At Tuesday’s Academic Honors Day ceremonies in John L. Hill Chapel, three seniors – who had already racked up at least one “outstanding” award each – were called on stage again at the end for the prestigious Dean’s Honor Award.

Here, Georgetown College President Bill Crouch and Provost Rosemary Allen flanked the three recipients –Stacy Long of Catlettsburg, KY, left, Anna Wiederhold of Fayetteville, OH, and Katie Filiatreau of Springfield, KY. All three will enter graduate school programs this fall – Wiederhold at Ohio University, the other two at the University of Kentucky. (Photo by Paul Atkinson)

Long, a member of both Academic Team and the varsity track and cross country teams, also received awards for Outstanding Senior Major in Mathematics and Outstanding Graduate School Candidate in Physics. A Mathematics and Physics double major/Spanish minor, he has received a teaching assistantship for graduate study in Physics at UK.

Wiederhold, a member of Project Compassion and student member of the Honor Council and various leadership organizations, was named both Outstanding Senior in Communication and Media Studies, and Outstanding Student in International Relations. A Political Science/Communication double major, she will pursue a a PhD in Communications at Ohio U.

Filiatreau, best known as captain of the women’s basketball team, is president of the Student Athletic Leadership Council and has been nationally recognized as a student leader with the American Red Cross. She was also named Outstanding Student in Kinesiology. An Exercise Science major and Communication/Media Studies minor, she will pursue a PhD in Physical Therapy at UK.

By Tori Bachman-Johnson ‘12

Senior Lauri Hensley will conduct a challenging, new work by Julie Giroux, “A Time to Dance.”

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven…a time to be born, and a time to die…a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” This week, it’s Lauri Hensley’s time to conduct.

On Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. the Georgetown College Symphonic Tiger Band will present their annual Spring Concert in the John L. Hill Chapel. Among other features, including flute and horn quartets and a djembe [hand drum] solo by senior Taras Golditchuk, Hensley will pick up a baton to serve as Student Conductor. She will lead the band in a new work by Julie Giroux entitled “A Time to Dance” – a piece based on the passage above from Ecclesiastes 3.

While Hensley has experience conducting, she has never conducted anything “this big – just a few rehearsals every once in awhile,” said the senior from London, KY. “I get butterflies every time I conduct in rehearsal, so I am expecting to as well on the concert.” “A Time to Dance” is essentially a series of dances which Hensley has to shift between, including changing styles and time signatures, which can be a challenge.

“Lauri is a fine young lady who has grown, matured and blossomed into a young professional while at Georgetown,” Band Director Pete LaRue said. “We will always consider it an honor that she was part of our Tiger Band Family.”

To anyone who knew Hensley growing up or during her college days, it’s obvious why she was selected by Dr. LaRue for this honor. Before coming to Georgetown, she played alto saxophone in the South Laurel High School marching band and symphonic band. Hensley was a member of the All-Festival and All-Region honor bands, and served as Field Commander for the marching band her senior year. She was also a member of the Tri-M music honor society, National Beta Club, and National Honor Society. At her home church, Grace Fellowship Assemblies of God, she played drums for several years, as well as piano.

After arriving on campus in the fall of 2005, Hensley continued her involvement in music. In 2008, she traveled to Salzburg, Austria where she studied music with the KIIS program. She is both the President for the Georgetown chapter of the Collegiate Music Educator’s National Convention and Vice-President for the state level of the convention.

A Music Education major, Hensley is currently working as a student teacher in Bourbon County for band directors Eric and Nadine Hale. She teaches general music in the middle school band (grades 6, 7 and 8) as well as at the high school, and works with the middle school winter guard, who won the Tri-State Championship with an undefeated season.

Her busy schedule also includes Phi Mu Fraternity, Campus Ministries, CMENC, and tutoring at Scroggin Park Head Start, Child Development Program, where she mentors students every Tuesday. In March, Hensley planned a music workshop for these children of low-income families, and brought them to campus, where they learned percussion instruments, piano and voice from GC music students.

