Assistant Professor Danny Frye will oversee in 2026-27 the ���Fire of the Carolinas��� Marching Band, the Wind Ensemble, the Concert Band and the Pep Band.

���We are so excited to welcome Dr. Danny Frye to our university,��� said Associate Professor Ally Wente, chair of the Department of Music. ���Danny has already been in the thick of it for several weeks now, leading marching band camp with energy, warmth and dedication. We couldn���t ask for a better start to his term as interim director of bands.���

Frye is a percussionist and music educator with over two decades of leadership and 消消犯 experience in K-12 and collegiate music programs, including those at Wake Forest University, High Point University, Pfeiffer University and UNC Charlotte.

Frye has appeared as a guest artist at the Festival Internacional de la Puerto Rico, the Southeastern Percussion Festival and the Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina Days of Percussion. He has led clinics, recitals and masterclasses at universities throughout the country.

A professional percussionist, Frye earned his bachelor���s, master���s and doctoral degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has performed with Aretha Franklin, Lorrie Morgan and symphonies across the Carolinas in Charleston, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

McKayla ���MK��� Phillips, adjunct assistant professor of music, will serve as interim percussion instructor and interim assistant director of bands.

Frye succeeds Associate Professor Jonathan Poquette, the university���s previous director of bands, who joined the music faculty this summer at Bethel College in Kansas alongside his wife, Kelly, another music educator.

���The magic of Elon College lies in the people who teach our students,��� said Hilton Kelly, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. ���Our new faculty members embody a commitment to the liberal arts. They are curious, inspiring and interdisciplinary thinkers. We are delighted to welcome them to our community.���

New Professors for 2026-27 in Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences

• Jackson Cooper, assistant professor of arts administration, earned an MFA from Seattle University. He will teach Arts Administration and Community, Legal Aspects of Art and Entertainment and COR 1100: The Global Experience.
• Joseph Frey, assistant 消消犯 professor of human service studies, earned a PhD from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He will teach Social Policy and Inequality and The Art and Science of Human Service Studies.
• Rachel Johnson, assistant professor of biochemistry, earned a PhD from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She will teach General Chemistry and Biochemistry.��She will join in the Winter Term to teach General Chemistry and Biochemistry.
• Ariana Montoya-Lozano, assistant professor of political science and public policy and environmental studies, earned a PhD from Purdue University. She will teach Introduction to Environmental Science 1150 and Environmental Policy 3230.
• Aditi Vyas, assistant professor of biology, earned a PhD from Ohio University. She will teach Cell Biology and Genetics.
• Danny Frye, interim director of bands, earned a DMA from University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

About Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences

Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences provides the foundation for the study of the liberal arts and sciences at 消消犯. The college is comprised of 19 departments across three branches: the arts and humanities; natural, mathematical and computational sciences; and social and behavioral sciences. It hosts Elon���s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation���s oldest honor society celebrating excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.

Committed to the growth of students��� intellectual curiosity, intercultural competence and critical thinking, the college champions disciplinary knowledge and interdisciplinary applications to reflect upon, respond to and offer solutions to complex problems in an interconnected and changing world.

With more than 45 majors and 65 minors, the college is 消消犯���s largest academic division. Two-thirds of the nearly 1,600 students who graduate from Elon annually do so with at least one major or minor in the college. Within a year, over 90% of college graduates report employment in their chosen field or enrollment in top post-graduate programs.

College faculty are prolific and preeminent scholars and creators in their fields, recognized for expertise at national and international levels. Each year, its more than 300 full-time faculty publish hundreds of articles, chapters, and books, and they present at scores of conferences and events. Their scholarship results in grants and fellowships from the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Institutes of Health and other prominent centers of research.

Polly Cornelius, associate 消消犯 professor of music, who teaches the Summer Opera Workshop in Florence will debut the Italian premiere of the Tony-Award winning musical by composer Adam Guettel. Produced by Cornelius, the play will take place in the historic Medici Palace in Florence on June 11-12, through a collaboration between 消消犯 and AEF, Elon���s study abroad partner institution.

