Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Instrumental Ensembles Offer a Variety of Free Concerts

The Department of Music at Ashland University is presenting four very different instrumental concerts the week after Thanksgiving which are all free and open to the public.  From two recitals each featuring multiple student chamber ensembles to the annual TubaChristmas and concluding with the Winter Festival Band Concert, music fans can enjoy live music performances all week.

Beginning on Tuesday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall, the first recital of the student chamber ensembles will present a clarinet trio under the direction of Dr. Thomas Reed, as well as brass, string and trumpet ensembles instructed by Michael Metcalf, Jane Reed and Gary Davis, respectively.   On Wednesday, December 3, the featured ensembles will include a saxophone quartet directed by Dr. Reed along with a Jazz combo and the percussion ensemble led by Jeff Neitzke.

With two concerts on Saturday, December 6, the day begins with the annual TubaChristmas at 11 a.m. in Hugo Young Theatre. Patrons are advised that the times for this year's event are one hour earlier than in previous years. The concert is free and open to the public and area tuba, euphonium and baritone players are invited to perform. Musician registration will begin at 9 a.m. followed by a rehearsal at 9:20 a.m.  The registration fee for participating musicians is $10 and includes a 2014 TubaChristmas button.  The TubaChristmas carol book is also available for $10.00. Musicians are asked to bring their own folding stand.

TubaChristmas is an idea conceived by Harvey Phillips, Professor of Tuba at Indiana University. Mr. Phillips wanted to demonstrate to the public what a beautiful sound a mass ensemble of tubas and euphoniums could make and to provide an opportunity for fellow low brass players to celebrate the season with the community. TubaChristmas is dedicated to the memory of Mr. William J. Bell.  It’s a fun, holiday tradition the whole family can enjoy.

On Saturday evening beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre, the Winter Festival Band Concert will present the Ashland University Wind Ensemble directed by Ken Will, Ashland University Director of Bands, and the Ashland Area Community Concert Band (AACCB) under the direction of Leonard Salvo.

The 40-piece Ashland University Wind Ensemble is comprised of the outstanding wind and percussion players at the University and from the community.  The ensemble begins Saturday's concert with Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Flourish for Wind Band" followed by Percy Aldrige Grainger's "Irish Tune from County Derry" which is based on the Irish melody "Londonderry Air." The Wind Ensemble closes their portion of the program with Frank Ticheli's two movement piece "Cajun Folk Songs" featuring solo alto saxophone.

After a brief intermission, the 65-member Ashland Area Community Concert Band takes the stage. Established in 1993, the ensemble is designed for both university students and members of the Ashland community to continue their musical study and creative activity. The Community Band's program begins with the stirring opening fanfare, silver screen opulence and lush lyricism of Alfred Reed's "Alleluia!! Laudamus Te" followed by John Wasson's "Sea Song Fantasy" which is a medley of sea songs and chanteys, and "The Gallant 7th", a march by John Philip Sousa composed and dedicated to the 7th Regiment, 107th Infantry, of the New York National Guard. They conclude the program with two Christmas medley's including John Wasson's "In the Christmas Mood" and Warren Barker's "It's Christmas."

Monday, November 24, 2014

English Minor Travels the World During Semester at Sea

By Sarah O'Connell, Strategic Communication and Public Relations major, English minor

One of the greatest Christmas presents I've ever received was a giant styrofoam board map of the world. I was able to stick pins into it, to places I've been to and places where I wanted to go, and it was one of my top priorities to bring with me when I went away to college. It was a way to set goals for myself and to imagine what I would and could do in certain places when I would finally be able to travel. MORE...

Liberal Education and Freedom

In chapter 4 of his recent book, Conscience and its Enemies, Robert P. George makes a useful statement on freedom and the liberal arts.  Some people think that the purpose of liberal education is to liberate one from conventional opinions so that one can be perfectly free to construct one’s “self” in accordance with one’s inner desires and passions. Against that view, and appealing to the soul rather than to the self, George argues that we enter into the conversation with the great minds (Augustine, Dante, Shakespeare, etc.) to appropriate truths that can “liberate us from what is merely vulgar, coarse, or base.”  MORE...

Dr. Hovey's New Book

The book The Hermeneutics of Tradition: Explorations and Examinations has just been published by Cascade books. Co-edited by AU religion professor Craig Hovey and the University of Scranton's Cyrus P. Olsen, The Hermeneutics of Tradition "presents the latest scholarship on tradition as a concept and reality in the development of Christian cultures." MORE...

Psychology Majors To Present Research Projects

Students enrolled in Advanced Research in Psychology are scheduled to present their research projects in an open forum, and all students and faculty are invited to attend.  Students will be given 12 minutes to present their work, followed by a 3 minute question and answer session.  Mark your calendars for Friday, December 5, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in 235 Schar.

Videos from "Shall We Drone On?"

Have drones become the weapons of our age? Here is video a two part presentation from earlier this month that was sponsored by ACN and given by two faculty members from Ashland University. Dr. Craig Hovey is executive director of Ashland Center for Nonviolence and associate professor of religion, and Dr. Michael Schwarz is assistant professor of history.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Community, AU Students & Faculty - Oh My!

With auditions held in August, AU Theatre is buzzing with anticipation for its February production of Frank Baum's beloved musical "The Wizard of Oz."  Not only were thirty University students cast, almost twenty community youth and adults will join the show on the Hugo Young Theatre stage. Canine auditions for Toto are slated for next week to finalize the cast.  Just in time for the holidays and consideration as wonderful gifts, tickets are now on sale.  MORE...

