Rhapsody in Blue Highlights Barton’s Love the Symphony on Feb. 14

(Wilson, N.C.) Plan now to make Thursday, Feb. 14, a special Valentine’s Day this year, and celebrate in gala fashion with the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra at the seventeenth annual Love the Symphony, one of Wilson’s premier social events of the year. The evening’s performance, under the direction of Mark N. Peterson, will feature noted pianist Eric Mazonson performing George Gershwin’s 20th century masterpiece Rhapsody in Blue.

This dinner concert will be an evening guaranteed to please both the ear and the palette with additional music selections from Wagner, Mendelssohn, Strauss Jr., Leroy Anderson and Shostakovich. The event will begin with a wine and cheese reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by entertainment at 7 p.m. The delectable buffet, prepared by Barton’s own master chefs, will be served at 8 p.m. following the concert.

Guest pianist, Mazonson received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Boston University, where he studied piano with Anthony di Bonaventura. He has played many recitals in the U.S., Canada and Europe and performed concerti with several orchestras. Mazonson was a member of the United States Military Academy Band, during which time he founded a touring piano-woodwind sextet. He also was an associate of Maestro Peterson’s at Bradford College where he taught piano, accompanied the chorus and arranged scores for musical theatre productions. Mazonson also has served as an adjunct faculty member at Roger Williams University and at the University of Rhode Island, where he accompanied the URI Concert Choir on two European tours. He is currently staff accompanist at Providence College where he teaches class piano. Mazonson also is the pianist for the renowned Lexington (MA) Master Singers.

The Valentine concert will open with Richard Wagner’s march “Arrival of the Guests at Wartburg.” Drawn from his fifth opera “Tannhäuser,” this work has all the pomp and flourish emblematic of Wagner’s early style.

Peterson’s notes about the selections artfully describe Felix Mendelssohn’s grand tour of Europe in the 1820s, and his reflections on the places he visited that inspired some of his greatest compositions. On his visit to Scotland, Mendelssohn went to the Hebrides Islands and saw the famous “Fingal’s Cave.” “Tremendously impressed by the beauty and immensity of the place, Mendelssohn quickly jotted down what would become the opening notes of the overture, including them in a letter written that same evening,” said Peterson. “A year later, he began work on his ‘Hebrides Overture,’ and it has since become a well known standard in the orchestral repertoire.

“The ‘Perpetuum Mobile,’ by the ‘Waltz King’ Johann Strauss Jr., is a rollicking little bob-bon which features solo moments from almost every instrument in the orchestra,” Peterson continued. “The term ‘Perpetuum Mobile’ suggests a piece of music characterized by a continuous steady stream of notes at a rapid tempo, and this ‘musical joke’ does just that.”

Leroy Anderson is famous for his charming compositions written in large part for the Boston Pops Orchestra. Peterson reflects that audiences have been delighted for generations by Anderson’s lighthearted touches in works such as “The Typewriter,” “Bugler’s Holiday,” “Fiddle-Faddle,” and “Syncopated Clock.” “Sleigh Ride,” to be presented at this performance, is a time-honored seasonal favorite featuring jingle bells, whip cracks, and horse whinnies.
“Rhapsody in Blue,” written by George Gershwin in 1924 for solo piano and jazz band, successfully combines elements of classical music with jazz. The composition was orchestrated by Ferde Grofé three times, originally for the “Paul Whiteman Orchestra” and later in a variety of symphonic revisions. The version for piano and symphony, to be presented at this concert, was orchestrated in 1942 and has become one of the most popular American concert works.
“The ‘Waltz No. 2’ finds Dmitri Shostakovich in an uncharacteristically light mood,” shared Peterson. “Written for what the composer called ‘Variety Orchestra,’ the work is a traditional Viennese waltz with several contemporary twists. This piece has been a favorite encore with André Rieu and his ‘Johann Strauss Orchestra,’ often bringing audiences to their feet with a nostalgic sing-a-long.”

