BW Music Theatre Students to Hit the Stage at Nighttown

The BW Music Theatre Class of 2017 prepares to dazzle audiences at Nighttown

One important ingredient in developing Broadway-ready talent in the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music's Music Theatre program involves live performance opportunities for students on and off campus. Playhouse Square and Beck Center feature BW students in full productions, while smaller venues, like Nighttown, showcase BW's stars-in-the-making in a more intimate setting.

After debuting "Gold Standards" to packed houses here on campus, BW Music Theatre juniors will take the concert featuring selections from The Music Man, Brigadoon and Oklahoma to Nighttown on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the December 9 performance can be purchased online.

Nighttown will host Senior Cabaret Night on March 28, 2016, and the dining and entertainment destination will also feature BW Music Theatre students on May 2, 2016, for a performance of the senior showcase, a selection of standards performed by sophomores.

Alpha Phi Takes Philanthropy to Heart

Several BW student leaders were "arrested" by the sisters of Alpha Phi for their "Cardiac Arrest" philanthropy event. Friends of those "locked up" could "bail out" their friends by donating to The Alpha Phi Foundation, which benefits women's heart health and scholarships to Alpha Phi sisters nationwide.

"This event is important to us," Lauren Schneider '16, Vice President of Marketing for Alpha Phi, said, "because it allows us to create awareness about a serious health issue and donate money to a cause that is so important to our chapter."

Attendees could also "pie" a sister for a donation, and there was pizza and cornhole just for fun.

"My favorite part of Cardiac Arrest is getting other fraternities, sororities, and sports teams involved," Schneider said. "It is always awesome to see so many other organizations on campus come together to help up support the philanthropy that means so much to us."

The event made over $900 to support The Alpha Phi Foundation. 

BW Film Major Shines a Light on Mission Guatemala

Elise Bigley shows kids the videos she took of
them and their school

Film and international studies major Elise Bigley '16 spent six weeks at an internship in Panajachel, Guatemala where she helped create films for Mission Guatemala, a new BW partner for service-learning and study abroad.

Mission Guatemala works to help "meet the basic needs and improve the quality of life of under-served and impoverished Guatemalan peoples through health, education and nutrition initiatives and missionary service."

"I am very excited to give back by documenting their accomplishments," Bigley says on her study abroad blog.

Bigley was joined by eight BW faculty and staff members during her second week in Guatemala. They were laying a foundation for the expanded relationship between BW and Mission Guatemala.

"The people are incredible and have such a vibrant culture and history. Beautiful scenery, delicious coffee, and gorgeous rural and urban settings are just a some of the notable characteristics. The experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, but still supported me in a way that has me dying to go back."

Bigley is currently working on the largest film from her internship, but has created a short informational video including footage she gathered that encourages others to study abroad in Guatemala.

Bigley's internship was facilitated through the BW Honors Program, which is working with Explorations/Study Abroad to create more opportunities for students in the future. An Honors faculty led program is planned for May 2016.

Conservatory of Music Students, Faculty Play Violins of Hope

The BW Conservatory of Music has embraced, amplified and been inspired by Amnon Weinstein's effort to bring the voices of those lost in the Holocaust back to life. Over the past two decades Weinstein has worked to restore violins that survived the Holocaust. Now, 19 of the restored instruments are featured in an exhibition known as Violins of Hope that runs until Jan. 3, 2016 at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Student and faculty musicians from BW's Conservatory of Music are plugged into two events that use some of these restored violins.

On Oct. 25, members of the BW Symphony Orchestra performed Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, Strings and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043. The Orchestra was conducted by Octavio Más-Arocas and featured faculty soloists Julian Ross and Barton Samuel Rotberg.

Students toured the exhibit following the performance, a profoundly moving and "eye opening" experience for junior music performance major Therese West '17.

Maltz Museum Education & Public Programs Director, Jeffery Allen,
leads BW students through the Violins of Hope Exhibition.

