UAB Briefs: Genius pianist, drum circle for cancer patients, leader for Marching Blazers

Welcome to another installment of UAB Briefs, in which we keep track of interesting people and events on campus.

Know people, places and programs on the UAB campus that deserve a mention?

Email Iron City Ink at sydney@starnespublishing.com or jchambers@starnespublishing.com.

Genius at the keyboard

The New York Times calls charismatic pianist Jeremy Denk “someone you want to hear no matter what he performs.”

So you will certainly want to hear him when he performs his ambitious “Medieval to Modern” program in the Jemison Concert Hall at the Alys Stephens Center on Sunday, April 23, at 7 p.m.

Denk will play his way through the history of Western music, including such composers as Machaut, Binchois, Byrd, Monteverdi, Purcell, Scarlatti, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Schoenberg, Debussy, Stravinsky, Stockhausen, Glass and Ligeti.

Winner of numerous awards, including a 2013 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, Denk -- based in New York City -- has also written about music for such publications as New Republic, The New Yorker, The Guardian and The New York Times Book Review.

This performance is part of the ASC Salon Series, which offers unique, on-stage seating and a post-performance meet-and-greet.

Tickets are $78 for the performance and post-show meet-and-greet reception, or $42 for the performance.

For tickets -- including discounted tickets for ASC members and UAB students, faculty and staff -- call 975-2787 or go to alysstephens.org.

Healing through community

The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is sponsoring a kick-off celebration for Coalesce, a new support group for young cancer survivors, with a drum circle event at Railroad Park downtown on Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m.-noon, according to a CCC news release.

Cancer survivors of all ages struggle to find the support services they need, but this search is particularly challenging for young adult cancer survivors, ages 20-45 years, the release states.

Martin Townsend, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 19 and is now a young adult living with cancer, created Coalesce to help others in his predicament.

Less than 10 percent of all cancer cases occur between the ages 20 and 45, and because this is a smaller group, fewer resources are available for them.

“Having opportunities to be with others who share a similar experience or challenge can go a long way toward overcoming distress and healing,” Townsend said. “Building a community is essential to healing, and that is what we are trying to do with this drum circle.”

Percussionist John Scalici will use his interactive Get Rhythm Program to help support group members understand how valuable they are to each another.  

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Townsend at 585-7211 or martinop123@gmail.com.

New leader for Marching Blazers

The UAB Department of Music has tapped Sean Murray as the new leader of the 200-member UAB Marching Blazers, which are preparing for the return of UAB football this year, according to a UAB news release.

Murray, who will be an associate professor and the director of bands, comes to UAB from Florida Atlantic University, where he had worked since 2006 and was associate professor of music, associate director of bands and director of athletic bands.

A Wisconsin native, Murray earned an undergraduate and two graduate degrees in music education from Florida State University.

A tuba player, Murray has taught brass and woodwind instrumentation as well as conducting, band arrangement and other courses.

“Dr. Murray brings extensive experience running a collegiate marching band program,” said Patrick Evans, chair of the Department of Music. “He also brings exceptional work on the podium in concert band settings, strong arranging and drill-writing skills, an amiable connection with students and colleagues, and research work in the field of instrumental music education.”

Prestigious awards

Five UAB students have been named to an elite group -- winners of Fulbright Scholarships.

Anthonia Carter, Charles Coleman, Emily Jennings, Brenna Nye and Brendan Rice have been awarded Fulbright United States Student Program grants by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, according to a UAB news release.

Students in the United States selected for these grants teach English, conduct research or provide expertise abroad.

--Carter has been awarded a Fulbright Study/Research grant to pursue a master’s degree in multidisciplinary innovation at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom. Carter earned degrees in mathematics at UAB in 2015 before obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2016. Carter’s mixed-media drawings bridge the gap between humanities and science.

--Coleman, a senior majoring in international studies, has been awarded an Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program grant to Israel. He will study at the College of Sakhnin in Northern Israel. Colenan is also interested in conflict resolution and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

--Jennings, a senior majoring in neuroscience, has been awarded a Fulbright Study/Research grant to the Netherlands. Jennings will pursue a Master of Neuroscience degree at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

--Nye, a senior majoring in biology, was awarded a Fulbright Study/Research grant to Estonia and will conduct genetics research at the University of Tartu.

--Rice, a 2012 graduate, has been awarded a Fulbright Study/Research grant to Germany. He will pursue a Master of Science degree in sustainable international agriculture at the University of Göttingen. After graduating from UAB with a degree in international studies, Rice worked for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization

--Hriday Bhambhvani, a senior mathematics and neuroscience major, was selected as an alternate.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build relations between the people of the United States and those of other countries.

Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as a record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields.