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Rachel DeShon Celebrates the Holidays with Marvin Hamlisch
Rachel DeShon Celebrates the Holidays with Marvin Hamlisch
Rachel DeShon, BFA 2005The Department of Theatre and Dance recently received an invitation from Rachel DeShon, BFA 2005, to attend a Holiday Pops concert with the Seattle Symphony and special guest Marvin Hamlisch.
Rachel was one of the first-if not the first-graduates of the BFA in Musical Theatre at WIU.
Congratulations to her on the exciting concert and, of course, wish we all could have been there.
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Alum Designs 2nd Album Cover for Gym Class Heroes
Evan Leake's designs for Gym Class Heroes' debut album, "The Papercut Chronicles" (left) and the band's sequel "The Papercut Chronicles II"
From University Relations' Beyond the Bell Tower
When Evan Leake designed his first album cover for Gym Class Heroes' debut album "The Papercut Chronicles" back in 2005, he said the Geneva, NY-based rock/hip hop group had "just been freshly signed" to its label, Decaydance Records. Six years and a few albums later, Gym Class Heroes' sequel to its debut album is number 10 on Billboard's Rap Album chart (week ending December 3, 2011), and Leake has yet another dynamic cover design to his credit.
Recently, Leake-who earned his bachelor of fine arts from Western Illinois University's Department of Art in 2006—was tapped to produce an album cover for Gym Class Heroes' sequel to its debut album, "The Papercut Chronicles II." According to Leake, he designed this second album cover so that "the artwork flowed seamlessly between the two albums, side by side."
Charles Wright, art department chair at WIU, and I sent Evan some questions about his latest vision and creation for Gym Class Heroes. Following are Evan's answers he sent to us via email.
Read more from the interview.
Read more.
Hawkinson Provost
Dr. Ken Hawkinson, WIU Provost
Dr. Ken Hawkinson, former COFAC Associate Dean and Chair of Communication, has been named Provost of Western Illinois University.
Ken Hawkinson, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Illinois University, has been named provost and academic vice president at WIU, effective Jan. 1, 2012.
Hawkinson has served as interim provost since July 1. Prior to that appointment, he had served as the associate provost and associate vice president for budget, planning and personnel since June 2008.
Hawkinson was the associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication from 2005-2008, and he served as chair of the communication department from 1997-2007. Hawkinson has served on various University committees, including serving two years as vice chair of the Faculty Senate and serving as chair of the Council on Admission, Graduation and Academic Standards. He was the vice president and president of the WIU Chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois and also served as president-elect, president and past president of the Illinois Speech and Theatre Association.
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COFAC Celebrates Two 2011 Alumni Achievement Award Recipients
Jim Krasula, New Orleans, Super Dome, Hurricane Katrina, 2005
Every year, twice a year, WIU selects alums who have achieved phenomenal success and singles them out for an Alumni Achievement Award. And this year two of the three Alumni Achievement Award recipients are COFAC grads. Mark Konkol, a writer with the Chicago Sun-Times and recent Pulitzer Prize winner; and Jim Krasula of CBS Radio are two of those phenomenal grads.
Both Konkol and Krasula will be recognized at the 1:00 PM Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, December 17, 2011. Way to go guys!!!
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JSO on Tour
Rick Simerly with the Jazz Studio Orchestra
The Jazz Studio Orchestra, under the direction of John Cooper, director of jazz studies and professor of jazz trumpet in WIU's School of Music, played a concert with trombonist Rick Simerly, on November 10 to cap off their annual high school tour November 7-9, 2011. The JSO performed with Simerly in the Quad Cities and the Chicago area.
And what a tour it was. NINE performances in three days!! And the band was on the road between each of those performances.
On Monday, November 7, the JSO performed at Moline High School at 10 a.m.; at Geneseo High School, at 2 p.m.; and at the River Music Experience (RME) Performance Hall, in Davenport, IA at 7 p.m. The RME performance included special guest River City 6, led by alumnus Steve Little, MM 2009.
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Music Business Celebrates 25 years
The WIU Music Business Program celebrated its 25th anniversary over Homecoming Weekend, September 30-October 1.
Highlights included an alumni panel discussion Friday evening featuring:
- Jacob Baker BM 2011: Global Eyes Entertainment
- Julie Golden Baker BA 2005: Elgin Symphony Orchestra
- Kelsey Bostwick BM 2010: Joffrey Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago
- Matthew Clemens BA 2002: Quinlan + Fabish
- Patrick Downing BM 2009: Piano Sales Consultant, Steinway and Sons
- Jim Spenner BA 1991: Online business "The Drum Experts"
- Cory Wetzell BA 2004: Warner Audio Visual
- Nicole Wetzell BA 2006: Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
- Barry Applewhite BA 1988, MA 1991: Milwaukee High School for the Arts
Music Business 25th Anniversary. Julie Baker, Nicole Wetzell, Cory Wetzell, and Dr. Shanklin |
Sharon and Randall Faust, Jim McCain, Ann Collins, Claudia McCain |
Current students Katie Bowling and Brady Lavin with alumnus Michael Musto, center, BM 2010 |
Broadcasting Skypes with WGEM WIU Alums
Buzz Hoon and the sports broadcasting students Skype with the WGEM sports broadcasters.
Mountain..Mohammed. You know what they say. If you can't bring the mountain to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain.
That's what happened with current broadcasting students and WIU alums working at WGEM, the NBC affiliate station in Quincy, Illinois. They Skyped!
On December 6, students in Buzz Hoon's sports broadcasting class Skyped with WIU sportscasting alums at WGEM. The Skype session took place at the Living Learning Center-LLC-in Tanner Hall.
Sam Edsall thinks it is the "start of something great." See more pics at the broadcasting Facebook page.
Read more.
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