Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

Pianist Awadagin Pratt to Highlight Celebrity Series
Music Educator to Lecture on Musicianship and Skills
University Rec's Outdoor Recreation Trips Scheduled
Feast and Focus Series Begins
Parent and Child Swim Program Offered
UA Arboretum Seeking Docents and Volunteers
Study Abroad in Asia - Opportunities Available

Pianist Awadagin Pratt to Highlight Celebrity Series

Awadagin Pratt

Pianist Awadagin Pratt will perform as part of the School of Music’s Celebrity Series on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the Moody Music Concert Hall. The event is sponsored by the Gloria Narramore Moody Foundation, which was established in 1988 to bring world-renowned artists to Tuscaloosa. Single event tickets are available for the general public for $22 and $15, and $7 for students with valid IDs. For more information about tickets, contact the School of Music box office at 348-7111.

As an artist, Awadagin Pratt challenges the classical music establishment and fans alike, forcing them to rethink the way the music is perceived and heard. When Pratt bounded on stage for his winning presentation at the prestigious Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1992, his appearance caused a buzz, but by the end of his performance, he had won over the judges and audience, and rave reviews have been coming in ever since. Since 1994, Pratt has performed across the United States and worldwide.

"Transformations," Pratt’s fourth album, was issued in 1999 and contains Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition," as well as Brahms’ "Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel" and Pratt’s own piano transcription of Bach’s "Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor."

Music Educator to Lecture on Musicianship and Skills

Dr. Gary McPherson

Dr. Gary McPherson, course coordinator for music education at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, is visiting UA through Feb. 22 as the endowed chairholder in Music Education and Music Therapy in the School of Music. He is presenting a series of lectures, all to be held in the Recital Hall of the Moody Music Building (unless otherwise indicated), during his visit. McPherson completed his undergraduate degree in music education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, a master of music education at Indiana University and a doctorate at the University of Sydney. He is a former national president of the Australian Society for Music Education and executive board member of the International Society for music education. He has performed as a professional trumpeter in symphony orchestras and jazz ensembles throughout Australia. For more information, contact the department of music education at 348-6054.

Upcoming lectures include: "Emotional Communication in Music" Wednesday, Feb. 13, 5:30-6:30; and "The Psychology of Performance," Wednesday, Feb. 20, 5:30-6:30.

University Rec's Outdoor Recreation Trips Scheduled

UA’s Outdoor Recreation Trips for the spring and summer, sponsored by University Recreation, are scheduled. Trips require attendance at the meetings held before the trip’s date, and fees may be charged. Upcoming events and trips include the Backpacker Cooking Clinic, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 6-8 p.m. in the Rec Center; Backpacking in DeSoto State Park, Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 23-24, with the meeting set for Tuesday, Feb. 19, 6-8 p.m. For more information, contact University Recreation at 348-5140. See the complete calendar by following links on UA’s campus-wide events calendar, Capstone Calendar, at http://events.ua.edu.

Feast and Focus Series Begins

Women's Resource Center logo Sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center, Feast and Focus is dedicated to empowering and educating women on topical issues. Sessions are held Tuesdays from noon-1 p.m. in room 360 Ferguson Center. Attendees may bring a sack lunch.

Upcoming sessions are: "A New Look," Feb. 5, "Fashion for You," Feb. 12, and "Hair Trends," Feb. 19. For more information and a registration form, contact the WRC at 348-5040.

Parent and Child Swim Program Offered

UA’s Aquatic Center and Aquatic Sports is offering "Mommy and Me Swim Program" for children ages 6 months-36 months and their parent. The program will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 5-March 7, from 1-1:30 p.m. The cost for faculty and staff is $65 per child. To register, fax the parent’s name, Social Security number, address, home and work phone number and the name and age of the child to 348-5836. For a registration form or more information, call Aquatic Sports at 348-5244.

UA Arboretum Seeking Docents and Volunteers

Clip art: leaves and nuts The UA Arboretum, located at the eastern end of 15th Street, adjacent to the VA Hospital grounds, is seeking docents who would like to volunteer time to guide visitors, including students who visit on school field trips, in the Arboretum and talk about the Environmental Education curriculum. During the spring, 2,000 school children visit the Arboretum. For information about the docent program, call the Arboretum at 553-3278.

Volunteers are also needed to help with the Arboretum’s Privetpullooza, an on-going effort to remove non-native privet, which can be invasive. The next Privetpullooza is Feb. 8-9. The Arboretum is a 60-acre botanical facility.

Study Abroad in Asia - Opportunities Available

Opportunities for studying in various cities in Japan and Korea are available through programs in UA’s Capstone International. Deadlines, costs and details vary. For complete information, contact Susan Brantley in Capstone International at 348-5312 or by e-mail to sbrantley@aalan.ua.edu. Two upcoming deadlines for undergraduates: March 1 for the J-PAC program at Chiba University; March 15 for the HUSA program at Hiroshima University.