University of North Georgia

Kelsey Brown had painted plenty of large banners for Delta Zeta, her sorority at the University of North Georgia (UNG), but she had never tried her hand at a mural. That changed in a major way when she painted a scene of mountains, wildlife and a stream at the Lumpkin County Senior Life Center. Brown made sketches over the summer and then a smaller painting before spending 74 hours over a 10-day period bringing the mural to life on a wall in the billiards room of the senior center in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Twenty-six University of North Georgia (UNG) students held a variety of roles in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) fall 2026 production of "James and the Giant Peach," which ran from Oct. 2-4 at Pearce Auditorium at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. GTA is an intercollegiate theatre program committed to enriching individual students and the local community through an excellent tradition of collaborative theatre. It includes students from UNG and Brenau.

Nine students in the University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Visual Arts gained valuable virtual reality design experience this summer through an immersive virtual environments course. With David Clifton at the helm, the students created a project that takes place in deep space and it will soon be available for download on Steam, a digital distribution and gaming platform for worldwide use.

The UNG Woofer Quartet brought home first prize in the chamber music competition at the 23rd annual International Euphonium Tuba Festival, held June 14-20 at Emory University.

Four University of North Georgia (UNG) students from the Department of Music presented a workshop at the fifth annual String Band Summit at East Tennessee State University. The string band included Archer Callahan, Adam Oussaid, Cooper Sandefur, and Erol Savas. All four students participated in the workshop and then later performed at a local music festival.

UNG Department of Music student CJ Yeager placed second in the Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference Young Artist Solo Competition.

The Gainesville Theatre Alliance closes its 2025-26 season with Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods," which ran April 10-18 in the Ed Cabell Theatre at UNG's Gainesville Campus. Over two dozen students participated in acting roles and behind-the-scenes support.

In recognition of International Women's Day, which was March 8, the University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Music held a concert showcasing award-winning female students and faculty members March 2 at UNG's Gainesville Campus in the lobby of the Performing Arts building. Dr. Joanna Kim, associate department head and professor of music, planned the event.

Twenty-five University of North Georgia (UNG) students held a variety of roles in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) spring 2026 production of "The Play That Goes Wrong," which ran from Feb.13-21 at the Hosch Theatre at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. At the helm, leading students, was GTA Artistic Director Zechariah Pierce. GTA is a one-of-a-kind, nationally recognized collaboration between UNG and Breneau University.

Visual arts students at the University of North Georgia (UNG) had the opportunity to help create a new logo for the Beyond Dementia Coalition, a nonprofit organization that is based in Gainesville, Georgia. Tiffany Prater, associate professor of visual arts, divided her class into three groups, led by her student interns: Sofia Cancel, Nathalie Garrido and Rosa Ramos. They helped their fellow students collaborate on ideas.

The Department of Visual Arts at the University of North Georgia (UNG) began, like most pieces of art, with an idea and was conceptualized over a period of time, thanks to three individuals whose passion for art continues through today's students. These visionaries will be recognized through "The Founders," a three-year exhibition series in the Library Technology Center art galleries at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

Forty University of North Georgia (UNG) students took part in the Nov. 7-15 Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) production of 'Sister Act' at Hosch Theatre 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.

Among the 218 entries for Bellwethers Annual Juried Exhibition were four pieces from University of North Georgia (UNG) students, including Alexandra McCloy's "Living Patterns," which was awarded the Lane Last Award for Best in Show, the highest award given at the exhibition. Fellow students Rachel Coggins and Maddie Engel also had pieces entered in the exhibition.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.