"As we went through the museum and heard all of the stories about each violin it was difficult to wrap your head around what that instrument and it's owner had been through," West says. "Some of the stories they told us were heartbreaking. Some of the musicians played their instrument to find relief and others played to stay alive. It was amazing to hear how music helped so many people persevere through such a horrible time. "

Dr Julian Ross

 "Violins of Hope is a tangible reminder of catastrophic tragedy, yet also confirmation of the resiliency of Jewish cultural and religious life," Dr. Ross says. "Thinking of some of the genuinely heroic people who created the tradition of Jewish violinists is profoundly humbling."

Ross will be featured again on Wednesday, Nov. 18 in a lecture/performance called The Mystery of the Violin. He will be performing with fellow BW Conservatory professor Robert Mayerovich on piano. This event will take place at 7 p.m. at the Maltz Museum.

Ross explained that since the 16th century, violin music has not only been a large part of Jewish cultural and social life, but a way to overcome repression. "I've also come to understand how fortunate and blessed I have been, to live in a time and place where I can study and perform, and have wonderful students who love music. The generations who came before me struggled to make this possible, and I pray that I honor them with the work that I do."

In a Cleveland Scene interview, museum director Ellen Rudolph shares her enthusiasm for the performances associated with the exhibit, saying, “It’s an amazing opportunity to bring those voices to life and connect with those who are lost.”

Conservatory Student Fiddles Her Way to National Honor

While most musicians prefer peace and quiet when rehearsing show pieces, Meredith Hudock '16 asked her studio instructors to distract her as she practiced for this year's National Scottish Fiddling Competition.

Last year, Hudock remembers flash photography and theater light disruptions affecting her performance at the competition. This year, she prepared for any and all distractions that may had come her way.

"They [her instructors] would talk while I was playing, take pictures with flash, slam doors, switch on and off lights, and even come up on the stage I was playing on and dance around me," Hudock said. "I knew that if I could play through all that, I could play through anything!"

This unique preparation method paid off.

Hudock won second place at the 2015 National Scottish Fiddling Competition in the Edinboro Highland Games & Scottish Festival in Edinboro, Pa. A senior Violin Performance major in the Conservatory of Music, Hudock points back to the support she has received at BW to her success.

"While I was touring other colleges in high school, professors would give me the weirdest looks whenever I said the words 'Scottish fiddler,'" Hudock said. "When I visited BW and said I was a Scottish fiddler, they welcomed me with open arms." 

With this impressive achievement to add to her resume, Hudock hopes to earn a master's degree in Scottish fiddling from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow after BW graduation.

"Even though I do a variety of alternative styles, I always come back to Scottish music," Hudock said. "I hope to continue to teach and perform Scottish fiddle so the music tradition stays alive for many years to come."

First BW Student Accepted to OU Medical School Under Primary Care Early Assurance Program

BW's Primary Healthcare Advancement Program has produced the first future doctor to win early acceptance to medical school at Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM). Nathan Katz '17 was honored at a celebratory dinner on the new Cleveland campus of OU-HCOM.

Katz, a biology (pre-med) major, has always wanted to be a primary care doctor. Being granted early acceptance to medical school as a junior is a dream come true for the Columbus native. "I've wanted to be a doctor since my senior year of high school after I started caring for my grandfather while he struggled with dementia in his old age."

The partnership with OU-HCOM is one of two early assurance medical school partnerships that BW has to offer.  The other links aspiring physicians at BW to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Primary Healthcare Advancement Program blends coursework of BW's public health major and a medically oriented science curriculum, giving undergraduate students a foundation needed to successfully pursue primary care medical training.

Katz's advice to anyone looking for early acceptance to medical school? "Take things day by day and don't get overwhelmed by the requirements of the program or the course load!"

BW to be Honored as Minds Matter "Partner of the Year"

On November 7, BW is being recognized as the Minds Matter "Partner of the Year" for the continuous support the university has provided to the program. The Minds Matter organization assists promising high school students from low-income backgrounds with things like ACT preparation and college admission counseling in order to put them on the path to a successful college career. Minds Matter says 100% of the program's students have been accepted by four-year colleges.

