STEPHENSON8:00 p.m. • Phelps Stokes Auditorium • Berea, KY2018–2019 Season

M E M O R I A L C O N C E R T S E R I E S

A L L O F T H E S E E V E N T S A R E O P E N T O T H E P U B L I C A N D F R E E O F C H A R G E

FEB 14TH

Omer Quartet Distinctive among today’s young string quartets,

the award-winning Omer Quartet enthralls audiences with a wide range of classical repertoire

from Beethoven to Schumann.

Corey Ledet and his Zydeco Band Zydeco musician Corey Ledet remains true to his roots while infusing old and new styles into his own unique and versatile sound.

SEPT 13TH

MAR 14TH

Dervish An icon of traditional Irish music, Dervish have been enchanting audiences around the world with their passionate vocals and dazzling instrumentals for many years.

NOV 15TH

Farah Siraj Jordanian virtuoso Farah Siraj fascinates global audiences with her original compositions, fusing Middle Eastern music, flamenco, jazz, Bossa nova and pop with lyrics in Arabic, Spanish and English.

Red Molly Celebrated for their

beautiful harmonies,  Red Molly skillfully weave

together the various threads of American

music—from folk roots to bluegrass

and from heartbreaking

ballads to honky tonk.

Villalobos Brothers The Villalobos Brothers masterfully blend elements of jazz, rock, classical and Mexican folk music to deliver a powerful message of love, brotherhood and social justice.

APR 11TH

B E R E A C O L L E G E C O N V O C AT I O N S

OCT 4TH

FALL 2018 EVENTS 9 daytime, 3 evening

SPRING 2019 EVENTS 8 daytime, 3 evening

SEPT•27 3:00

B E R E A C O L L E G E C O N V O C A T I O N S

erea College students are expected to attend seven convocations each term except during their term of graduation and are also expected to familiarize themselves with the Convocation rules published in the Student Handbook. Convocations take place in Phelps Stokes Auditorium on Thursdays, unless otherwise indicated beforehand. As events are subject to cancellation, please refer to email announcements or the Convocation website for a notice of change. Dress up is appropriate at evening events. Visitors are always welcome.

ZEB HARRISON & THE SOUNDS OF PRAISE What Real Horns Are Made Of!!! This brass ensemble features a big band sound that moves between New Orleans style music and contemporary gospel with a splash of jazz. While not a Mardi Gras band, the ensemble uses the same instruments—trombones, sousaphones, and euphoniums. The addition of drums and keyboards creates their signature sound. Co-sponsored with the Black Cultural Center, Carter G. Woodson Center, African and African-American Studies, CCC, and President’s Office. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation. PROF. MICHAEL ERIC DYSON Title and description will be announced at a later date. Please check the Convocations website for updates. REV. DEREK TERRY True to our God, True to our Native Land. Rev. Terry, an activist, writer, renowned lecturer, and pastor of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Cincinnati explores how Christianity has been used to support white supremacy. He also addresses how Christianity can serve to liberate oppressed populations and encourages his audience to learn from Black liberation theology. Carter G. Woodson Memorial Convocation. COREY LEDET & HIS ZYDECO BAND Standing on Faith. Following in the footsteps of Clifton Chenier, “King of Zydeco,” Texas-born Ledet was heavily influenced by southwest Louisiana’s Creole and Cajun culture and music. Staying true to the roots of Zydeco, he has incorporated many other influences, such as blues, funk, reggae, R&B, gospel, and pop to create his unique style. Stephenson Memorial Concert. RACHEL BROWN Words to Action: How Communication is Catalyzed for Violence and for Peace. Brown, Executive Director of Project Zero, will discuss the role of communication in inter-group conflict, exploring how a lack of clear communication can lead to divisions, and even violence. Brown will suggest actions we can take to use communication as a powerful tool to prevent violence and create resilient peace. Sponsored by the CCC. Robbins Peace Lecture. LOOKING FOR LILITH THEATRE COMPANY Defining Infinity. This feminist ensemble theatre company is dedicated to lifting up unheard and “underheard” stories. Defining Infinity, an original play, explores individuals’ stories about the spectrums of both gender and sexual orientation. Enlightening, thoughtful, and powerful, the play shares experiences of queer folks from all along both of these spectrums. Co-sponsored with Women’s and Gender Studies. DERVISH Classical Irish Music. Steeped in the music of northwest Ireland, Dervish is renowned for dazzling live performances with stunning interpretations of traditional songs. The band includes Shane Mitchell (accordion), Liam Kelly (flute, whistle), Brian McDonagh (mandola, mandolin), Michael Holmes (bouzouki), Cathy Jordan (vocals, bodhran) and Tom Morrow (fiddle). Stephenson Memorial Concert. DR. MELISSA ZOOK From Good Girl to Street Doc: Mistakes, Misguided Adventures and Light Bulb Moments. Family physician Dr. Zook practices cradle-to-grave medicine in London, KY and provides care for persons living with HIV, hepatitis and substance use disorders. Her path to becoming a 21st century country doctor wasn’t exactly what she imagined when she graduated from a college much like Berea. She will discuss how mistakes along the way have strengthened her and continue to form the person she has become. Co-sponsored with LJAC. Appalachian Lecture. GLADYS WASHINGTON From Segregation to Social Justice: One Black Woman’s Lifelong Quest for Equity. Washington’s childhood was divided between the Virgin Islands and the segregated South, where her grandmother taught her to advocate unapologetically for herself and her community. Washington, Deputy Director of the Babcock Foundation, has carried lessons learned into a lifelong passion for fighting for social and economic justice. Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Learning through Service (CELTS) and the CCC. Service Convocation. VANCE BLACKSMITH The History and Culture of the Lakota. Blacksmith, who teaches at the Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, is an expert in the history, culture, philosophy, and spirituality of the Lakota people. He will discuss core concepts of the origin and the afterlife according to Lakota philosophy; Lakota Star Knowledge; the power and symbolism of the Medicine Wheel; and concepts of synchronicity. The Hutchins Library will exhibit Lakota artifacts in conjunction with this talk. RED MOLLY One for All and All for One. Known for beautiful harmonies, infectious songwriting, and captivating stage presence, Red Molly weaves together the threads of American music—from folk roots to bluegrass, from heartbreaking ballads to barn-burning honky-tonk—as effortlessly as they blend their lovely voices into their signature three-part harmonies. Stephenson Memorial Concert.