Remembrance Day at Gettysburg

A group of AU students, most of them in Dr. Paddags' course on Democracy & War, descended on Gettysburg to study the most pivotal and most famous battle of the Civil War. Everyone gave presentations on the participants of the Civil War - from Robert E. Lee and Henry Halleck, to Elizabeth Thorn and Abraham Lincoln. Through the eyes of their characters, the history of the battle unfolded for the students. MORE...

Biology Major Isabella Steiner Writes (in Spanish) Why AU Is the Best University!


Hay muchos opiniones sobre cual universidad es la mejor, pero la Universidad de Ashland supera todas las otras. Esta universidad ofrece muchas grandes oportunidades como una educación buena, deportes divertidos y muchos programas extracurriculares. También, muchas de las clases son muy pequeñas y permiten que los estudiantes trabajen de cerca con los profesores. Los profesores conocen a los estudiantes como personas y no como números. Quiero que todo el mundo visite y asista a la Universidad de Ashland gracias a sus buenas calidades. La Universidad de Ashland merece el título, “la mejor universidad en el mundo,” porque les moldea la vida, el intelecto y el carácter de los estudiantes. MORE...

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Winter Festival Jazz Concert Presents Holiday and Big Band Favorites

The award-winning Ashland University Jazz Orchestra (AUJO) will be hosting a free Winter Festival concert in Hugo Young Theatre on Monday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Dr. Scott Garlock the concert will feature three sets of music including pre-concert music performed by Dr. Garlock's student jazz combo, a set of Christmas music for big band performed by AUJO, and closing with the Jazz Orchestra performing big band music in several styles.  MORE...

Meet Our Young Sculptors!

Check out the photos of our young "Art Saturday" sculptors and their creations!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Recent Graduate Thrives in Higher Education Master's Program

By Erika Gallion, class of 2013

As an undergraduate English and Creative Writing major at Ashland, I knew I was going to have to think eventually about graduate school. Majoring in what I loved as an undergraduate is a decision I did not regret and still do not regret at all. Getting to do what I loved the most for four years with professors and peers who also held similar passions was a privilege I will remember and treasure forever.  MORE...

November Submission Listing from Ashland MFA

Each month, the Ashland MFA Program receives calls for submissions and contest deadlines, which it publicizes in its monthly newsletter. Listed at this link are November 2014's calls for submissions.  SUBMISSION LISTING...

Why Aren’t You Listening? The Role of Hip Hop in Social Justice Movements

By Sharleen Mondal
Music—both when it is heard and performed—has long been recognized for its power to inspire. Across cultures and time periods, music has played a key role in social movements, including, for instance, protest songs composed to signify a united commitment to a common cause of justice for all. The song “We Shall Overcome,” an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, has been translated into countless languages and continues to enjoy enormous cross-cultural appeal.  MORE...

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Alumnus Marissa Uhrig's Artwork Selected for Progressive's Exhibition

AU Art alumnus Marissa Uhrig’s (2014 CAGP) artwork entitled "Inspired" was selected from over 400 submitted to be included in the Progressive Employee Art Exhibition which features 40 works created by employees of the Progressive Company. The exhibition opens at the headquarters in Cleveland then travels to other Progressive facilities around the country. MORE...

Theatre & JDM Partner to Stream Opening Night of New Play

New York's Farm Theater college collaboration with AU Theatre premiered Lindsay Joy's new play In the Event of My Death on October 30. Not only did the 'college collaboration' involve New York artists and three different university theatre programs, this project also marks the first collaboration between AU's Departments of Theatre and Journalism & Digital Media (JDM). Padraic Lillis, artistic director for The Farm Theater, wrote a blog post on NYTheaterNow.com about this unique opportunity to live stream the premiere performance linked HERE. Many Thanks to The Farm Theatre, Lindsay Joy and the Department of Journalism & Digital Media for this "Extraordinary" experience!

Watch the opening night stream HERE with action beginning at 12:20. DISCLAIMER: In the Event of My Death contains adult language and mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Alumna Meg Collier Shares Video of France Experience

2014 Ashland University alumna and French minorMeg Collier has created a video describing her experience during her first month living in France. Meg is currently teaching English at a lycée in Saint-Quentin. Her video embodies the true value of a long-term international experience.

Restorative Justice and Psychopaths

In our Philosophy classes, we often discuss the
difference between retributive and distributive justice.  Yet in those concepts is implied another aspect of justice that is often overlooked: restorative justice.  In the following Ted Talk, Daniel Reisel takes up this issue and studies the brains of criminal psychopaths (and mice). He asks a big question: Instead of warehousing these criminals, shouldn't we be using what we know about the brain to help them rehabilitate?
 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Alumni Spotlight: LeeAnn Larson

By LeeAnn Larson, class of 2002, Integrated Language Arts major

My student years at Ashland University really helped to prepare me for life.  Majoring in Integrated Language Arts taught me more than how to be an English teacher.  It taught me how to read, write, and communicate effectively.  These skills are necessary in any career, and I value the degree to which they were developed during my time.  MORE... 

Flutist to Present Senior Recital

The Department of Music at Ashland University presents a senior recital featuring flutist Devyn Renninger on Saturday, November 8 at 3 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall.  The recital is free and open to the public.  MORE...

Monday, November 3, 2014

Mariah Halleck - Intern of the Month

Congratulations to Political Science major and History minor Mariah Helleck, who is AU's Intern of the Month for October.  Mariah completed her internship this summer serving with U.S. Senator Rob Portman in Washington D.C. MORE...

Event to Recognize Award-Winning Novel

Event to Recognize Award-Winning Novel A reading, discussion and book signing for a novel that was named winner of the Asheville Award from Black Mountain Press will be held on Monday, Nov. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Ronk Lecture Hall in the Dwight Schar College of Education.  Dr. Deborah Fleming, professor of English at Ashland University, will present readings from her novel, titled “Without Leave.”  MORE...