonds: The Songs and Letters of World War II" on Friday, May 1. The evening event, to be held in Hardy Alumni Hall, will include a wine reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the performance at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $50 per person, and reservations are available through April 27.  Please contact Cynthia Collins at 252-399-6503 or email: fohl@barton.edu.

"War Bonds," a musical journey through a war that redefined the world, explores "the dark side of war and the strange juxtaposition of the light-hearted, popular tunes of the time" through 22 familiar World War II-era songs, veterans' actual letters from the front (including zum Brunnen's father's letters, whose correspondence provided the impetus for the show's creation), and headline news of the period.  Actual veterans' stories create a sentimental journey through the days when blackouts and rationing were a small sacrifice in order to obtain freedom; a time when Rosie the Riveter discovered she could take care of herself; a time when African-Americans, who were segregated at home, integrated abroad to become heroes; and when a man's only wish was to be home for Christmas.

The "War Bonds" production has toured across the nation, and an edited-for-television version was filmed by UNC-TV and premiered in December 2007.  This exemplary show allows the "greatest generation" to remember its sacrifices and to celebrate its victories while the "next generation" contemplates this extraordinary period of history.

The multimedia family-friendly program will be performed by award-winning artists David zum Brunnen and Serena Ebhardt (co-founders of EbzB Productions), the husband-and-wife acting/singing duo who also arranged the show.  Serena Ebhardt, a Raleigh native, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dramatic Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the North Carolina Governor's School for drama. She has acted in and/or produced over 175 professional stage plays and is a member of Actors' Equity Association and Canadian Actors' Equity Association. In addition to stage work, she also has appeared in feature films, television, commercials, industrials, and has done voice-overs. Ebhardt is a recipient of the International Television and Video Association Silver Reel Award.

David zum Brunnen, who hails from Salisbury, also received his baccalaureate degree (in Broadcast Journalism) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has performed in numerous local, national, and international productions. In addition to his performance skills, he also has served as general manager for several theater companies and served as executive director of the North Carolina Theatre Conference. And, zum Brunnen has received two INDIE awards for enhancing the cultural life in the Triangle.

Ebhardt and zum Brunnen currently live in Chatham County with their young son, Carlton.

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Questions?  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 its Spring Concert on Sunday May 3, at 3 p.m., in Howard Chapel on the Barton College campus.  The orchestra, under the direction of Mark N. Peterson, will feature Barton College professor Phillip J. Valera performing George Frederic Handel's sprightly Concerto in F Major for Organ and Orchestra, Op.4 No.5.

Valera is the assistant professor of audio recording technology in the Department of Communication and Performing Arts at Barton College and the music director of St. Timothy's Church in Wilson.  Prior to moving to Wilson, he worked as an instructor of recording technology at the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff.  He also held the positions of organist at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Lakeland, Fla., and music director for St. David's Episcopal Church in Lakeland.

Valera has performed numerous organ recitals in Florida, Arkansas, and in his native Massachusetts.  In 2006, he performed a concert at St. Timothy's Church entirely comprised of his own arrangements and compositions for electronic music and organ.

He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in organ performance from Boston University where he studied organ under Jack Fisher and Max Miller.  In 1998, Valera was an award-winning graduate from the Audio Recording Technology program at Full Sail Real World Education in Winter Park, Fla., from which he embarked on a second career that combines his love of music and music technology.

Handel was best known in his lifetime as a composer of operas and oratorios.  In order to fill the time between the scenes and acts of these dramatic productions, he would frequently perform movements from his wonderful concertos for organ and orchestra.  Handel was one of the first composers to use the organ in this manner, and these works were often adaptations of concertos and sonatas he wrote for other instruments.  The concerto to be presented at the spring concert will be familiar to many as an often-performed flute sonata.  Because of their lively, tuneful nature, these pieces became quite popular, and served to draw English organ music away from the solemn style of previous generations.  Because of Handel's influence, English composers began writing voluntaries and other organ works that were much livelier, often longer, and increasingly secularized.

The orchestra will also be performing Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March" No. 4 and Mozart's brilliant Symphony No. 40 in G minor.

Sir Edward Elgar wrote a series of six "Pomp and Circumstance" marches. The first four, composed between 1901 and 1907, helped to firmly establish his reputation as the preeminent English composer of his generation. Marches No.5 and No.6 were created much later with No.6 being assembled from sketches after the composer's death. The title is taken from Shakespeare's "Othello," Act III, Scene iii, which reads, "Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump, The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, The Royal banner, and all quality, Pride, Pomp, and Circumstance of glorious war!"

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G minor is undeniably one of the most familiar and beloved works in the entire symphonic repertoire.  This popularity is a result of the immediately captivating nature of the melodies that fill every movement, the restrained romanticism of the first movement, and the astounding chromatic harmonies that foreshadow music of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  All of these elements coalesce within a concise form, which is perfectly in keeping with the symphonic style of the late 18th century.  Mozart wrote his final three symphonies (No.39, No. 40, and No. 41) during an eight-week period in the summer of 1788, and these works stand among the great pillars of western art.