AUG•30 3:00

Seabury Center

JAN•21 3:00 Monday

JAN•31 3:00

FEB•7 3:00

FEB•14 8:00

FEB•21 3:00

FEB•28 3:00

MAR•14 8:00

MAR•21 3:00

MAR•28 3:00

APR•4 3:00

APR•11 8:00

SEPT•6 3:00

SEPT•13 8:00

SEPT•20 3:00

OCT•4 8:00

OCT•11 3:00

OCT•203:00

Saturday Seabury

Center

OCT•25 3:00

NOV•8 3:00

NOV•15 8:00

NOV•1 3:00

B

PURPOSES OF THE CONVOCATIONS

CO-CURRICULAR CONVOCATIONS

A significant part of students’ educational experience at Berea College is offered through lectures, concerts and the performing arts. These events enliven the intellectual, aesthetic and religious life and perform an important educational role. Convocations also provide common experiences for students, faculty, and staff leading toward the establishment of a supportive and challenging academic community. Visit www.berea.edu/convo for information concerning the speakers and performing artists in the Convocation series, including links to homepages and other sites with related information. Any changes in the calendar schedule will be posted as soon as possible. For nearly 100 years, Berea College Convocations has made lectures and the performing arts available without charge to Berea College students and the public. Persons wishing to assist in the continuation of this tradition are invited to contact the Development Office, CPO 2216, Berea College, Berea KY 40404.

Berea students can receive up to a total of three Convocation credits during the academic year for attending one theatre event, one musical event, and one dance event chosen from among the seven groups below. Qualified events occur only on the dates below for the Berea College Theatre Laboratory (Jelkyl Drama Building) or for dance and musical performances. To receive Convocation credit, the Berea student ID must be scanned upon leaving the venue. Dates for musical ensemble performances are subject to change. Please see email announcements or postings on the Convocations website to confirm the date, time, and location of the performance.

Theatre Laboratory. The Seagull by Anton Chekhov. Deborah Martin, director. Wed. and Fri., Nov. 14 and 16, 8:00 p.m. Disgraced, by Ayad Akhtar. Adanma Barton, director. Wed. and Fri., Feb. 20 and Feb. 22, 8:00 p.m. She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen. Shawn Bruce, director. Wed. and Fri., April 10 and April 12, 8:00 p.m. All productions in McGaw Theatre, Jelkyl Drama Center. Tickets required. Box Office: 859.985.3300.

Black Music Ensemble. Fall Concert. Emmanuel Stokes, director. Sat., Nov. 17, 1:30 p.m. Union Church. Country Dancers. Deborah Thompson, director. Wed., March 13, 8:00 p.m. Seabury Center, Upper Gym. Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Spring Concert. Stephen Bolster, director. Sun., Apr. 14, 3:00 p.m. Presser Hall, Gray Auditorium.

Wind & Jazz Ensembles. Spring Concert. James Dreiling, director. Tue., Apr. 16, 7:30 p.m. Presser Hall, Gray Auditorium. Modern Dance. Kinetic Expressions ’19. Wed. and Thur., April 17 and 18, 8:00 p.m. Jelkyl Drama Center, McGaw Theatre. Tickets required. Bluegrass Ensemble. Al White, director. Sat., April 20, 8:00 p.m. Phelps Stokes Auditorium.