Though unsure of exactly what she’ll be doing after graduation, Hensley does have some ideas for her future. “The only thing I know is that I love teaching music and band, but leading worship is my passion, so I hope to find one or both opportunities,” said Hensley.

Hensley is the daughter of Michael and Katherine Hensley of London, Kentucky.

By Tori Bachman-Johnson ‘12

Taras Golditchuk, a senior from Hennigsburg, Germany, learned much of his drum skills in Ghana.

It’s business as usual for the Tiger Symphonic Band this spring, as a senior soloist highlights the program for Thursday’s concert. What’s unusual this time around is the talent – a trilingual, drum-playing German.

Senior Taras Golditchuk steps into the spotlight with a djembe [hand drum] during the annual Spring Concert in the John L. Hill Chapel at 8 p.m. on April 23. The concert also features recently composed pieces by Hazo, Reed, Romeyn and Giroux, as well as two chamber works for horn quartet and flute quartet. Lauri Hensley, a senior from London, KY, has the honor of conducting Julie Giroux’s “A Time to Dance.”

Selected by Band Director Dr. Pete LaRue to perform as a soloist, Taras has proven his worthiness for this honor of the past four years. As a child in Germany, Taras had mandatory music classes from elementary school through high school in the Berlin suburb of Hennigsdorf. He also spent afternoons attending a music school to get private music lessons for different instruments. Additionally, “We had a lot of street fairs for music from all around the world, particularly in Berlin,” he said.

Though Taras started out playing classical guitar, he picked up the drums after the local music school took a group of students to Accra, Ghana for a month-long workshop on African drumming. “We would take drum lessons from locals in the morning and travel around the country on weekends and afternoons,” said Taras, who found the experience difficult at first.

“The local teachers, so called ‘Master Drummers,’ don’t know how to write down music. All their songs are passed on using their memory,” he said. “Hence, we were taught all the traditional songs by ear as well and had to memorize them – songs sometimes 10 minutes long with different parts. Our African teachers were perfectionists, they would not teach you more of the song unless you knew everything perfectly to that point. It was especially difficult because they emphasize different beats like the off-beat.”

Taras spent a total of three months in Ghana at these workshops (in 2001, 2002, and 2003), and said, “It was natural wanting to continue to drum after those trips.”

Taras’s international experiences continued when he decided to stay in Kentucky for college after spending his senior year in Frankfort. That year at Franklin County High School, he played in the marching, pep and jazz bands and competed in varsity soccer, swimming and track.

“I wanted to save some time by not finishing high school in Germany and go straight to college…and I thought it would be a great experience to continue my higher education in a different country,” he explained, adding that “Georgetown offered me a nice scholarship package to come which I couldn’t refuse at that time.”

During his time at Georgetown, Taras worked as an RD, served as the Investment Team Captain, and pledged Lambda Chi Alpha, all while working on his BA in Commerce, Language and Culture (a joint venture of business studies and language/cultural studies) and in Economics. He also landed a trade research internship at the Kentucky World Trade Center in 2007, and studied abroad with a French language immersion program in Montréal, Canada.

His extensive musical background and impressive academic achievements helped earn Taras the nickname MFG (My Favorite German) from Dr. LaRue, and it was only natural for the director to invite Taras to be the senior soloist for the Spring Concert. “When I first asked Taras, I knew he had some unusual talents and skills…an obviously interesting background – German – and also interesting background with djembe,” LaRue said, “but basically I wanted to feature someone like Taras – just a great example of what is finest about our Tiger Bands.”

“A Band Scholar is someone who is an exemplar of the Five-Fold Band Tenets – Academic Excellence, Musical Ability, Spiritual Values, Leadership Skills, and Commitment to the College,” LaRue explained. “A Band Scholar is someone who is well-rounded, interesting and interested, and a good campus citizen, being actively and successfully involved in a wide-range of campus events and activities.

“Taras simply is all of these things and more.” Taras Golditchuk, who made the Dean’s List every semester, will graduate summa cum laude and with a 3.98 GPA (that’s one B!).

When it came to finding a work for Taras and the band to perform, however, difficulties arose.