This distinguished event’s popularity continues to grow following the change in venue three years ago to accommodate the ever-increasing number of guest reservations each year. Wilson Gymnasium on the Barton campus provides a spacious and elegantly transformed environment to provide the perfect backdrop for sweethearts and friends to enjoy the delightful classics performed by the orchestra.

Tickets are $50 per person, and reservations may be made by calling Lynne Medlin at 252-399-6309. Please note that tables for eight are available by reservation. No tickets will be mailed.

BB&T loves the symphony. Thanks to the generosity of the BB&T Wealth Management Division, a portion of your contribution is eligible for a tax deduction as a charitable gift.

Mark your calendars for this truly festive occasion.

END

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

Wilson/Barton Partnership Sets Example for NCAA DII Program

(WILSON, N.C.) The support that the Wilson community continually offers Barton College athletics has not only gained regional but national attention.

Wilson has not only benefited from a recent NCAA DII media blitz, but the Wilson/Barton College partnership is being highlighted as a prime example of a family-friendly community supportive of high level athletic competition. And, this is an important message that DII is spending upwardly of a million dollars to share – the importance of college-community partnerships across the nation and how that raises the level of support and encouragement for educating student-athletes in a healthy and balanced environment.

The recent meeting of the NCAA Division II Editorial Board in Charlotte emphasized Division II Athletics’ thriving sense of mission and purpose and focused on the distinguishing characteristics and attributes related to the program.

Norval Kneten, president of Barton College and vice president of Conference Carolinas, was invited to be a spokesperson at this most recent of several editorial board tours scheduled across the country including Denver and Charlotte, among others.

“I was pleased with the media’s receptivity to understanding the new ways in which Division II Athletics is being defined,” said Dr. Kneten. “I am excited to represent both Barton and Wilson in these discussions, and I want to express my gratitude to the Wilson community for making it possible for us to be a part of this major NCAA initiative. I think it’s absolutely terrific that Wilson, along with us, is being recognized in national forums as a result of how this community has embraced its partnership with Barton. Wilson certainly deserves the recognition.

“I am participating in this initiative because the sports media needs to know that DII is not a second choice but is, increasingly, a first choice for some of our best and brightest student-athletes,” continued Dr. Kneten. “This effort is national in scope and one that will become increasingly visible in the coming months. During this media conference, we met with executives and staff at the Charlotte Observer, the Sports Business Journal, and ESPN-U, to help them understand the reality of DII competition, regionally and nationally.”

Division II athletics has changed significantly in recent years, and there are plenty of reasons for the public to take notice.

Student athletes, who are highly competitive, are changing DII Athletics, and here is the reason: in DII athletics, students have the opportunity to participate in extremely challenging athletic competition and, because of the balance they experience with their academic pursuits, they also have the opportunity to support volunteer efforts that include community service projects and mentoring programs, just to name a few.

Dr. Kneten also shared that student-athletes involved in DII programs not only have the opportunity to participate in high-level athletic competition at DII institutions, but they are able to pursue degree programs, like biology and athletic training, that would be inaccessible to them in other more restrictive athletic environments. “We are focused on the overall development of the student-athlete, as we are for all of our students,” he said. “As a result, many highly qualified student-athletes are now choosing to attend DII schools like Barton College. In fact, the brand platform for DII is ‘I chose DII.’

Almost 75,000 student-athletes compete at Division II schools each year. They are part of a burgeoning athletics division that emphasizes six defining traits: balance, learning passion, resourcefulness, service and sportsmanship. The emphasis on these traits is an attempt to carry out the Division II student-athlete credo, which emphasizes a comprehensive program of learning and development in a personal setting. This approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletic competition and development of positive societal attitudes in service to community. Balance and integration are key components of this philosophy of preparing students for their futures.