PRES. LYLE ROELOFS Berea Stories. It has been said that Berea consists of 1600 great stories, stories of challenge, accomplishment and triumph. That is certainly true—every Berea student has a compelling story—as do all other Bereans, faculty, staff, alumni, and retirees, who together constitute our wonderful community. Opening Convocation 2018 is a celebration of all those stories and how they connect and reinforce one another. First-year and senior students will process, as will faculty and staff. Special music will be performed by the combined Berea College choirs. VIEN TRUONG Leadership Towards a Just and Equitable Future. Policy expert and strategist Truong, CEO of the social justice organization Dream Corps, addresses intensifying climate catastrophes and increased global wealth inequalities. Truong advocates for lifting people out of poverty while creating an equitable, green economy, stressing the importance of considering race, class, and income inequality whenever addressing environmental health and sustainability issues. VILLALOBOS BROTHERS Mexican Folk Music Meets Jazz and Classical Music. The Villalobos Brothers use their violins and voices to redefine contemporary Mexican music. Their original compositions masterfully blend elements of jazz, rock, classical and Mexican folk music to deliver a powerful message of love, brotherhood and social justice. Stephenson Memorial Concert. PROF. MICHAEL KLARMAN The Framers’ Coup: The Making of the U.S. Constitution. Harvard law professor Klarman will discuss his recent book, The Framers’ Coup, the first comprehensive account of the background, drafting, and ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Klarman addresses how the Framers managed to write a nationalist and democracy-constraining constitution, and how they convinced ordinary Americans to approve such a constitution. Begley-Van Cleve Lecture. DR. DIANE WHITE-CLAYTON Jesus, the Ultimate Rebel with a Cause. When asked to describe Jesus, few choose the word rebellious. Often depicted as frail and tender-hearted, the defiant, the trouble-maker Jesus who never allowed rules to dictate His path, is overlooked. In the story of Berea College, whose rebellious beginnings directly defied the times’ societal norms, chapters remain to be written of new rebels who, through faith and determination, will change the world. Sponsored by the Willis D. Weatherford, Jr. Campus Christian Center (CCC). Accent on Christian Faith. OMER QUARTET Invigorating Classical Music. Distinctive among today’s young string quartets, the Omer Quartet has performed classical repertoire, from Beethoven to Schumann, with renowned artists around the world, winning prestigious music prizes in Italy, Norway, and France. Stephenson Memorial Concert. DR. FRANCES JENSEN The Unique Strengths and Vulnerabilities of the Teenage and Young Adult Brain. Dr. Jensen, M.D., University of Pennsylvania Professor and author of The Teenage Brain uses recent research findings to highlight the period of adolescence and young adulthood as a unique brain stage. As a neurologist, neuroscientist and recent parent of teenagers, Dr. Jensen will discuss how neuroscience can explain many of the challenges teens and young adults face, as well as opportunities present during this developmental window. Woods Lecture. DR. MAE JEMISON Pursuing the Extraordinary. Dr. Jemison, M.D., the first woman of color in space, now focuses on facilitating human interstellar travel. She will share her experience as a space voyager and her plans for her new Endeavour, the 100-Year Starship, a global initiative to make human travel to another star possible within the next 100 years. Providing a platform for radical leaps, innovation, technology and human systems, Dr. Jemison believes pursuing an extraordinary tomorrow builds a better world today. Berea College Science Lecture. KIESA KAY Love Makes a Home: The Life of Rebecca Boone. In Kay’s historical play, Rebecca, the main character, a trail-blazing midwife, shares her memories from 1811. Rebecca didn’t have a home to keep, but her adventures with her husband, legendary American frontiersman Daniel Boone, made up for what was missing. Old time fiddler Bruce Greene will perform tunes from the area crossed by the Boones. Co-sponsored with the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center (LJAC). DR. GAIL STERN The Canary in the Coal Mine. This presentation takes a critical look at identifying and interrupting the ways culture and the media sanction sexual violence. Created and presented by Dr. Stern, the presentation includes research from both civilian and military environments and considers the steps necessary to meaningfully address the impact of rape culture on our communities. JASON NEZ Conflict at the Confluence: Native American Cultural Values and Co-Operation in a Time of Resource Development. Diné archaeologist Nez discusses conflicts around development projects and their impact on managing native lands outside current Native American jurisdictions. Recently, Native American land users and other groups joined forces to defeat the proposed development of a tramway into the Grand Canyon from the Arizona Navajo reservation that would have desecrated a place held sacred by many tribes. Co-sponsored with Peace and Social Justice Studies. FARAH SIRAJ World Peace Music. Named Jordan’s Musical Ambassadress, virtuoso Farah Siraj performs original compositions, fusing influences of Middle Eastern music, flamenco, jazz, Bossa nova and pop with lyrics in Arabic, Spanish and English. A humanitarian, she has toured many countries, spreading a message of peace through her music. Stephenson Memorial Concert.