Following the concert, the audience is cordially invited to meet the musicians at a reception in the Barton Art Galleries hosted by ARAMARK Higher Education. Admission for the 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 about the concert, please contact Lynn Medlin at 252-399-6309 or email: lmedlin@barton.edu.

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

Incoming Student Checklist:
- Application? Check!
- Transcripts? Check!
- SAT/ACT scores? Check!
- Acceptance letter? Double check!
- Deposit? … Um, hello? Deposit?

Did you know that May 1 is the National Tuition Deposit Deadline? With all the progress you've made in applying to and being accepted at Barton College, don't trip up on the next step. Secure your seat in the fall class at Barton with your tuition deposit.

Barton College is currently accepting $200 advance tuition deposits for the fall semester. Be sure to make your deposit before the May 1 deadline. To save your place in this fall's class, call 1-800-345-4973 and pay with your Visa or MasterCard.

Remember housing preferences are made in order of tuition deposits received, so don't delay.

Become an official Barton Bulldog today!

WILSON, N.C. - Barton College was well represented at the 55th Annual North Carolina Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference held last weekend in Charlotte.  Members of Barton College's Gamma Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda provided regional leadership while also receiving numerous kudos at the conference.

Barton College student Dawn Montoya, a senior from Rocky Mount and the 2008-2009 state president for Phi Beta Lambda, presided over the annual state conference, and Andrea Alston, a sophomore also from Rocky Mount, was elected the 2009-2010 state secretary/treasurer.

Brittany Keith, a sophomore from Creedmoor, was awarded a North Carolina Phi Beta Lambda Foundation, Inc., Scholarship.

Dominican Republic senior Paola Marte brought home first-place honors in the Future Business Executive category.  And, Elaine Guthrie, a senior from Bailey, earned first place in Client Services.  Amanda Tyndall, a senior from Goldsboro, and Lisa Payne, a senior from Elm City, teamed to receive first-place honors in Emerging Business Issues.

Seventeen Barton chapter members participated in a variety of competitive events and attended general sessions, regional meetings, and leadership seminars.  Approximately 335 delegates, representing 33 chapters, attended the annual conference.

First-place, second-place, and third-place winners at the state conference (14 members from Barton's delegation) also earned the right to compete at the National Leadership Conference to be held in Anaheim, Calif., in June.  Marte and Montoya also received "Who's Who in North Carolina Phi Beta Lambda" recognition for their outstanding contributions to North Carolina Phi Beta Lambda.  And, Barton's Montoya will represent North Carolina at the National Conference as the most outstanding member of North Carolina Phi Beta Lambda.

Additional awards included Marte earning second place in Accounting for Professionals; Montoya, Kellie Peoples, a junior from Macon, and Jaren Palmer, a junior from Corpus Christi, Texas, placing second in Business Decision Making; Montoya earning second place honors in Job Interview; and Brantley House, a sophomore from Wilson, placing second in Statistical Analysis.  The Gamma Gamma Chapter's Local Chapter Annual Business Report also garnered second place at the event.

Third place recognitions were awarded to Montoya and Keith for their Community Service Project, "The Wilson Chamber of Commerce;" Keith, for Computer Applications and Marketing Concepts; Ridge Pruitt, a sophomore from Selma, for Contemporary Sports Issues; Brandi Stevens, a sophomore from Four Oaks, for Financial Concepts; Guthrie and Kathy Tate-Hildreth, a senior from Four Oaks, for Human Resource Management; and Amanda Moore, a junior from Kinston, for Management Concepts.

Tate-Hildreth and Guthrie earned fourth-place honors with their Free Enterprise Project, "Diversity in the Workplace," while fifth-place honors went to Tyndall in Business Communication, Palmer in Microeconomics, and the team of Tyndall and Payne with their Free Enterprise Project, "Identity Theft."

Stevens earned sixth place in Computer Applications and the team of Marte, Palmer, and Moore earned sixth place with their Community Service Project, "Day of Service."

Seventh place honors went to House in Accounting Principles, Peoples in Business Law, Pruitt in Microeconomics, and Moore in Word Processing.  Eighth place was awarded to Tate-Hildreth in Information Management, and Tiara Ward, a junior from Middlesex, in Sales Presentation.

In addition to receiving the Gold Seal Award, Gold Star Chapter, Membership Madness recognition, and the Terry Lowrance Leadership Award, the Gamma Gamma Chapter received recognition for its monetary contributions to state- and nationally-recommended projects. And, two chapter members received National Recognition Awards through the Career and Membership Achievement Program: Tate-Hildreth, at the Director Level, and Montoya, at the Presidential Level.

