| Fall Events
2008! |
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Events are free and on the Governor's School campus unless otherwise noted. Please call 864.282.3782 for more information.
The Fall Wind Ensemble
Concert will be held at the Peace Center's Gunter Theatre TONIGHT Nov. 4 at 7:30 pm.
The Wind Ensemble is pleased to feature saxophonist and instructor Dr. Adam Estes in Paul Creston's Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Band, Op. 26. This evocative work for saxophone by the award winning American composer has become a staple in the repertory for saxophone and winds. The balance of the program will feature other well known works for wind band including John Philip Sousa's Easter Monday on the White House Lawn, John Barnes Chance's Incantation and Dance, Gustav Holst's Suite in E-flat, Charles Gounod's Petite Symphonie, and David Gillingham's Be Thou My Vision. Call 864.467.3000 or go to
http://www.peacecenter.org for tickets ($12).
The following music performances will take place on campus in Smith Recital Hall:
Percussion Ensemble Concert
Nov. 11 at 7:30 pm
Brass Chamber Music Concert
Nov. 18 at 7:30 pm
Woodwind Chamber Music Concert
Nov. 20 at 7:30 pm
Opera Workshop Performance
Nov. 23 at 3 pm
Piano Ensemble Concert
Nov. 25 at 7:30 pm
Guitar Ensemble Concert
Dec. 2 at 7:30 pm
Vocal Diction Recital
Dec. 5 at 7:30 pm
Jazz Ensemble Concert
Dec. 9 at 7:30 pm
String Chamber Music Concert
Dec. 14 at 7:30 pm
Visual Art Exhibition
Elizabeth Rundorff's Paintings will be in Lipscomb Gallery on the Governor's School campus Nov. 10 through Dec. 5.
Gallery hours are 10 am-4 pm, Monday-Friday.
Drama Performances
The Governor's School Drama Department will present two classical Greek plays this fall. Both of the following will be performed by Governor's School students each evening:
"Agamemnon"
Written by Aeschylus
Directed by Dan Day
&
"The Trojan Women"
Written by Euripides
Directed by Daniel Murray
Euripides' The Trojan Women and Aeschylus' Agamemnon chronicle the fall of the famed House of Atreus and illuminate the personal and societal costs of unbridled pride, aggression and avarice. These powerful stories demand all of the developing actor's craft, instrument and collaborative spirit. We invite the audience to join us as we take on these monumental plays.
Nov. 20-22 at 7:30 and Nov. 23 at 2:00 pm in Sakas Theatre on the Governor's School campus.
Call 864.282.3737 for seating details.
Dance Performances
The Fall Dance will be held at the Peace Center's Gunter Theatre on Nov. 22 at 7:30 pm and Nov. 23 at 2:00 pm.
Governor's School dancers will perform in a concert of classical, neo-classical, contemporary and modern dance works. Performances will feature repertoire from well-known and revered ballets as well as world premieres of innovative contemporary and modern pieces by choreographers in residence at the school. Call 864.467.3000 or go to
http://www.peacecenter.org for tickets ($12).
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| AP Scholar Awards |
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40 South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities students qualified for the 2008 AP Scholar Awards from the College Board. Awarded students are listed below by the honors for which they qualified (also listed is their hometown, art area and current college if they graduated with the Class of 2008). Of this year's recipients, 18 were sophomores or juniors when they took the exams and therefore have at least this school year left to complete college-level work and possibly earn even higher levels of AP Scholar Awards.
National AP Scholars
Granted to students in the US who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.
1. Tianyi Hu (Clemson, Piano Class of 2008, currently at Duke University)
2. Shelby Switzer (Columbia, Creative Writing Class of 2009)
3. Colin Whelehan (Greenville, Trombone Class of 2008, currently at Harvard University)
AP Scholars with Distinction
Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
4. Claire Ardis (Pickens, Percussion Class of 2008, currently at Indiana University of Pennsylvania Honors College)
5. Celeste Brewer (Greenville, Creative Writing Class of 2008, currently at Milsaps College)
6. Allen Butt (Beaufort, Creative Writing Class of 2008, currently at Presbyterian College)
7. Benjamin Chen (Simpsonville, Clarinet Class of 2009)
8. Victoria Cole (Columbia, Creative Writing Class of 2008, currently at College of Charleston)
9. Anna Jones (Greenville, Visual Arts Class of 2009)
10. Benjamin Watkins (Hodges, Piano Class of 2008, currently at Northwestern University)
Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
11. Nicholas Gerald (Taylors, Cello Class of 2009)
12. Robert Gladden (West Union, Piano Class of 2008, currently at Texas State University)
13. Everett Hamilton (Columbia, Saxophone Class of 2008, currently at Bard College)
14. Findley Merritt (Greenville, Class of 2008, currently at Washington and Lee University)
15. Dustin Poelker (Summerville, Classical Guitar Class of 2009)
16. Marcus Shields (Columbia, Vocal Class of 2008, currently at Northwestern University) Granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.
