Friday, October 18, 2019

For one night only, UNCW Board of Visitors and Visionary members of the UNCW Society experienced the university’s robust arts programs through mini-performances by students and a private showing of the Glasswork art exhibit.

The event highlighted the arts and humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences and offered members a chance to ask questions about programs and how they can support them.

“It gives us the opportunity to showcase what a true liberal arts education is all about,” said Rich Ogle, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s not just to train students for jobs, it’s not just to train them for a specific field, but it’s to train them to be broad-minded, thoughtful, critical thinkers and lifelong learners. The Board of Visitors is getting an example of how skilled our students are and what we offer the community at large.”

On Oct. 17, board and society members were treated to a performance of "Before My Window, Op. 26 No. 10" and “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi by senior Sarah Wells, soprano, and music lecturer Elizabeth Loparits on piano. Lopartis was later joined by seniors Michael Hermes, alto saxophone, and Julia Williams, flute, for "Épitaphe de Jean Harlow, Op.164."

In the Mainstage Theatre in UNCW’s Cultural Arts Building, theatre students performed a scene from Diana of Dobson’s, a story about a woman of means who, after being left penniless by her deceased father, finds herself living the life of a “shop-girl.” Theatre professor Robin Post shared her work, “Shakespeare and Autism,” as an example of the arts’ outreach in the community. “Shakespeare and Autism” brings innovative programming that transforms the complexities of Shakespeare's work into a sequence of games that are tailored to address the communicative blocks of autism.

Board of Visitors chair Diane Becton said the showcase provided a full picture of the arts and humanities programs at UNCW.

“Some people may not go to the theater, so this is a great first exposure to them as well as the music and the arts,” she said. “It’s almost like a secret treasure on campus.”

UNCW Board of Visitors member John Scholz ’84 was impressed with the breadth and depth of the programs. “UNCW, by leaps and bounds, has come such a long way,” he said. “I think it’s so important for students to be exposed to a broad range of classes in the arts.”

The UNCW Board of Visitors consists of more than 50 volunteers appointed by the chancellor, who serve as ambassadors for the university by helping to establish and strengthen UNCW’s connections with prospective donors, legislators and other governmental leaders. The UNCW Society is the university’s premier giving society for annual donors.

-- Venita Jenkins

#ADVANCEMENT
#ARTS
#HUMANITIES

UNCW Board of Visitors and Visionary members of the UNCW Society were treated to a performance of "Before My Window, Op. 26 No. 10" by senior Sarah Wells, soprano, and music lecturer Elizabeth Loparits on piano.