Taras, who also plays in the Tiger pep band at games, with his fiancé Megan O’Donnell ’08 who flew in for Homecoming last fall.

“Dr. LaRue was searching for a piece that had a djembe drum solo and band. Obviously, there is no such piece out there so we had to modify one a little,” Taras said. The result is “Amani – Song of Peace.” This piece, originally for four-part women’s choir, now includes instrumental parts for the band, singing in both French and Swahili, clapping, and chanting, all while featuring Taras on djembe.

In a sense, Taras sees this Spring Concert as his final musical performance. “I don’t think I will continue to play percussion after college,” he said, explaining that “percussion (drums) are instruments that basically need an accompanying instrument to go with it. “While I won’t necessarily go out and actively look for an ensemble to join, I am definitely open for different opportunities.”

Upon graduation, Taras plans to utilize his business and economics degree and trilingual skills – perhaps in the United States or even Germany. “Georgetown College gave me a strong academic background in a number of areas and I feel prepared for the global marketplace,” he said.

One thing is set – his wedding date (New Year’s Day 2010) with Megan O’Donnell ’08, a Kappa Delta from Shelbyville and the dynamo who coordinated Songfest 2006. Now a conference coordinator with LeadAmerica, a national youth leadership program, she is flying up from Florida to witness Taras’s moment in the band spotlight.

Thursday’s concert is likely any audience’s last chance to see Taras in what Dr. LaRue fondly calls “full German mode – it essentially means any time I need Taras to beat the ever-lasting 24^#*@$&$%*& out of something.”

Georgetown College’s 2009 Fulbright Fellows: Bethany Byrd Hughes (Germany), Michael Clemons (Spain) and Jordan Sanderson (Mexico).

For the second time in three years, three Georgetown College seniors have been named Fulbright Fellows to study, teach and work abroad. Michael Clemons of Louisville will spend the 2009-10 school year in Spain; Bethany Byrd Hughes of Rockwall, TX, will be in Germany; and Jordan Sanderson of Union, KY, is headed for Mexico.

Their selection by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program brings to 21 the number of Georgetown College students to receive this prestigious honor since 1990. So, it was with excitement – but not surprise – that Provost Rosemary Allen greeted the news. “Success breeds success – so, oh yes, I did think we would have three again,” said the College’s Fulbright advisor, noting a number of previous assignments to Spain and Germany.

The placement in Mexico is a new triumph as it’s a first for a Georgetown alumnus. Dr. Allen worked particularly close with Sanderson, who was still younger than most applicants for the highly competitive Binational Business Grant – a Fulbright that he was denied a year ago. This grant allows him to participate in many cultural activities and events outside his classroom studies and a full-time internship with a Mexico-based company.

“One of the ways we can tell that Georgetown College is competitive on a national level is through our success in national scholarship competitions,” Allen said. “Two years ago, (we were) featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education because it had produced three Fulbright scholars—which placed us among the top liberal arts colleges in the nation for success in this prestigious competition. In repeating this accomplishment, Georgetown College is confirmed as a college with a commitment to national standards of excellence.”

Dr. Allen, who has advised 20 of Georgetown’s Fulbrights and keeps tabs on many of them, knows what a life-changing experience their “year” can be. “They not only have an extraordinary item for their resume, but more importantly they will be able to gain in-depth knowledge of international life and serve as an ambassador for their country,” she said. “These three individuals will do an extraordinary job of representing both their college and their nation.”

All three are already world-travelers: Clemons studied in Ecuador, traveled to Greece with the President’s Ambassadors and visited Chile with a group from Georgetown; Byrd was a high school exchange student in Hungary and Germany, then interned for a summer in Belgium and lived and worked in Tanzania last summer; and Sanderson studied in Spain, and interned in Mexico fall semester. But, all managed to be vitally involved in Georgetown campus life while being great students. No surprise then that all three have been inducted in the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and have GPAs of 3.97, 3.99 and 4.0, respectively.

Initiative is the characteristic the trio has in common, according to Dr. Allen. “They know what they want to do…and believe that they can do it!” she exclaimed.

