March 19, 2024

UMW Music Well Represented at Root Signals Electronic Music Festival

Facets of Love JUThe University of Mary Washington was represented by Department of Music faculty, students and alumni at the 2015 Root Signals Electronic Music Festival at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville Florida. Root Signals is sponsored by the Division of Music at Jacksonville University, and the Department of Music at Georgia Southern University and featured guest percussionist Tony Steve for the three-day festival of electronic music and media art.

Mark Snyder, Assistant Professor of Music, performed his song cycle Facets of Love to close the festival on Saturday, September 12th. The performance featured Paige Naylor ’14: soprano, Becky Brown ’15: harp, Mark Snyder ’97: guitar, piano, synthesizer & electronics. The poems for Facets of Love were penned by Jeanine Casler, a faculty fellow at Hobart, Northwestern’s Women’s Residential College and the video was created by Anna Weisling, the Music Technology Specialist at The Juilliard School in New York. The first movement can be viewed below:

Junior Music major Austin O’Rourke performed his composition Hazel Colored Nebula during the Emerging Composers Concert on Thursday night, September 10th. His performance of this piece on UMW’s 2015 Undergraduate Research and Creativity Day can be viewed below:

 

Becky Brown (UMW Music graduate 2015) performed her multimedia self-portrait composed during her spring 2015 independent study, Hold Still for pencil, copper, and Arduino on paper, poetry and video in Max/MSP/Jitter on the Saturday September 12th afternoon concert. Her performance of this piece on UMW’s 2015 Undergraduate Research and Creativity Day can be viewed below:

Stephen Hennessey (UMW Music graduate 2014) performed his work for processed guitar and electronics composed during his spring 2014 independent study, Ausgang during the Emerging Composers Concert. His performance of this piece on September 9,2014 can be heard below:

UMW Student Recognized with Debate Award

University of Mary Washington senior Mariah Young was awarded the Julia Burke Award for Character and Excellence at the American Debate Association Nationals. She is the fourth UMW student to receive the award.   Senior Mariah Young Established in 2002, the award recognizes the college policy debater who displays passion for debate, a commitment to helping others, love and respect for the American Debate Association policy debate community and dedication to maintaining friendships in the face of competition. The recipient is recognized with a personal trophy and a $2,000 donation to the charity of choice. Young selected the nonprofit She Should Run, aimed at getting more women involved in politics and public leadership. “The award serves as recognition that our debaters have shown character and goodwill in the heat of competition,” said Adrienne Brovero, director of UMW’s Debate Team. “Mariah exemplifies all those qualities.” A political science and journalism double major from Chesapeake, Va., Young has been a member of the debate team for all four years of her education at UMW. In addition to participating in dozens of public debates, she has participated in the Madison Cup Debates and the Randolph-Macon Washington-Franklin Cup Debates. In 2013, Young represented UMW in a public debate on the presidential war powers sponsored by George Washington University and the Miller Center for Public Affairs of the University of Virginia. “She is a leader and a mentor among her teammates,” said Brovero. “The compassion, friendliness and selflessness she has exhibited with her teammates and her competitors provided our squad and others with an excellent example to model.” Young also is managing editor with the Blue and Gray Press student newspaper and is a lead consultant for UMW’s speaking center.  After graduation, she will take a role as graduate assistant for the debate team and will pursue a master’s degree in communications at George Mason University. According to Young, UMW’s debate team has enhanced her life in more ways than one. “Without a doubt, the team has not only made me a better student and debater, but has helped me become a better person,” said Young. The team has seen several successes in recent years, most notably:
  • 2014 American Debate Association National Champion
  • 2014 National Debate Tournament 6th Ranked Team
  • 2014 Washington-Franklin Cup Champions
  • 2013 National Debate Tournament 5th Ranked Team
  • 2013 Elysee Treaty Debate Semi-Finalists
For more information about the award, visit http://juliaburkefoundation.com/ada-award.php.

UMW Student Wins Naval Academy Essay Award

University of Mary Washington senior Christian Perkins won the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs essay competition, presented at the organization’s 55th annual conference that took place in Annapolis, Maryland in April.   Senior Christian Perkins The essay, “Conflict and Water Scarcity,” was recognized out of more than 150 delegates’ papers representing universities from around the world. This is the seventh time that a political science or international affairs major from UMW has won the competition, and UMW is the first university worldwide to achieve this distinction, according to Jack Kramer, chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations. “The Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference brings together many of the ‘best and brightest’ students to examine pressing contemporaneous issues in international relations,” said Kramer. “For Christian to win the highly competitive essay contest is a singularly prestigious honor both for Christian himself and the UMW academic community.” Reflecting the conference’s theme of sustainability in a resource-restrained world, Perkins’ essay explores how water scarcity exacerbates conflict in states and regions experiencing extreme drought. “I began looking at this issue of water scarcity and realized it was a growing global problem,” said Perkins. “It has received relatively little attention until recently.” The senior looked to experts on water scarcity, including Thomas Homer Dixon, for information to support his research. He also explored data from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the United States Agency for International Development. “Water scarcity is not particularly likely to cause wars,” said Perkins. “But it will worsen existing internal conflicts. A country is going to have a harder time suppressing a revolution if its people are dying of thirst.” The political science major will graduate this May with experience as a media intern for the U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus and plans to pursue a career in education, law enforcement or government work.

Scrutinizing Solidarity

Senior Kristen Powell adds a new perspective to the cultural influence of solidarity.

A Palate for Poverty

Senior Jeffrey Paddock is no stranger to living on $2 a day.

A Thirst for Theatre

Austin Bouchard finds his calling at UMW.

A Win for Wesley

Senior Tyler Carey gives UMW Athletics a touching mission.

Face of Feminism

Senior Paige McKinsey is passionate about empowering women.

Taking on Twitter

UMW students team with Dahlgren scientists to conduct research.

Smashing a Warlord

Senior Robin Brazier leads Invisible Children chapter at UMW.