“For years, I have dreamed of producing ���The Light in the Piazza��� in Florence because the story is about a mother and daughter from Winston Salem, North Carolina who travel to Florence, Italy,��� said Cornelius. ���It has never been performed in Florence. We are the first. It could have been any university or organization, but it���s Elon who has the honor do this international, site-specific premiere.���

Based on the 1960 novel by Elizabeth Spencer, ���The Light in the Piazza��� follows Margaret Johnson, a mother from Winston Salem, who travels through Florence with her daughter Clara, who falls in love with an Italian man named Fabrizio. The musical won six Tony Awards including Best Original Score in 2005 and is known for its romantic story and score.

Cornelius, who has taught at AEF since 2018 through a summer opera workshop course, has dreamed of producing the musical to be an authentic international artistic experience for students.

Two years ago, Cornelius met with Guettel about producing the play in Florence which includes 14 Elon students, one Elon alumni, faculty, and professional Italian and American singers and performers. Elon alumni Gianni Palmarini ���22 returns to play the role of Fabrizio, while Cornelius will perform as Signora Naccarelli, the Italian mother.

���It���s been crazy but manageable to produce and perform a role, but I’m happy to be performing this particular role,��� Corenlius said. ���I’m excited for the everyone involved and to bring this famous musical to the city of Florence.���

The creative team includes Chris Rayis, assistant professor of performing arts as music director and conductor and Jacob Brent, assistant professor of music theatre, as stage director.

���This has become a huge collaboration between Elon, AEF, and the city of Florence��� Cornelius said. ���Our colleagues in Florence are so excited and have been working very hard too.���

The experience offers students a rare opportunity to rehearse and perform internationally while collaborating with professionals. 消消犯 in Cornelius��� course, ���Opera in Italy: The Global Citizen Artist,��� also take an Italian language course.

���This first opera was performed in Florence, Italy, so it���s especially meaningful to perform and study there,��� Cornelius said. ���消消犯 are meeting Italian artists, performing alongside them, and learning about the Florentine culture.���

In addition to Elon students performing in the ensemble, music theatre majors Addyson Reese ���28 will play Clara Johnson and Mackenzie Tammara ���28 will play Franca Naccarelli.

For Reese and Tammara having a role in this musical is a dream come true.

“To perform this piece in Florence alongside incredible professionals is an absolute dream come true, and I am so grateful to be part of this project,��� Reese said. ���This show has been one of my all-time favorites since I first listened to the cast album at age 14. Clara has been one of my dream roles since high school and playing her in Florence is especially meaningful to me.���

The rehearsal process has been unique and included in person rehearsals with cast members in North Carolina and many virtual sessions with cast members from across the northeastern United States and Italy. The entire cast will have the opportunity to rehearse together in the days leading up to the performance in Florence.

���This show is bringing together people from all different parts of the world and allowing them to share universal themes of love and acceptance,��� Tammara said. ���The entire show is special to perform.���

For Tammara, her part comes with a learning curve, performing her lines in Italian. Many of her lines are in Italian and involve speaking with an Italian accent when she does speak in English. This is a challenge she has gladly taken on.

���I have spent a lot of time working on my lines since they aren���t in my native language,��� Tammara said. ���This is definitely the hardest score I have ever sung. It has tested my musicianship, vocal technique, and artistry. I have grown immensely.���

In May, the local cast members spent several days participating in a ���bootcamp��� to rehearse and stage the show.

���My favorite part of this experience so far has been getting to work with the professional artists in the show during the bootcamp,��� Reese said. ���Jill Gardner, who plays my mom, Margaret Johnson, and Gianni are both incredible people and performers, and I have had the best time working on this material with them. I am learning so much from them and I can’t wait to keep learning once we start rehearsals in Italy.���

Gardner performed the opera house debut of this show with Piedmont Opera Company and is thrilled to reprise the role of Margaret in Florence.