The national organization's Cleveland chapter was launched in 2008, with the help of several BW alumni. Michael Lagoni ‘06, along with Kristen San Marco ’06 and Meghan Pethtel ’07 all worked to bring the chapter together in it's beginning stages.

BW maintains a strong link with the chapter today through it's alumni founders, faculty board members and volunteers. The organization is also proud to partner with BW on a two-week summer enrichment program starting with the 2015-2016 year.

BW will be recognized at the Third Annual Minds Matter Gala on November 7, with tickets available online. There will also be a silent auction benefiting the non-profit organization's Cleveland chapter.

Students Raise Awareness About Suicide Prevention

TWLOHA-BW's "Black Flag Campaign"

With a year-round goal of fighting the stigma surrounding mental illness, student leaders of BW's Chapter of To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) used this month's National Suicide Prevention Week to heighten awareness at BW. The group staged an entire week of events inspired by the words that closed out last year's suicide prevention campaign, "No One Else Can Play Your Part."

Events at BW included a Candle Light Vigil,  a discussion of the symptoms of depression and suicide, coping methods and treatment options featuring counselors from BW Health Center, and an attention-getting "Black Flag Campaign," jointly staged with BW ALLIES. Five-hundred black and rainbow flags were dispersed around campus, each representing two of the college students who lose their lives to suicide each year, with many students expressing surprise at the number.

BW's TWLOHA Chapter President, Rachel Wilken '16, says that kind of awareness raising is exactly why she got involved with the group, "I want to be a part of something bigger than myself and have a lasting impact on how BW students view mental health issues."

TWLOHA also collaborated with BW's Music Therapy majors to stage the culminating event of the week, "Hope N' Mic Night," which invited students to discuss topics that aren't often talked about, such as mental illness and suicide. The SAC was at its capacity for a variety of performances including poetry, vocals and instrumentals, and $150 was raised for treatment.

BW's TWLOHA chapter was founded in 2012 and meets weekly to discuss how to raise awareness to mental health issues on campus. "I can honestly say that I have left every TWLOHA meeting in a better mood than I came in with," says Chris Horvath '17.

Music Therapy major and TWLOHA member, Jill Iurlano '17,  performing during Hope N' Mic Night

English Major Published in Ohio Magazine

At the end of her interview with Ohio Magazine,  senior English-creative writing major, Alyssa Nieset '16 was offered an internship on the spot.

Nieset spent her summer working as an Editorial Intern with the statewide publication, gaining experience writing for magazines and discovering a possible career path that she hopes to pursue in the not so distant future.

Ohio Magazine published Neiset's articles both online and in print (see photo). Her piece on the Harpersfield Winery in her hometown of Geneva, Ohio, was used as a section of the cover story in the August 2015 issue.

"I was thrilled to be given the chance to write a story of that size," she tells us about the prominent feature, "especially because my family and I have been going there since I was little."

Other articles Neiset bylined included pieces on a cardboard boat regatta, creative bacon recipes, Columbus coffee brewers, and summer fun destinations in Cleveland. Despite juggling some stressful deadlines, Nieset says her overall experience at Ohio Magazine was a positive and rewarding one.

BW Talent Brings 'Secret Garden' and 'Fantasticks' to Life

Baldwin Wallace University students, alumni and faculty are the driving force behind two productions staged first at summer theater festivals out west, with both "The Secret Garden" and "The Fantasticks" moving next to Cleveland.

A scene from The Secret Garden. Left to right: Giovanna A. Layne, Colton Ryan '15, Warren Bodily, Sara Masterson '16, and Jillian Kates '11. Photo Courtesy: DKM Photography.

Among the BW faculty involvement, Victoria Bussert directed both productions, while Gregory Daniels, Jeff Herrmann and Charlotte Yetman appeared on the design team as choreographer, scenic/lighting designer, and costume designer.