17. Seth Adams (Summerville, Percussion Class of 2008, currently at Clemson University)
18. Trenton Barnes (Seneca, Creative Writing Class of 2008, currently at Columbia University)
19. Kathleen Barnwell (Greenville, Visual Arts Class of 2009)
20. Rose Malynn Berry (Batesburg, Clarinet Class of 2009)
21. Barry Brannum (Columbia, Dance Class of 2009)
22. Kathryn Breazeale (Pickens, Trombone Class of 2009)
23. Matthew Casedonte (Anderson, Creative Writing Class of 2008, currently at USC)
24. Taylor Davidson (Anderson, Creative Writing Class of 2009)
25. Elizabeth Estochen (Aiken, Creative Writing Class of 2008, currently at College of Charleston)
26. Austin Gaboriau (Little River, Bass Class of 2008, currently at USC)
27. Meghan Jackson (Moncks Corner, Violin Class of 2009)
28. Braden Joyce-Schleimer (Mount Pleasant, Vocal Class of 2008, currently at Emerson College)
29. Patrick Keeler (Greenville, Drama Class of 2009)
30. Lauren Koch (Greenville, Drama Class of 2008, currently at USC Honors College)
31. Kristie Landing (Mount Pleasant, Dance Class of 2009)
32. Kati Lear (Mount Pleasant, Vocal Class of 2009)
33. Lauren McClure (Piedmont, Visual Arts Class of 2008, currently at Guilford College)
34. Grace Mix (Beaufort, Drama Class of 2008, currently at Southern Methodist University)
35. Neha Parthasarathy (Simpsonville, Creative Writing Class of 2009)
36. Nathan Reeves (Conway, Vocal Class of 2009)
37. Margaret Sands (Pawleys Island, Creative Writing Class of 2008, currently at Loyola University)
38. Alexandria Tennant (Myrtle Beach, Violin Class of 2009)
39. Ian Wilson (Greenville, Dance Class of 2008, currently at Marlboro College)
40. Haley Zdybel (Myrtle Beach, Cello Class of 2009) | |
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| Alumni News |
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Nicole Brown ('03 Drama) AKA Nicole Behaire plays the leading female role in the box office movie:
THE EXPRESS
The Ernie Davis Story
MTV and HP teamed up to bring four teams of digital artists from around the world to New York City to compete in a series of creative challenges. The reality show, MTV's Engine Room consisted of seven short episodes in which four teams conceptualized, designed and presented their work to judges (including celebrities) in a contest to ultimately win $400,000 in cash, plus HP gear.
 Luis Salcedo ('07 Visual Arts) and his 4-member team Latin America WON!
(Each won $100,000 in cash, plus HP gear.)
According to Luis, "It was difficult enough to come up with creative ideas and solutions in a tight schedule, add the fact that you have to deal with artists from different backgrounds and you have a real challenge in front of you, that's when all my experiences were put to the test. Does this situation sound familiar? Probably because it is, I had to deal with it with my fellow Governor's School classmates....Overall, I'm very thankful for my ability to bring something to my team."
Luis is currently a teaching assistant and student at the California Institute of the Arts.
His website is: http://www.a113design.com/
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| From Our President |
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Life after Budget Reductions
During the past few weeks, I have made an effort to share information about our budget and the legislature's action related to reductions. Most of you know that our school received a 8.6% reduction from our original 2008-09 budget and this reduction is to be implemented immediately.
All of our Governor's School colleagues with budget supervision responsibilities have been very helpful. Together, we have made plans for reducing expenses in almost every area, but we have been very careful to cause only a minimal impact on direct classroom teaching. For the most part, our students will not notice a change in their daily educational activities. They will see some changes in selected production or performance activities, but we have been very selective in order for these changes to, again, have minimal impact on the students' growth as young artists.
Some on campus will notice that a few staff members have been moved from one area to another or accepted additional responsibilities in order to successfully accomplish our work with fewer resources. The students are already aware of the move of campus Safety and Security to the lobby of the residence hall. This was a planned change, but the budget challenges created the necessity for the move to be completed more quickly than originally scheduled.