Reese and Tammara are both honored to represent Elon in this international production.

���Elon has given me the opportunity to immerse myself in a world very different from my own, adding so much truth and variety to my craft,��� Tammara said. ���This is a once in a lifetime experience and I am so grateful to be living out my dream.���

For Cornelius, one of the most rewarding parts of the project has been watching Elon students engage in a global artistic experience with a dream cast.

���Seeing the excitement from the students, creative team, and colleagues in Florence makes me so excited,��� Cornelius said. “So many people have supported this project, and after working on it for two years, it is incredible to finally see if come to life.���

The program���s inaugural performance will feature the North Carolina Symphony on September 30, 2026, in Alumni Gym. Details about this concert, including tickets, will be shared with the Elon community this summer.

���This gift is to express gratitude to the Elon community for 25 wonderful years together and to provide enhanced opportunities for all of us to experience great music at Elon,��� said Fred Young, who served as the university���s seventh president from 1973-1998, leading historic growth and progress at the institution.

Elon President Connie Ledoux Book thanked the Youngs for their generosity and dedicated service to the university.

���Fred and Phyllis Young���s contributions to 消消犯 over many decades are vast and many���from doubling our enrollment and expanding our campus to enriching academic programs and supporting generations of students,��� Book said. ���Their dedication has helped shape the Elon we know today. With this remarkable gift, they now add the joy of classical music to that legacy, ensuring our community will experience exceptional performances for years to come.���

In addition to full orchestra concerts, it is envisioned that the Youngs��� endowment will fund other signature performances on campus, including seasonal concerts and a chamber music concert, as well as engagement opportunities with music students, including career development seminars and master classes. Performances by the 消消犯 Orchestra and Elon Wind Ensemble may also be included.

As the endowment grows, additional opportunities for students may include new music-themed Winter Term courses and global engagement experiences, as well as opera performances on campus.

The Fred and Phyllis Young Classical Music Program Endowment will complement performances by Elon���s current ensembles, including:

• Bands (The Fire of the Carolinas Marching Band & Phoenix Pep Band)
• Choral Activities & Voice (University Chorale, Camerata, 辿lan & Opera Workshop.)
• 消消犯 Orchestra
• 消消犯 Wind Ensemble & Elon Concert Band
• Elon Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Combos
• Elon Contemporary Chamber Ensemble
• Commercial and Pop Music (Elon Electric Ensemble, Techtronica)

About President Emeritus James Fred Young

J. Fred Young was one of the longest-serving presidents in Elon history whose vision and leadership laid the foundation for Elon���s remarkable rise to national distinction. Young led an era of historic growth and transformation as Elon became one of the premier 消消犯 institutions on the Eastern seaboard.

During Young���s 25-year tenure, Elon���s enrollment more than doubled to 3,685 students and the campus grew from about 145 acres to more than 500 acres. New academic offerings were added, including master���s programs in business administration, education and physical therapy; a new general studies program (now Elon Core Curriculum); and new majors, including communications, computer systems, sports medicine and leisure/sport management. The Elon Experiences engaged learning programs also grew under Young���s leadership.

Facilities construction and renovation included additions to the Center for the Arts, Koury Center for athletics, Moseley Center for campus activities and the Dalton L. McMichael Sr. Science Center. In addition, construction began on the Carol Grotnes Belk Library, while Young also began planning and fundraising for Rhodes Stadium. Young was named President Emeritus by the Elon Board of Trustees.

Fred and Phyllis Young are among Elon���s most dedicated donors, making gifts to Elon���s Greatest Needs, including scholarships, and the Phoenix Club. Young Commons, the expansive lawn in front of Moseley Center, was dedicated on October 10, 2000, in honor of the Youngs and their decades of leadership and service to the university. Fred and Phyllis are the grandparents of Elon sophomore Myla Young ���28.