Clare Howes Eisentrout '13, Meredith Lark,
and Pedar Benson Bate in The Fantasticks.
Photo courtesy: Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

Dana Oland rings praise for "The Secret Garden" in a theatrical review for Idaho Statesman, highlighting three BW students in the Idaho Shakespeare Festival production in particular: Jillian Kates '11, who plays Lily, holds a "lovely and powerful soprano;" Sara Masterson '16 "nearly stops the show" as the maid Martha; Colton Ryan '17, who plays Martha's brother Dickon, takes the audience on an "energetic ride" when he sings "Wick."

In another Idaho Statesman review of "The Fantasticks," which was produced first at the Lake Tahoe Theatre Festival, Oland credits Clare Howes Eisentrout '13 in the role of "Luisa" as having a "clear bell-like soprano." James Penca '13 also appears in the musical as "Mortimer," while alumnus Matthew Webb '08 is musical director and recent graduate Nick Wilders '15 is the assistant music director. Other BW students involved are Gabriel Brown '16 and Mary Mondlock '16.

Both musicals are now coming to Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, where the "The Secret Garden" will run September 29-October 31 and "The Fantasticks" will run May 13-29, 2016.

Freshman Cancer Survivor's Story Prompts Televised Surprise

The courage and service of BW freshman Arshawna Warren '19 inspired a national television audience this week, as Steve Harvey's syndicated talk show honored the teen breast cancer survivor for giving back to her community — and surprised her with a brand new Ford Focus and $5,000!

Even before she arrived at BW this fall to study psychology, Warren was applauded for the award-winning and life-saving outreach program she developed as a young cancer survivor. At 16, Warren discovered a lump during a routine self-exam and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Early detection saved her life and inspired Warren to spread the word about self-exams and early detection. She developed a workshop and website, "Be Pretty in Pink," to empower middle school and high school students.

“I figured why not put a workshop on for young people about young people getting breast cancer or any type of cancer,” she tells the media. “It’s not too early to start checking.”

This summer, Warren's work also earned her the presitgious Girl Scout Gold Award, presented to young women who “demonstrate extraordinary leadership through remarkable Take Action projects that have sustainable impact in their communities — and beyond.”

Before the recognition by Steve Harvey (which you can replay in its entirety below), Warren's story was featured on WKYC-TV and USA TODAY, as well as Romona's Kids on 19 News. The story has since been shared on news sites all over the world. 

Radio Listeners Enjoy Ongoing Inside Look at BW Music Theatre

“I feel at home and at my best when I’m on stage,” said Warren Franklin ’19, Music Theatre major in the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music.

On top of rehearsals and schoolwork, Franklin will give WCLV Classical 104.9 listeners an inside look into the life of a first-year BW Conservatory student during a series of on-air interviews. In his first interview for the series, Franklin explained his admiration for BW's renowned Music Theatre program before he was even admitted.

“I knew ever since growing up, I wanted to go to BW,” said Franklin. “The shows were amazing, but it was when I saw Carrie the Musical at the Beck Center where I was just like, ‘this is my home, this is where I need to be.’”

A graduate of the Cleveland School of the Arts, Franklin is no stranger to the stage. This past June, he starred in Cain Park’s production of Godspell as Jesus.

With just a few weeks into his freshman year, Franklin has adjusted to a full course load to hone his craft. One class, Eurhythmics, comes natural to Franklin.

“I was a percussionist for 6 years in a competition drum corps,” Franklin said, “so eurhythmics comes very, very easy to me. I’m having a lot of fun in Eurhythmics; it’s helping me a lot.”

Listeners can tune into Franklin’s next episode on the WCLV Classical 104.9 live-stream channel on Ideastream.

BW Student Ambassadors Program Receives ICAA Recognition

The BW Alumni Relations' Student Ambassadors Program has been recognized with a 2015 Independent College Advancement Associates (ICAA) Program of Excellence Award.