Teresa Parker of Wilson and Ronald Eggers of Rocky Mount, associate professors in the College's School of Business, accompanied the student delegation to the state conference.

For additional information about the Gamma Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, visit the web site: http://www.barton.edu/SchoolofBusiness/PBL/bartonpbl.htm

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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. - And, they're off! - What better way to signal the efforts of enthusiastic runners as they rush to take the lead in the "Barton College/Dick's Hot Dog Dash," scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, April 15, at 3:30 p.m.  The approximate two-mile run, sponsored by the Barton College Student Government Association in partnership with Dick's Hot Dog Stand, is being held to help raise funds for "Stop Hunger Now," an international hunger relief agency that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world.

The "Barton College/Dick's Hot Dog Dash" is one of several fund-raising efforts coordinated by the SGA on Barton's campus this spring to help raise dollars for the world-wide food project. Last year, Barton and the Wilson community teamed with "Stop Hunger Now" to produce 10,000 meals in an on-campus packaging event. This year, the community goal has more than doubled to supply 24,000 meals for the April 22nd annual packaging event at Barton.

"The Student Government Association is very excited to participate in 'Stop Hunger Now,'" shared Jeremy Lowe, SGA president.  "It's amazing that here in Wilson, we can have such an impact on world hunger.  We hope to continue our efforts every year and continue to increase our goal."

The "Barton College/Dick's Hot Dog Dash," similar in concept to the famous "Krispy Kreme Challenge" held in Raleigh, will start at 3:30 p.m. at Barton's Centennial Alumni Bell Tower. The winner will receive a $100 cash prize.

Registration at $10 per person will be limited to members of the Barton College community, but members of the extended community may sponsor a Barton runner in the race.  Sponsorship dollars must be turned in at registration time, which begins at 3 p.m., 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the race.

For additional information about sponsoring a Barton runner, making a donation to "Stop Hunger Now," or to receive additional information about the project, please call Lynne Medlin at 252-399-6309 or email: lmedlin@barton.edu or Jeremy Lowe at jjlowe@bulldogs.barton.edu. The "Stop Hunger Now" Committee will be raising funds through April 21.

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

WILSON, N.C. - "Oculus," the 2009 Barton College Senior Art Exhibition,  opens on Saturday evening, April 4, with a reception from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. in the Barton Art Galleries. This event is open to the public at no charge, and the community is invited to attend.  The exhibition will run until Friday, May 8.

Art works by seniors Sarah Stoia St. Martin and Cameron Basil Gooch will be on view in the Virginia Thompson Graves Gallery. Gallery talks by the artists will be held during the reception with St. Martin and Gooch, at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. respectively.

St. Martin is the daughter of Navy Chaplain Commander Peter St. Martin and Judy St. Martin, stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. She plans to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design.

Ceramics by Sarah St. Martin

She has combined her love of photography with her creativity in graphic design to develop several unique pieces for the senior show.  Influenced by a period of residency in Japan, St. Martin has incorporated Eastern aspects throughout her works in the exhibit, including an Asian-inspired dressing screen that depicts a self-portrait as well as friends' portraits.  Another intriguing piece is a miniature book of poetry she has created to showcase various forms of typography.

St. Martin also has created a proto-type application of a letterform design project that included research in merchandising and product display.  "The letterforms have been hand painted on china as a successful proto-type for china that one might see in a store like Pier 1 or The Pottery Barn," shared J. Chris Wilson, professor of art and senior advisor.  "The design is intended to appeal to a young audience and plays with the number '8′ as a major design motif on the dinning china, making a pun of 'ate' as an implied design motif."  In addition, St. Martin has designed banners with related letterform designs that would function as merchandising elements in the commercial arena for the line and could also function as table runners for a comprehensive design statement in the home.

St. Martin eventually hopes to earn a teaching certificate, but looks forward to working in the field of art and design upon graduation.

Cameron Basil Gooch is the son of Deborah and Basil Gooch of Elon.  He also is scheduled to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and Photography.  His works in the exhibition will feature designs for recreational equipment including skateboards, snowboards, snow skis, and a skim board that are intended to appeal to a young, grunge-style consumer. Gooch's clothing designs also showcase his comprehensive approach to a product design campaign.  His inspiration, fueled by travels to New York City and other metropolitan areas, provides a strong urban theme for his art.

Designs by Cameron Gooch

"Cameron's work has greatly matured, and his urban theme with a young target audience is focused and successful from both a design perspective and an understanding of the need in today's economy to seek a market niche," said Wilson.  "The work is exciting and dynamic and should successfully hit its intended mark."  Photographs and design letter projects by Gooch are also included in the exhibition.

Following graduation, Gooch anticipates a career in commercial design and looks forward to developing his own signature product line.

For additional information about the exhibition, please contact the Barton Art Galleries at 252-39-6477 or J. Chris Wilson at 252-399-6476.  The Barton Art Galleries are located in Case Art Building on the Barton College campus. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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