Here’s a closer look at the three who will be soon representing the U.S. and Georgetown College so well abroad:

Michael Clemons

Michael – Mr. Involvement – has been the perfect Admissions Ambassador almost from the moment he set foot on campus in 2005. His experience here is almost more than any parent could want for their son or daughter. “He’s the type of student who wanted to get involved on campus and did every chance he had,” said Garvel Kindrick, the College’s Vice President for Enrollment.

As a sophomore Michael was elected Student Government Association secretary, then vice president that spring semester. Earlier he became a team leader with Project Compassion – the College’s unique partnership with the U.N.’s World Food Programme efforts in Guatemala – a great learning experience for this double major in Commerce, Language & Culture and Spanish. (His minor is Political Science).

Somehow he has budgeted his time to run Track and Cross Country, work in the campus Grille, be a Resident Advisor, lead campus tours for parents and prospective students, be part of the Harper Gatton Medallion Program and in the Honors Program.

His leadership roles may be unparalleled. He’s president of his Senior class and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity; and he’s one of 22 President’s Ambassadors who serve President Bill Crouch as a liaison to the student body and in a variety of significant ways with alumni and friends of the College.

No wonder he’s so invaluable to Admissions – he knows the College inside out. “He’s gone from the Freshman who put the closure seals for our view books on the wrong side (i.e., the spine) to the Senior who could probably handle the Admissions Counselor meeting and have the student signing the acceptance agreement before they left,” said Kindrick, the VP. “He makes all the families he tours feel at home.”

Spanish professor Adela Borrallo-Solis, who first pointed Michael toward the Fulbright program, is amazed that this “self-made” major (having had no Spanish in high school) has such a command of the language now. “Michael is special because he has a true passion and interest for the Spanish language and culture,” she said. “And I think this incredible opportunity will allow him to expand that outside the limits of the classroom.”

“I have also watched him grow into a thoughtful scholar and an exceptional individual committed to many philanthropic and service oriented organizations,” she continued. “This combination of developed language skills, reflection and commitment to others, are in my opinion, the skills that will make this new adventure a very successful one.”
Michael – already a “king” (he claimed that title at Homecoming 2008) – is now “El Rey” to Dr. Borrallo. “That’s for his work ethic and drive to never give up learning about other people.”

Michael, the son of Terry and Laura Clemons from the Beechmont/Shively area of Louisville, was very excited to learn last week his assignment would be teaching at a secondary school in Madrid. “When I found out that I was appointed to Madrid, I was ecstatic,” he said. “Not only is it the capital of Spain, but it is also rich with history and culture. I am excited to be able to live in a city so vibrant and modern.”

Bethany Byrd Hughes

Bethany was a high school exchange student in Germany in 2005 when she met up with Dr. Crouch and his President’s Ambassadors in Cologne and traveled with them for two days. “That solidified my decision to come to Georgetown,” said Bethany, who doesn’t yet know where her Fulbright assignment will be in Germany.

But, she does know that a year as a Fulbright Fellow is too good to pass up – so, she is asking the University of Kentucky Medical School if her recent acceptance can be deferred for a year.

This German and Pre-Med double major has certainly had enough experiences to go in either direction – from tutoring in German, Philosophy, Chemistry and Biology and being a summer counselor in Georgetown’s Pre-College Academic Experience in Math & Science (PAEMS Camp) to job-shadowing in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

“When I wrote her Fulbright recommendation I looked at her resume and I was so amazed to read of her travels and accomplishments and numerous ongoing activities at such a young age,” said Chemistry professor Susan Campbell, Chair of the Department. “She possesses exceptional and varied gifts: the ability to lead, a gift for learning language, a desire and ability to serve others, persistence in the face of difficulty, intellectual curiosity and superior analytical skills.”

“Leading” describes Bethany’s campus life – from serving as class president her first three years, Chapel Leadership Team leader, New Student Orientation Coordinator, and on the executive councils of student government, Panhellenic and her sorority Phi Mu Fraternity.

Somehow she found time to volunteer for such organizations as Children’s Miracle Network in Lexington, and Georgetown Baptist Church’s Vacation Bible School, Quest Farm and Scott County Animal Shelter.