We will carefully monitor the impact of the reductions and respond to any changes that seem to be seriously challenging the basic education of our wonderful students. Our staff and faculty have been remarkable in their response to this unprecedented situation, and I am confident that the excellence for which the Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities is nationally recognized will continue.
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| Seeking Emerging Artists... |
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... for 2009 Summer Programs and the 2009-2010 Public Residential High School Year!
As always, we ask you - our families, friends and advocates - to help us in our search for the artistically talented youth of South Carolina. Admissions information and applications are online at the links below:
Residential High School 2009-2010 Application
Please contact applynow@scgsah.state.sc.us or 864.282.3706 for more information about applications, auditions and visits from our area representatives.
Thank you for sharing information about the incredible oppportunities our school has to offer! |
| Alumnus Profile |
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The Fascinating Rhythms
of Vincent Mao
He's a pianist; he's a dancer; he's a poet. And he's earning a doctorate in nanotechnology at Duke University. Vince Mao (Music '01) hears fascinating rhythms. It's simply a matter of DNA, a central focus of his current scientific studies. Science always tugged at Mao - even when he was a piano student at the Governor's School.
The Greenville native was well-situated in the pre-IB program at Southside High School when he entered the summer Honors program in the late 90s. That summer experience, as it does for so many, changed his life. Although he was already firmly planted in academics, Mao knew that an arts background would not only feed his soul and broaden his perspective on life, but would be key to developing the critical thinking skills that science requires. So he entered the residential piano program and graduated in the inaugural class of 2001.
"I knew that an arts background would give me perspective on the world. At the Governor's School you are exposed to so many art forms - not just what you are studying. Learning is not just from books. It makes you think about things in different ways. You get a feel for how much is in the world that you don't know. That's important."
Mao laughs when he recalls what the early days on the new campus were like. It was, in fact, more a construction site at the time. The only functional building was the dormitory. The students slept there, ate there, and were confined to most residential life activities there. During the day they were bussed to Greenville Tech for classes. It may have looked like a primitive existence to some, but to Vince and his classmates, it was nirvana.
As graduation approached, Mao looked at ten or so colleges. They all had one thing in common: balance. A strong arts component and a strong academic component were equally important to him. Eventually he settled on Duke, primarily because it was close to home and tuition would be paid for.
He double-majored in biomedical and electrical engineering, and discovered his niche in self-assembled nanotechnology. Terms like optical computing, dual beam spectofluorometer and two-dimensional DNA tiles became his workaday language. Mao says that in his field, "you don't have to physically put the pieces together. The way DNA works - the number of structures - one milliliter is equal to the number of pages in the Library of Congress." Wow!
In 2005, Mao earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Duke. In 2008, he earned his Master of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke. In 2012, he is scheduled to receive his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at - where else? - Duke.
 Lest you think that Mao is just a nanogeek, think again. He acts, he sings, he writes, he draws, he plays (the piano, the violin, the guitar) and he dances - with a frenzy. Mao is a member of Defining Movement at Duke. Defining Movement is a multi-cultural dance troupe that celebrates the "clearly defined presence of a new generation of diverse, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural young people in today's society." The troupe incorporates a variety of styles, from ballroom dancing to tap, in "an effort to challenge stereotypes, to explore, to reach out, to cross boundaries, to set a standard and most of all, to dance."
Mao got a chance to show off his skills at the residential summer reunion last June. In the Zumba workshop led by Spanish teacher Janice Boyles, no one could possibly have guessed that the agile young man shaking his moneymaker with such gusto was also a serious scientist in groundbreaking technology.
But that's what makes Mao so fascinating. He is open to everything life has to offer. Exceedingly grateful for the excellent education and life skills he received at the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, he hopes all current and future students appreciate the strong foundation the school provides. 
"It's not easy to stay in such a demanding environment, but everyone needs an artistic background in order to do well in science and academics. Everything you do prepares you for the next step. Don't take it for granted."
Vince Mao is on a quest to illuminate his soul and reflect what is best within him. The fascinating rhythms this alum hears in lab and life are sure to take him there. |
| Spring 2009 ITV Recertification Course for 9-12 Grade SC Teachers |
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Course begins Online January 24!
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| Featured Student Work |
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| Raised & fabricated copper and brass chalices by visual arts seniors, inspired by visual arts faculty member Ben Gilliam's fellowship in Ireland last summer, sponsored by the Surdna Foundation and the SC Arts Commission.
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