Fiscal responsibility in DII Athletics is another reason to take notice. A 2005 study by Jonathan and Peter Orszag demonstrated that the average net cost incurred by a school moving from Division II to Division I is approximately $3.2 million each year. This study has been confirmed by subsequent financial studies, including one by researchers at Purdue University in 2006. More recent work indicates that schools moving to Division I status experience average annual net losses in their athletic programs of about $2.5M. Division II schools, in keeping with the overall Division II philosophy, maintain that the real value in higher education is provided through fiscally responsible decisions. Keeping athletics expenses manageable and ensuring that the program is fully integrated into the overall collegiate culture are key components.

The platform of Division II is not based on size. (DII schools vary in size from those with an enrollment of a few hundred to some with nearly 30,000.) Rather, Division II athletics emphasizes the student-athlete experience that provides a comprehensive program of learning and development in a personal setting — goals which Barton College proudly affirms. Additionally, because Division II is committed to regional competition, student athletes spend more time on campus and in classes. This commitment to regional competition combined with the DII philosophy of academic achievement and community service is likely the reason that Division II student-athlete graduation rate is consistently 10 to 15 percentage points higher than that of the total student body.

What happened at Barton College and in the Wilson community this past year is an excellent example of what the Editorial Board is highlighting. Barton’s men’s basketball national championship brought excitement and pride to this growing community.

The Editorial Board is seeking to advance the message of the changes to Division II athletics. The Board believes that the athletic programs of Division II schools can be a boost to their communities because they provide high-level, passionate athletic competition in an intimate, affordable, family friendly environment.

END

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

The Scholastic Art Awards For The Eastern/Central N.C. Region To Be Held At Barton

(WILSON, N.C.) As host and regional sponsor for the 30th year, Barton College welcomes The National Scholastic Art Awards for the Eastern/Central North Carolina Region. The featured speaker for the annual awards ceremony will be Barton alumnus Rod Morton, associate creative director for Publicis Modem.

The Scholastic Art Awards, Inc. conducts a visual art awards program for middle and high school students in the United States. Entries from all 50 states are submitted for competition in this nationally renowned program. The Scholastic Art Awards program is designed to encourage student achievement, to recognize and applaud our fine art teachers and to emphasize the importance of the visual arts in the school curriculum. Barton College is proud to host the largest regional district in North Carolina, representing 62 counties from the piedmont to the coast.

Following an ice cream social for awardees and their families in Wilson Gymnasium on the Barton campus at 1:30 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 20, there will be an awards presentation for the Gold Key Finalist recipients beginning at 2:00 p.m. The ceremony is open to student award recipients, their families, and N.C. arts teachers and principals. The Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition will be available for public viewing in the Barton Museum beginning Jan. 21.

Those providing additional support for the program include The Wilson Daily Times and the Visual Arts Department of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Contributors to the program include the Wilson Chamber of Commerce, Stan Corbett of Corbett Reproductions, and Framer’s Alley of Elm City, as well as the offices of Enrollment Management and Institutional Advancement at Barton.

Dr. Norval C. Kneten, president of Barton College, Morgan P. Dickerman, publisher of “The Wilson Daily Times,” the Honorable C. Bruce Rose, mayor of Wilson, and Mark F. Gordon, director of The Eastern/Central North Carolina Region of The Scholastic Art Awards Program, will bring brief remarks during the program. Mary Ann Barwick of Southern Wayne High School, chair of The Eastern/Central North Carolina Region of The Scholastic Art Awards Advisory Committee, will present the awards to the student recipients.

Morton, the keynote speaker, brings over 15 years of multidiscipline design to the table as he manages and directs the creative team servicing the interactive marketing and advertising needs of Heineken USA. A true “crossover creative,” Morton has developed and driven marketing concepts, offline and online, for high profile clients in technology, retail and professional sports. Morton studied commercial design and printmaking at Barton, graduating in 1987. Armed with a master’s degree in design from North Carolina State University’s School of Design, Morton has developed visual communication curricula at the college level as well as built and managed communication departments in corporate America. He founded an integrated marketing firm, Morton + Beck, focused on clients in the technology sector. He and his team created programs for heavyweights Cisco Systems and IBM, as well as burgeoning Internet technology startups Arris Interactive and Message Media. Morton also founded HOSS®, a creative company whose clients included The Home Depot, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, CNN, Dupont, and the US Open. Born and raised in North Carolina, Morton now lives in Fairfield, Conn., with his wife, Beck, and their son, Will.