Lisa M. Judge '00, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, BW Student Ambassadors Kyle Johnston ’16 and Abigail Snow ‘16, and Terry Kurtz ‘91, Director of Alumni Relations (pictured left to right) all attended the ICAA conference in Pittsburgh this summer where the award was presented. Kurtz and Judge are co-advisors to the Ambassadors organization, which is currently comprised of 40 BW sophomores, juniors, and seniors representing a variety of academic disciplines and campus involvement.

The ICAA Program of Excellence Award recognizes successful programs that “enhance the work of advancement or the university as a whole. “The goal for this award is to celebrate people or teams that have developed innovative programs, tools and systems and additionally, to help recognize best practices in the field of advancement.”

“BW Ambassadors allow our alumni connect with the BW of today and generate excitement about the University’s future,” Judge said. “We are thrilled that their hard work has been recognized with this award.” 

At the ICAA conference, Judge, Johnston and Snow also co-presented a session on Harnessing the Energy of Student Volunteers: Best Practices from BW Student Ambassadors.

Recruitment for new BW Student Ambassadors will begin again in January 2016.

Senior Takes Psychology Research to NYC

Undergraduate research successes at BW often result in impressive national presentation opportunities. That's the case for BW psychology/ pre-medical major Kyle Johnston '16, who spent three semesters researching the effects of concussion in athletes. His unique study analyzed information from all 23 athletic teams at BW. 

In May, the rising senior and aspiring medical professional took his research on the road. Johnston and his faculty advisor, Dr. Dale Grubb presented the research at the American Psychology Society's 27th annual Conference in New York City. APS not only provided an excellent conference for showcasing the research, but allowed Johnston to gain insight on similar psychological studies.

Sport Management Majors Intern with NFL's Dawg Pound

Photo Courtesy of the Cleveland Browns.

Everyone sees Johnny Manziel, Joe Haden and other Cleveland Browns superstars in the news and on the field. But not everyone sees them at work every day.

Eric Kwiatkowski '17 and Kevin Hulsmann '16 are working as Team Operations interns for the Browns this summer. The sport management majors assist with Training Camp in a variety of ways, driving shuttles of Browns players back and fourth from their hotel to the training facilities, taking inventory and distributing training camp schedules to players, managers and other members of the Browns' support staff.

"I like working with the Browns because I get to be a part of something that I've loved my whole life," Kwiatkowski tells us. "I get to see what goes on behind the scenes to make a Browns season happen."

Both students found out about the internship through BW sport management professor Charles Campisi. "The sport management professors at BW are always sending us emails about internships in the sporting industry which gives us many opportunities," says Hulsmann.

Both Kwiatkowski and Hulsmann believe they are fortunate to have landed summer internships that are exposing them to a side of the pro sports industry that they have never seen before.

Student Writer Spends His Summer at Outlook Ohio Magazine

The multi-talented Nathan Cole '17 took his passion for writing to Columbus this summer. Cole, an English major who also writes student and alumni success stories for BW, spent his summer in an editorial internship with Outlook Ohio magazine. Outlook Ohio is a free, monthly publication that is geared for the LGBT and allied community and can be found on newsstands in over 2,000 locations around the state. 

"I have had so many different opportunities to grow in the field of journalism and communications," Cole explains. In addition to contributing to Outlook Ohio's online blog, Cole had articles published in the July and August print magazines, and will have another article published in the upcoming September issue.

He had the opportunity to interview and write about RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7 runner-up, Pearl; fashion director of the Columbus Fashion Meets Music Festival, Horacio Nieto; and Neon Trees lead singer, Tyler Glenn, just to name a few. 

The publishing industry, according to Cole, is nothing like what we see in 'The Devil Wears Prada.' He says that he could not be happier about his summer at Outlook Ohio.

Cole's published article on the 2015 Gay Softball World Series in Outlook Ohio Magazine. 

BW Career Network Helps Marketing Major Land Internship

Senior Kevin Fredrick may be spending his summer days working 8-5, but he doesn't mind.

