海角社区

Henderson, Tennessee 鈥斅�(Feb. 29, 2024) 鈥� More than 80 Freed-Hardeman students took center stage at the Link Centre in Tupelo, Mississippi, Saturday, Feb. 17, displaying a wide array of talents in visual art, photography, music and theatre. President David R. Shannon welcomed approximately 165 alumni and friends who had gathered to celebrate the talents of the university鈥檚 fine and performing arts students.

鈥淭onight is a way for us to open the door to FHU so you may see the hard work that has been done, but also the development that has taken place as these students devoted their skills and talent that God has given them,鈥� Shannon said. 鈥淥ur mission at FHU is to develop students鈥� God-given talents for His glory. God has given them talent, and our faculty has helped them develop their gifts. You鈥檒l see their work on the walls and hear them perform, but there鈥檚 even more to them. They鈥檙e full-time college students, carrying full-time academic loads and all of their other activities, but they took the time to be with us.鈥澛�

The evening began with an art and photography showcase highlighting the work of six students: Leilani Baker鈥檚 debut oil painting she calls 鈥淢otionless,鈥� Tori Robison鈥檚 painting 鈥淢adonna and The Frogs,鈥� Anniston McCall鈥檚 photograph in a light and shadows series, Angelina Barr鈥檚 photo series 鈥淚 Am Not My Hair,鈥� Gabrielle Smith鈥檚 4 ft by 3 ft painting called 鈥淧ieces鈥� and Morgan Milliken鈥檚 photo series called 鈥淭he Difference a Wig Can Make.鈥澛�

鈥淭his was part of a class assignment, and it鈥檚 one of 12 in the series,鈥漵aid Milliken, whose photograph was a skeleton dressed like a rock n鈥� roll musician with a mohawk made of carrots.

鈥淚 loved the skeleton, and Andy Warhol inspires me. I like intrigue, creating art and having it showcased.鈥�

Following the art and photography showcase, the spotlight shifted to the stage where the FHU Chorale, Legacy Jazz Band, Brass Ensemble, and FHU Theatre took the stage, offering a diverse lineup. The Legacy Jazz Band commenced the evening with a performance of 鈥淛azz Police,鈥� the Brass Ensemble followed with 鈥淔anfare for the Common Man,鈥� and FHU Theatre presented scenes from 鈥淭he Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,鈥� which featured Sarah Bowen, Maci Cagle, Jack Joiner, MK Miller, Levi Secula and Trenton Sweeney. Theatre鈥檚 second performance was a scene from 鈥淪tar Spangled Girl,鈥� which featured Luke Noles, Levi Secula and Collett Heenan.

Heenan portrayed Sophie in 鈥淪tar Spangled Girl,鈥� a young woman angry and annoyed by her neighbor, Norman, who smothers her with unwanted affection. 鈥淭he role is familiar to me because I was introduced to her freshman year in Acting I. But in Tupelo, I wanted to play her like I never had. I wanted to do my best and I鈥檓 really proud of how it turned out.鈥�

Luke Noles played opposite Heenan, as Norman. 鈥淲e had a single opportunity to perform after weeks of preparation, which brought both heightened pressure and a sense of liberation. Our performance aimed to showcase our capabilities,鈥� Noles explained. 鈥淜nowing that I represented not only my own abilities but also those of my colleagues was somewhat stressful. The singular performance felt surreal, as all the pent-up energy was released in one moment鈥攁n experience rare in my line of work. Overall, I was thrilled to showcase what FHU鈥檚 theatre program is capable of.鈥�

FHU Theatre Director Dr. Cliff Thompson was struck by the beauty and energy of the student performers. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to FHU and the Link Centre for giving our talented students the opportunity to show what they can do. Music, theatre, photography and fine arts all worked together to create a very memorable evening,鈥� said Thompson, who coordinated the performance event.

鈥淭he scene from 鈥楾he Star Spangled Girl鈥� has been a favorite on campus for years now. Luke Noles and Collett Heenan have performed it multiple times,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淲e wanted to feature the comic skills of our student performers.鈥�

Additionally, FHU Chorale stirred the audience with powerful performances of聽 鈥淧rayer for the Children,鈥澛� 鈥淛udgement Day,鈥� 鈥淐ircle of Life.鈥�

Thompson鈥檚 praise for the students was apparent from the audio booth when he waved his cell phone flashlight from side to side as the entire company sang 鈥淗ey Jude鈥� during the finale.聽

Thompson, along with faculty members Adam Booher, Brian Bundren, Jud Davis, Katie Deck, Brandyn Graves, Dr. Alan Kinningham, Dr. Gary McKnight and Dr. Michael Yopp, all worked together to make the evening happen. Director of Alumni Engagement Chris Ramey, as well as members of the FHU Magnolia Associates (Tupelo, Mississippi), coordinated the reception for the evening.聽

President Shannon thanked FHU faculty involved in the planning of the event, Link Centre Executive Director Melody Deas, and event sponsor and FHU Board of Trustees member Chris Hallmark, along with his wife, Holly.聽

鈥淚 had the idea to showcase the FHU fine arts department because I think it has been one of FHU鈥檚 鈥榖est kept secrets鈥� for far too long,鈥� Chris Hallmark said. 鈥淭he depth of talent across FHU鈥檚 visual and performing arts is impressive. I serve on the board of Link Centre, and I felt the Tupelo arts community, as well as FHU friends and alumni in north Mississippi, needed to see firsthand what is going on in fine arts at Freed-Hardeman. Additionally, we want to continue getting FHU鈥檚 name out there to students and families in north Mississippi who value Christian education.鈥� Hallmark himself played a piano solo, 鈥淟ast Date,鈥� during the program.聽

鈥淲e were very pleased with the turnout; we met alumni who have not attended an FHU event or been on campus in years. We had members of the community attend who had never heard of FHU,鈥� Hallmark said. 鈥淭he feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and several individuals said it was refreshing to enjoy a night of clean, family-oriented entertainment, provided by the extremely talented faculty members and FHU students.鈥�

The significance of hosting the visual and performing arts showcase off-campus was not lost on the participating students, who recognized the unique opportunity to showcase their talents to a broader audience.

Marlee Gary, a freshman social work and Bible major, felt a bit emotional once the evening was over. 鈥淲e worked on our performances for about a month; we worked hard daily,鈥� said Gary who sang during multiple portions of the show. 鈥淚鈥檓 sad it鈥檚 over. We put in our blood, sweat and tears.鈥澛犅�

Attendees left impressed and even more determined to support the university鈥檚 fine and performing arts.

鈥淲atching this show brought back so many wonderful memories of my time while at Freed-Hardeman,鈥� said Kathy Begnaud, who attended with her husband, Charles. She completed her studies at FHU in 1970 and was a part of an early a cappella group, Madrigal Singers. 鈥淭his evening had a diverse group of talents and it really showcased everyone.鈥澛�

The mission of 海角社区 is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, specialist and doctoral degrees.