The Scholastic Art Awards entries for the Eastern/Central North Carolina Region are received at Barton College during the first week of January. This year, approximately 1900 entries were presented for judging. Students, through their teachers, submitted artwork in a variety of categories including painting, drawing, mixes media, printmaking, sculpture, photography, computer graphics, video, film and animation, environments, graphics, products, ceramics, jewelry and metalsmithing, textile and fiber design, art portfolio, and photography portfolio. Jurors are charged to select entries that they deem especially worthy of recognition.

The Eastern/Central North Carolina Region has an advisory committee composed of eight art teachers. This year the exhibition selection jury was composed of teachers, gallery directors and professional artists.

Two hundred pieces have been selected as Gold Key Finalists for the exhibition. These finalists will be sent to New York City for judging against other regional winners for the national exhibition held in June at the Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C. Also sent to New York will be the works of five American Vision Award (Best of Show) nominees. There also were 200 Silver Key Awards chosen from the works submitted. These works are available for viewing on the web site’s online gallery at www.barton.edu.

From the Gold Key Finalist artworks, the jury also selects works for additional regional awards to be presented including The Barton College Award, The Wilson Daily Times Award, The North Carolina Art Education Association Award, Governor’s Student Achievement Award, The Emerging Vision Award, and The Edward C. Brown Award, which honors the long-time director of the Barton Scholastics Program.

The exhibition will run from Jan. 21 – Feb. 8 in the Barton Museum located in Case Art Building. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Barton Museum also will be open on Saturday, Jan. 26 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. for additional viewing opportunities. For additional information, please contact Mark Gordon, at 252-399-6474 or the Barton Museum at 252-399-6477.

END

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

Writers Who Play

(WILSON, NC) Beckoning weary writers, the fourth annual Writers Who Play showcase on January 31, 2008, offers a night of music and relaxation at this year’s Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference in New York City.

Writers Who Play began in 2005, started by “Alaska’s Fiddling Poet” Ken Waldman and by Barton writer in residence and Elizabeth H. Jordan professor of Southern literature Dr. Jim Clark. The duo created the showcase “for writers who come to the conference who are also musicians,” said Clark.

“Both of us had just been kind of noticing more and more and meeting more and more writers who were also musicians of one kind or another,” Clark explained. “And so, you know, we thought it would be kind of nice to have an opportunity for the writers who were attending the conference who were also musicians to play whatever kind of music they play.”

According to Clark, “though it is not officially affiliated with AWP, it has become a popular and much anticipated adjunct to the conference. … The showcase’s audience and popularity has increased every year. Attendance at the 2007 AWP conference in Atlanta was 5,200. We estimate our 2007 Writers Who Play showcase attracted between 200 and 300 people.”

Recounting the history of Writers Who Play, Clark said: “The first Writers Who Play showcase was at the 2005 AWP conference in Vancouver, B.C. (the first time the conference was held outside the U.S.). It took place at Crush Champagne Lounge, down the street from the conference hotel. Notable performers that year included poet and novelist Kim Addonizio and former member of The Velvet Underground Doug Yule.

“In 2006 Writers Who Play expanded to two nights of performances at The Ritz Theater on 6th Street, the legendary ‘party street’ of Austin, Texas, where the conference took place.

“In 2007 we again featured two nights of performances at the Hilton Downtown in Atlanta, Georgia, the first at Trader Vic’s Polynesian restaurant in the hotel, and the second in Casablanca, the hotel lobby bar.

“Plans are finalized for the 2008 Writers Who Play showcase in New York City. It will take place at Don’t Tell Mama, a well-known cabaret a few blocks from the Hilton conference hotel in Manhattan. This year Writers Who Play has gone ‘above ground’ just a bit, in that we have signed on (with Barton College) as an official sponsor of the 2008 conference, and we are also advertising the showcase in the conference program. My Elizabeth H. Jordan Endowed Chair stipend allowed for this,” said Clark.