With help from the BW Career Network (BWCN), the marketing major from Archibold, Ohio found an internship that perfectly aligns with his major and his interests. Fredrick is working at American Tank and Fabrication (AT&F), one of the world's premier metal fabricators, as a Marketing Intern. The BWCN is a web-based platform designed to connect BW students and alumni with employers for jobs and internships.

Fredrick's position keeps him busy throughout the day with a never-ending to-do list that consists of tasks like creating trend reports, maintaining the company's customer relationship software and editing press releases, articles and other publications. Fredrick also assists with internal marketing for the company.

Fredrick tells us he enjoys the variety. "My days aren't repetitive. I do a lot of different things for a lot of different departments and people. Though the workload can be a challenge, it's one that I welcome."


AT&F is a small family owned, family operated business and in the three months that Fredrick has worked there, he feels as though he has created solid relationships with his AT&F colleagues.

"I feel cared about. The people here are seriously focused on group success and it feels much more gratifying to be working with people who share in each other's successes."

Post graduation, Fredrick hopes to work for an advertising agency, doing content marketing, and he feels fortunate to have an internship that is preparing him for a future in his intended career field.

BW Night at the Ball Game Builds Community

Alumni, students, parents and faculty gathered together for a group photo during the 7th inning stretch

The Indians may have lost to the White Sox, but it was a win for the BW community at Progressive Field on a recent summer night.

Over 140 alumni, friends, family and faculty from around Northeast Ohio attended BW Night at the Ball Game, an annual and greatly anticipated alumni event on July 23. Spirits were high and fun was had by all, despite the final score.

BW works to build the YJ4L (Yellow Jackets for Life) community through events all year round. Stay up on the latest. "Like" the Baldwin Wallace Alumni Facebook page for alumni news and updates about upcoming events!

BW Students Coach HS Students to GEAR UP for College Success

Baldwin Wallace University and Strongsville High School have been collaborating to develop an innovative program that helps prepare high school students for college, using BW students as coaches. The benefits of the Strongsville Writing Center/Academic Lab were recently featured at the GEAR UP Ohio Conference in Columbus. GEAR UP is a state project focused on embedding a college-going culture in targeted communities with the goal of increasing the number of low-income students who are college ready.

Susan Oldrieve, Ph.D., a BW English professor and Associate Dean of BW's School of Humanities, and Brian Tumino, Strongsville High School Assistant Principal and Secondary Curriculum Liaison, told GEAR UP conferees that BW student coaches are helping to boost vital reading and writing skills, AND discussing the transition to college life, with tips for making friends, managing time and balancing academics with social life.

The program has been such a success that the collaborators are looking for funding to continue and expand the work to other school districts and other subjects like mathematics. The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, BW Honors Program and the BW English Department's Kirk Fund all helped support the program last year. 

In addition, College Now, which works with schools throughout Ohio to promote college success, is using the BW-Strongsville writing center project as a model of a successful partnership between secondary schools and institutions of higher learning.

Sport Management Major Lands Internship in Florida

Brown (R) with two other HJGT Interns 

Rebecca Brown '16 is spending her summer in the Sunshine State where she landed an on-par internship. The senior sport management major is interning as a State Marketing Representative for the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) in Jacksonville, Fla. HJGT provides junior golfers with the opportunity to play a variety of courses in more than 20 states in a competitive golfing environment. The main focus of Brown's internship is to promote the golf tour's current events, as well as to research venues for future events.

"I am completely operations minded and like hands-on tasks" Brown explained "But I decided to take on a marketing position to expose myself to something new."

No stranger to the world of internships, Brown's resume is already quite lengthy. Some of her past internships have included positions with the Athletic Scholarship Corporation, BW Athletic Department and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. During the upcoming school year Brown will be interning with Cleveland State University.

Recently, Brown was also named one of four recipients of the 2015 Greater Cleveland WISE  (Women in Sports and Events) scholarship. For now, her ultimate career goal is to work in an athletic conference at the collegiate level. However, she says with every new experience, her career goals evolve and change!