Bethany and Jessie Hines (who would eventually be one of her bridesmaids) took on President Crouch’s two-year challenge of reviving the Georgetown College Presidential Mentorship Program with Scott County High. A dozen, promising high school juniors each year will have benefited from the leadership training.

The well-traveled young woman was certainly a great example of Christian leadership for those students. Bethany’s 2006 summer internship with the International Baptist Church in Jurbise, Belgium provided one of the greatest surprises of her life. Her hostess was a ’92 Georgetown graduate (Kristin Chaudoin King) who had lived in the same Phi Mu dorm room. “Crazy! God truly works in mysterious ways,” she said.

Then, while working for President Crouch two summers ago, Bethany met Georgetown graduates Moses and Tunosye Mboya, missionaries in Tanzania. Months later she had reason to exchange emails with them – and they invited her to live with them in the summer of 2008 and work in the local Baptist hospital. “That was truly one of the most profound experiences of my life.”

Bethany and Dustin Hughes both graduated in December and were married in January at Danville’s Gethsemane Baptist Church – where her grandfather Bill Hall was pastor for 22 years. (Her grandmother Ginnie Hall still lives in Danville. Her parents, Ron and Amy Byrd, recently moved there when her mother took the position of headmaster at Danville Christian Academy.) Dwight Moody, the College’s longtime Dean of Chapel, performed the wedding ceremony and Georgetown Physics professor Jonathan Dickinson was their photographer.

Obviously one who is unafraid to seize an opportunity, she and her husband can’t wait to get to Germany. “Dustin seems to be even more excited than I am, if that is possible!”

German professor Sigrid Suesse said, “Bethany’s command of (the language) is wunderbar! She also has boundless energy, is curious, has a keen eye for cultural differences and similarities, and she knows how to laugh at herself – all qualities that will serve her well on her new adventure.”

Jordan Sanderson

Instead of letting the Fulbright rejection a year ago get him down, Jordan beefed up his resume.

Last spring as an intern, he helped develop a Spanish language-training program for Minova USA, Inc. in Georgetown and translated all company literature into Spanish. In the summer, he logged more than 100 hours of MBA-level instruction in Vanderbilt University’s Accelerator Program. This “business boot camp” also gave him real-world experience with such clients as American Airlines, Bridgestone, YUM! Brands and Caterpillar Financial.
Then in Fall ’08, Jordan studied Entrepreneurship and International Commerce at La Universidad de Monterrey in Mexico while interning at the Small Business Development Center there. As an intern, he assisted in the consulting of small to medium businesses and aided companies in the exportation of their goods and services to the U.S. through trade regulation research and SBDC networking.

Using disappointment to motivate him is just what English professor Barbara Burch expected from Jordan, a three-year member of her Academic Team. “He is one of the hardest working students I have ever taught,” she said. “Some students just want affirmation of their work. Jordan wants feedback. He accepts criticism with grace and good humor and then does his best to improve his work. I cannot remember a single time that he balked or expressed frustration when pushed.”

When Jordan learned that to be eligible for the Fulbright Binational Business Grant he’d have to cut short his year abroad, he took the risk. After extensive work with Dr. Allen and consultation with members of the Spanish faculty and Georgetown’s Graves Center for Calling and Career, he interviewed (in Spanish!) via videoconference with program officials in Mexico City. His self-confidence rewarded, Jordan said, “Fortunately, I will shortly be able to return to Mexico and begin my career in international business.”

He actually had his sights set as a freshman, declaring a major in both Commerce, Language & Culture and Spanish. “I understood the importance of a balance between business skills and knowledge of foreign language and culture,” said Jordan, whose parents Scot and Cheryl moved from northern Kentucky to Newburgh, IN (near Evansville) after he graduated from high school.

That he was able pull off that difficult double major off and be named a Fulbright comes as no surprise to his elated advisor, Spanish professor Adela Borrallo-Solis. “Unlike Michael Clemons who started in a low level course, Jordan was first introduced as a sophomore in a 300 level course…something very unusual,” she said. “Unfortunately for Jordan, he was in a course full of very, very good seniors (some of them ended up being Fulbrighters themselves) who were outspoken and terribly bright. Most who were not seniors tended to be quiet and passive in the classroom. Not Jordan! It was absolutely adorable to see him face the titans in the class and become one of the semester’s stars.”