Writers Who Play will perform on Thursday, January 31, from 8:15 p.m. until 1 a.m. The show is free; however, the venue imposes a two-drink minimum. The Don’t Tell Mama cabaret is located at 343 W. 46th St. in New York City and may be reached by phone at 212-757-0788.

Honors Competition Offers Students $10,000

(WILSON, N.C.) Barton College’s two-day Honors Competition kicks off on February 8, 2008, offering prospective students the chance to win a $10,000 scholarship and the opportunity to join Barton’s Honors Program.

The Honors Competition, the first step into the exclusive Honors Program, awards five $10,000 Trustee Scholarships and four $1000 Travel Scholarships. In addition, participating students receive a $500 tuition credit simply for taking part in the event.

To qualify to participate, a student must have a minimum GPA of 3.25, have a SAT score of 1100 or higher, and be admitted to Barton by February 1, 2008.

The weekend competition begins with a reception for all invited students on the evening of February 8. The following day, all competing students and their families are invited for a unique opportunity to have breakfast with President and Mrs. Kneten at the Barton-Graves House.

After breakfast, students will participate in an essay-writing exercise and small group discussions to introduce the participants to Barton’s Engaged Learning concept. Faculty will use these exercises to help them choose the winners of the scholarships. The competition concludes with lunch and a brief program for all participants and their families.

During planned events, participants will get to meet current Honors students, like Kay Vines, who will share their personal experiences in the Honors Program and explain what makes Barton unique.

Vines, a 2007 Travel Scholarship recipient and a Nursing and Spanish double major, found the recognition afforded by the program to be a rewarding part of her experience. “You are called upon because of your effort,” she said.

Vines “enjoyed the one-on-one with the upper classmen… as well as the professors,” but she most enjoyed “the opportunity to do more.”

Her Honors English class, for example, “used the whole class to cover the Whirligig Festival.” Rather than simply studying English in the classroom, the students engaged themselves with the community, applying their English skills to document Wilson’s annual art celebration.

Students who excel in academics, enjoy challenges, and value the chance to grow beyond their expectations are perfect candidates for Barton College’s Honors Program. With the privilege of participating in the Honors Program and the opportunity to win a $10,000 scholarship, Barton’s Honors Competition is not to be missed. To learn more, contact the Office of Admissions at 1-800-345-4973 or email: enroll@barton.edu.

J-Term Students to Visit Egypt and England

(WILSON, N.C.) The first of the year will find many Barton students anticipating a trip to Egypt or England, an international travel opportunity afforded by Barton’s January Term, or J-Term.

Reinforcing global awareness in Barton’s core curriculum, international travel courses deepen students’ understanding of the world around them.

Dr. Joe Jones, chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy, is leading the group destined for Egypt. There, students will visit important sites such as the Great Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings in addition to historic religious sites marking the influence of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam on Egypt.

“The students requested a trip to Egypt,” said Jones. “It also expanded our college travel portfolio to a new place. Some scholars consider Egypt the first civilization, discounting Sumeria-Mesopotamia because it did not exhibit the cultural coherence Egypt did.”

A second travel group led by Bob Wagner, director of theatre in the Department of Communication and Performing Arts, and Dr. Kathy James, chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages, will head for England.

“My trip will highlight the culture and history of England, Wales, and Ireland,” said Wagner. “We will study some sites concerning theatre and literature. We also have several students that will take the optional side trip to Paris.”

The value of travel abroad must not be understated. Travel grants cultural perspectives and insights that lectures and assignments cannot.

“International travel benefits our students enormously. There is an emotional adjustment that occurs the first time you are in a situation in which you are the minority culture,” said Jones.

“You become wiser and better adjusted as a citizen of the world, better able to offer suggestions and participate in discussions involving world events.  What nations don’t know can hurt them. The stakes involved in study abroad are that simple, that straightforward, and that important. For their own future and that of the nation, college graduates today must be internationally competent.”

