University of North Georgia

As part of an award from a Halle Foundation grant, four University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Music students gave individual performances at the Halle Foundation estate in Atlanta after participating in the Saarburg International Music Festival in Germany for two weeks in summer 2025. Tyler Howell, Atira Murawski, Hayden Starr, and Greisi Voja spent the two weeks overseas with lessons, sightseeing and performances.

Twenty-two University of North Georgia (UNG) students took part in the Oct. 3-5 Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) production of 'Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook' at Pearce Auditorium on Brenau University's campus in Gainesville, Georgia. GTA is an inter-collegiate theatre collaboration between UNG and Brenau. Formed in 1979, GTA focuses on producing high-quality, university theatrical productions and provides students access to learning opportunities between both universities.

UNG alumna Isabella Martino, named Best in Show winner for the Juried Alum Exhibition, graduated in 2019. Her work, "Nonna Maria's Chair," evokes the way that objects can resonate with familial relationships.

Nine University of North Georgia (UNG) students painted a mural this summer at UNG's Gainesville Campus centered on the wording "Face the Strange." The mural is on a wall that connects to the side of the Arts and Technology building. It is a lyric from the David Bowie song "Changes" that UNG President Michael Shannon referenced in his August 2024 Reveille address outlining a bold vision for the future of UNG. A reception will be held at noon Aug. 26 at the mural site to celebrate the students' work.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Music awarded student Eli McAdams the Stravinsky Composition award in April for his composition "Three Conversations for Clarinet and Piano." "Eli is an awesome student and a great addition to our UNG family. He has sought out diligently to develop his talents into skills that lead as a musician and composer. This award only reflects Eli's commitment to innovation and creativity. I am looking forward to seeing Eli continue to grow and develop," David Peoples, part-time faculty, said.

UNG student Lainey May created a five-color design of an electric guitar that has now been placed as a crosswalk near downtown Gainesville, Georgia.

Nine University of North Georgia visual arts students have created a mural at UNG's Dahlonega Campus that brings the university's tagline - "What Comes Next" - to life in full color. The mural overlooks the Promenade and volleyball courts and is close to the Library Technology Center

University of North Georgia (UNG) student Calvin Bowers has won awards at four film festivals for his eight-and-a-half-minute documentary "Per Amore Dei Gatti (For the Love of Cats)." Bowers directed the film and produced it with three fellow students during the Film in Italy study abroad program in Barga, Italy, in 2024. Grant Aldinger, Olivia Claudon and Jarred Taber were part of the production.

Twenty-two University of North Georgia students held a variety of roles in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance's spring 2025 production of "Young Frankenstein," which ran from April 11-19 in the Ed Cabell Theatre at UNG's Gainesville Campus.

Twelve University of North Georgia film students spent spring break making connections and learning about the industry as part of a study away program in Los Angeles, California. Robyn Hicks, associate professor of film and digital media, led the professional development opportunity.

Thirty-two University of North Georgia students held a variety of roles in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance's spring 2025 production of "Macbeth," which ran from Feb. 14-22 in the Hosch Theatre at Brenau University.

Four students and a faculty member will perform in the Saarburg International Music Festival in Germany courtesy of a Halle Foundation grant awarded to the UNG Department of Music.

Two students are responsible for curating the first-ever exhibition of north Georgia regional art pulled from the UNG Permanent Collection.

Five University of North Georgia (UNG) students placed in the 2024 annual Concerto/Aria Competition in UNG's Department of Music with solo performances awarded to two competitors. The top five places went to CJ Yeager (euphonium), Lucymarie Dalton (euphonium), Jennifer Mandzyuk (soprano), Atira Murawski (trombone), and Rob Amoss (trombone).

Twenty University of North Georgia students held a variety of roles in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance's fall 2024 production of "A Monster Calls," which ran from Nov. 8-16 in the Ed Cabell Theatre at UNG's Gainesville Campus.

Thirteen University of North Georgia students held a variety of roles in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance's fall 2024 production of "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs," which ran from Oct. 5-12 at Brenau University's Pearce Auditorium.

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Dr. Esther Morgan-Ellis, Abigail Cannon '24 and Lily Hammond '24 had an article published in "Choral Journal," the international journal of the American Choral Directors Association. Morgan-Ellis combined the research papers of Cannon and Hammond, added her thoughts and submitted the new journal article.

University of North Georgia (UNG) junior Katie Galbreath and several of her theater peers at UNG and Brenau University came together to produce Kevin D. Ferguson's "Child's Play" Aug. 3 at UNG's Gainesville Campus.

A partnership between a student in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Department of Visual Arts and the Historic Vickery House provided a learning experience and functional art. Jennie Bosman, a senior in associate professor Alex Kraft's ceramics systems and surfaces class, designed, created and ultimately presented a set of four pavers to the Vickery House on March 28.

Students in a pair of visual arts courses this spring gained valuable experience painting murals in the communities near the University of North Georgia (UNG). Stephanie Leyva, Alexis Phillips, Grace Witkowski, and Joanna Zwemke painted a "Discover Dahlonega" mural on panels that will be displayed in downtown Dahlonega, Georgia. They completed the project as part of a class with Vivian Liddell, assistant professor of visual arts, in partnership with Dahlonega's Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program.

As a student pursuing a degree in art education at the University of North Georgia (UNG), Bridgette Donnaud was enrolled in "Exploring Learning and Teaching," a required course in the College of Education, that mandated 30 hours of observation of classrooms and teachers. The Loganville, Georgia, native grabbed a unique opportunity presented by Dr. James Badger, course professor, to fulfill the requirement and begin a journey she had not considered.

Just days away from graduating from the University of North Georgia (UNG), Katelynn Fry learned her design had been selected for a challenge coin.

A University of North Georgia (UNG) student and faculty member are participating in a Sonya Clark exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. Roxie Fricton and Johanna Norry, a lecturer of studio art, are assisting with "Reconstruction Exercise," where they help visitors weave a recreation of the Truce Flag from the Civil War.

University of North Georgia (UNG) senior Sharon Tran was selected as one of four recipients of the Shannon Kelly Kane Scholarship, a 2023 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Collegiate Professional Achievement Award. Tran received the award at the NAfME National Leadership Assembly and Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit in June.

University of North Georgia associate professor of music Dr. Esther Morgan-Ellis and four students performed at the second String Band Summit held at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, on Feb. 10. This was the first time UNG students have attended and presented at the event.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Visual Arts and the Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) office partnered for the 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Student Art Exhibition. This is the second time the event has been held.

University of North Georgia (UNG) student John "Johnny" Phillips' film "The King" was deemed a short film to watch in a review in the Newnan Times-Herald.

Nearly 20 students participated in UNG's inaugural online exhibition "Student Voices from the Quarantine." The display featured works created during isolation that represent students' reactions to the health crisis. It ran from May 26 to June 30 on the UNG art galleries online exhibition webpage.

Christmas comes but once a year as does the annual University of North Georgia (UNG) Holiday Concert. UNG's music department presented a single performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Grace Episcopal Church at 422 Brenau Ave., in Gainesville, Georgia.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) congratulates all of the award recipients at the Georgia Film Festival. Hosted by the CMJ department at UNG, the festival ran from Sept. 20-21 in the Continuing Education and Performing Arts building on UNG's Gainesville Campus. More than 60 films from independent filmmakers and college students were accepted into the festival.