Jordan, too, made time to be a factor in campus life, serving a year on the Investment Team, two years as a Resident Advisor and three years on The Georgetonian newspaper staff and the Academic Team.

“As a Fulbright scholar, I am certain that he will be an excellent ambassador for our country’s system of higher education, not to mention a great representative of Georgetown College,” said Burch, the Academic Team coach.
Added Borrallo, “I have no doubt he will be extremely successful because of his extraordinary interest in Mexico, his perpetual energy, proven knowledge and previous experience in the field.”

By Lauren Mink ‘09

Jessie and Ryland in “Hansel and Gretel” from last year’s Op Shop.

The Opera and Musical Theatre Workshop 2009 at Georgetown College has a two-night run – with many roles double-cast – so that every student singer has a chance to star. In all the Lyric Theatre Society will perform 10 scenes from such musicals as “The Producers,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Phantom of the Opera;” and operas including “Wuthering Heights” and “Romeo and Juliet.” But, there are two graduating seniors Music professor Heather Hunnicutt begs patrons not to miss at 7 p.m., April 8 and 9 in John L. Hill Chapel.

“Ryland Pope and Jessie Rose Pennington have been exceptional leaders and talents here and they both have musical careers ahead of them,” said Hunnicutt, Coordinator of Vocal Studies and director of these free “Op Shop” performances. With only their senior recitals to come, this will be a public bidding adieu to the LTS’s president and vice president, respectively. “You might call this their ‘swan song’ together.”

Although Ryland and Jessie will perform both evenings in various roles, Wednesday will be the last time to hear them together – with “Dunque io son” (He Loves Me?) from “Il barbiere di Siviglia” (The Barber of Seville) by Rossini. This is another chance for Ryland to shine in what is likely to be his future – opera. For Jessie, who is somewhat out of her comfort zone, it’s a last chance to share the spotlight with him. “You don’t know how special it is that they’ve crossed over a number of times to work with each other,” Hunnicutt said.

The two first worked together as Lucy and Hyde in the very first “Op Shop” performance as sophomores in the spring of 2007 in a scene from “Jekyll and Hyde” and again last spring as the mother and father in “Hansel and Gretel.” In between they were the two leads in the College Maskrafters musical production of “She Loves Me.”

Junior Cate Kilgore, who will take over as LTS president this fall, is anticipating missing their positive influence. “Two years ago, Jessie took me under her wing while we were in ‘Grease’. She made me feel at home in a place so far from home,” said Cate, who will sing the part of Rosina in “The Barber of Seville” on Thursday (April 9), the same part Jessie has the previous night. “And, I will definitely have some big shoes to fill” (when Ryland graduates).”

Here’s more on our two senior singing stars:

Jessie Pennington

Jessie Pennington as Lucy and Ryland Pope as Jekyll in “Jekyll & Hyde,” Op Shop 2007.

A Lexington native, Jessie has been taking voice lessons since age 12, dance lessons since age 3, and acting lessons since age 8. No wonder then that this triple threat has had so many lead roles at Georgetown – Luisa in “The Fantasticks,” Sandy in “Grease” and Amalia Balash in “She Loves Me.” The latter was her favorite part because it was a “romantic comedy…my favorite!”

George McGee, chairman of the Theatre & Performance Studies department, who directed her in those Maskrafter roles, said, “There are certain moments and certain actors that stay with you…and Jessie Pennington is one of those. She had a pure moment as Sandy in ‘Grease’ when she first comes on stage after Rizzo has made fun of her. I’ll never forget that.”

Some will recognize Jessie as the female lead (Allison) in Georgetown College’s first feature-length film, “Surviving Guthrie,” in which she won Best Actor at the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival.