Sneed – Baseball Diamond to News Desk

The signs were there early for Brandon Sneed, maybe just not in bold print.

When he was a youngster, the Barton College junior used to create a family “newspaper” chronicling some of the happenings among his parents, Will and Karen, and his younger siblings: Kramer (an 18-year-old freshman on the Barton baseball team), Kara (16), Logan (15) and Heidi (13). He had a good time doing it, and the family enjoyed his shenanigans as well.

Years later, Sneed has returned to his earlier yearnings. He came to Barton because he was offered a non-scholarship spot on the baseball team from head coach Todd Wilkinson. His passion was baseball, and he knew the school had a solid mass communications program, so becoming a Bulldog was an easy choice. He was a catcher when he arrived in Wilson. Now, he is a catcher and pitcher.

After two years of baseball, Sneed has not attained his diamond goals, but he has found another niche: sports writing. He has been working for “The Collegiate,” the Barton College student newspaper, since last year and currently serves as the managing editor. His affinity for journalism has also led him to a job as sports editor for the weekly “Kenly News”, which is owned by Rick Stewart, a Barton professor in the Department of Communication and Performing Arts.

Sneed is currently juggling his studies, playing baseball and working for the “Kenly News”…and loves it.

“I have realized that God has plans for me – no matter what,” said Sneed, who attended Greenville Christian Academy (less than 40 minutes from Wilson) and played for his father. “Baseball hasn’t gone like I thought it would. Basically, I realized I was a nerd; I like to write. When I would create our family newspaper, I would just type stuff up. It was goofy, but it was fun, and we got a kick out of it. “

Sneed, a Dean’s List student with a 3.7 GPA, says he knows sports “the best,” but also has aspirations of covering other events. He could see himself writing about religion since he attended a Christian school — and since his parents operate a non-profit organization called the All Jesus Ministries. Just last week, he had a free-lance job that took him to Dunn, where he did an article on the Christian Action League.

“I am just continuing to learn (the journalism business) and not worrying about the future too much,” Sneed said. “That has made my life more relaxing and peaceful.”

As fate would have it, Sneed was taking batting practice at the Triple Crown Training Center in Greenville a few years ago when a friend of Coach Wilkinson’s spotted him and put the two in touch with each other. After enrolling at Barton, Sneed, whose mass communications concentration is print and electronic journalism, was all about baseball in the beginning, which left him little time for any journalism activities outside regular classes.

“I wanted to ease into [journalism],” he said. “The second year, I jumped right into it as ‘The Collegiate’ sports editor. By my senior year, I should be editor-in-chief of the paper.”

“The Collegiate” is published about every two weeks, or six times a semester. The staff includes three to four in management positions and a writing staff of some 12 students.

“Working for ‘The Collegiate’ has been a good way for me to learn without too much pressure,” he said. “Working in Kenly has helped me learn about my style of interviewing people. It’s just an incredible opportunity. God has really blessed me, and Mr. Stewart has helped me out a lot by giving me all these opportunities.”

Sneed writes articles, takes pictures and does some layout in Kenly, where he is responsible for producing two sports pages per week. Ironically, years later, he may again be writing more stories about family since he and Kramer both play for the Bulldogs.

“Barton is a good school,” the oldest of five Sneed children said. “I couldn’t see myself anywhere else. This is the right place for me. At a Division II school, you play sports because you love to play… You work hard in practice, conditioning, and games. You get four years to play and then you are moving on with the rest of your life. With the right breaks, you can make it to the pros, like Dennis Blackmon,” said Sneed, referring to the former Barton catcher/infielder whose contract was just bought by the Boston Red Sox.

“I would like to do the same thing, but…the first two years I was here, I think I overworked [in baseball] and put too much pressure on myself. Then, this job came along and put everything in perspective.”

Sneed’s hope is that his newfound contentment will lead to success both on the baseball diamond and as a news man. Then, he can be a “headliner” as a player and a writer/editor.