Often during her four years here, Jessie has brilliantly responded to the “command performance” invitations of President Bill Crouch – singing at events such as the annual Pawling Heritage Society dinner. Early last fall, she sang the National Anthem for former President George H. W. Bush at the dedication ceremony of the College’s fitness center in his name.

Jessie is excited about “Op Shop” because it has “stretched her voice to be more versatile.” She does not have much experience in opera, so it required a lot of concentration and work on her part. Jessie believes the audience will love the show because there are a “wide variety of scenes…comedic, dramatic, and beautiful costumes.” She is specifically excited about the song “100 Easy Ways to Lose a Man” that she will sing Wednesday night (April 8) from “Wonderful Town.” Jessie jokes that it’s “hilarious…cute and excited Dr. Hunnicutt chose it” for her.

In addition to Hunnicutt (the vocal teacher), Jessie expressed gratitude to professors George McGee and Ed Smith, and Dr. Crouch for supporting her and giving her the attention that a small school, like Georgetown, allows. “Love them all, they’re awesome!” she exclaimed.

After graduating in May, Jessie will play Laurey in “Oklahoma!”at the Woodford County Theatre and directly following that, she will be playing Jeanie in “Stephen Foster: The Musical” in Bardstown. (Area audiences will remember from past performances as “A Grand Night for Singing” at the University of Kentucky and Studio Players “Smoke on the Mountain.”)

Jessie is currently working on a country album, in which she has already cut the first single, “Best Arms.” You can have a listen at her MySpace Page, www.myspace.com/jessierosepennington. Jessie declared, “I have most definitely chosen my career path on my own.” Although, having Exile’s JP Pennington as a father supporting her 100% doesn’t hurt.

Her musical family also includes mother Suzie, who is in the music development and managing business; and her grandmother – the late Lily May Ledford – a member of the original Coon Creek Girls, the Hall of Fame bluegrass/folk group.

Jessie hopes to have more roles on stage and in film, but, she said, “country music is the best place to start and it’s where I should be in my life right now.”

Ryland Pope

Ryland is excited about the two evenings of “Op Shop” because it’s the only chance he will have to perform opera this semester. Gaining more experience on the stage is “so vital towards a career in performance,” said the Harlan native, who will also sing the part of King Arthur in a number from the musical “Camelot” on Thursday night (April 9).

His favorite moment on the Georgetown stage has been as Georg in the musical “She Loves Me.” That was a “real eye opener,” Ryland said, because it showed him how much work went into creating and running a successful show.

“Ryland’s enthusiasm is infectious ….he’s one of the nicest and most eager to learn students I’ve ever known,” said George McGee, who directed him in “She Loves Me.”

But, Ryland also loves opera – most likely his future – because it showed him “how crazy you have to be to do an opera!”
and has been doing Op Shop performances for the past three years.

Although musicals and opera are very dear to him, the people on campus are what he has loved the most during his four years. “I have to give special thanks to George McGee, Heather Hunnicutt, and my voice teacher Rebecca Miller.” He feels he owes them special thanks for opening up so many doors in world.

Although Ryland has been a stand-out for the three years of “Op Shop” performances, Hunnicutt is especially proud of Ryland for his showing at last fall’s state National Association of Teachers of Singing competition at Murray State University, when he won first place in the Senior Men category and Best Overall Performer. “I was so proud of him I thought my heart was going to beat right out of my chest!” Hunnicutt exclaimed.

Ryland, who is active with Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity and has been a member of the Student Government Association senate governing board and varsity tennis team, hopes to attend graduate school in the future. But, in the meantime he plans to sing and perform. Most importantly, he wants to keep learning about his art form. Hunnicutt said she believes that Ryland has the marketable opera singer package to get to the next level – “a beautiful, well-produced voice, excellent acting abilities, and marketable look.”

The two Opera and Musical Theatre Workshop performances are free, but there’s a $2 suggested donation for those who desire to contribute. Selections for the first half of the evening are from “Cinderella,” “The Producers” “Wuthering Heights,” “Camelot,” and “Oklahoma!” Following intermission: “Il barbiere di Siviglia,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Wonderful Town,” “Romeo et Juliette” and “Phantom of the Opera.”