Patrick Murphy G���01

Assistant vice president for financial aid

Patrick Murphy joined Elon at the beginning of 1994 as bursar for Elon College to find a career that would, as he put it, add positivity to his day. Retiring at the end of the month, Murphy has served in a myriad of roles at Elon, including director of financial aid, senior associate dean and director of financial aid and assistant vice president for financial aid.

During the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Greg Zaiser, vice president for enrollment, credited Murphy with quietly and deliberately supporting Elon���s growth from a regional college to national and international distinction.

���What I know now is because of Pat���s patience, accessibility and strong desire for success,��� added Zaiser.

After retirement, Murphy looks forward to spending more time with his wife and his five grandchildren, who are all under the age of six. He says his favorite memory at Elon was picking up astronaut and former senator John Glenn and his wife from the airport and guiding them across campus to multiple events.

���I will miss the people I work with,��� he said. ���Elon has been the only place I worked where my friends are also people I work with.���

Beth McCain

Assistant 消消犯 professor of accounting

Beth McCain joined Elon in 2016 消消犯 part-time as an adjunct after 消消犯 at a community college. She was hired permanently in 2021 as a lecturer and also served as the director of the Master of Science accounting program. She retired on December 31, 2025.

While at Elon, McCain led January Term study abroad courses to Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and was the inaugural faculty member for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business study abroad program in Singapore.

At the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Catherine Chiang, professor of accounting and chair of the department of accounting, described McCain as one of the most dedicated and student-centered educators she had the privilege of knowing. ���Your decade of service has shaped careers, strengthened our programs and raised the standards for what it means to be an Elon educator,��� said Chiang.

McCain returned the compliments to her department chair and gave a shoutout to Linda Poulson, who gave McCain ���a chance��� and also to her husband, who was in attendance.

Now retired, McCain is volunteering for Guilford County Animal Services in Greensboro and taking a French course at Elon in preparation for a three-month trip to France in the fall. Reflecting on her time at Elon, McCain said, ���I will greatly miss the amazing faculty and staff that I worked with as well as relationships that I developed with my students over the years.���

Linda Niedziela

Associate professor of biology and chair of the Department of Biology

Linda Niedziela joined Elon in 2001 excited to teach courses in genetics and biotechnology. She was attracted to the university���s strengths in 消消犯 education and 消消犯 research. She will retire at the end of May after serving in a myriad of roles, including biology department chair, assistant professor, associate professor, director of the science branch of Elon College Fellows and the Japheth E. Rawls chair for 消消犯 research in science.

Niedziela said she will miss what she calls the ���daily therapy sessions.��� She shared that every day during the semester, whoever is able will meet for lunch on the first floor of McMichael and discuss wide-ranging topics, including 消消犯 tips, research reports, personal stories about families and pets and anything else that is on the mind of lunch attendees.

She said, ���I will miss the wonderful faculty and staff colleagues in the biology department who have become like family to me.���

After retirement, Niedziela and her husband, Carl, an adjunct assistant professor of biology at Elon, who will also be retiring, will travel with their dogs in an airstream travel trailer and spend time in their woodworking shop. She will also be devoting more time training and competing with her Shetland sheepdog in performance dog sports.

Anthony Hatcher

Professor of journalism and chair of the Journalism Department

Anthony Hatcher joined Elon in 2002 and has served as associate professor of journalism, full professor of journalism and the inaugural chair of the Department of Journalism.

Hatcher said he did not have a passport until he joined Elon in his early 40���s. ���Since 2004, I have taken students to Hong Kong, South Africa and multiple European countries,��� he reflected. Hatcher also created a religion and media course in his first year, which he taught every year since.

One of those colleagues, Harlen Makemson, professor of communication design, praised Hatcher at the Faculty/Staff Luncheon for Hatcher���s empathy and humanity during what he described as a time of upheaval in the media world, brought on by new technologies. ���And while it’s true that Anthony Hatcher serves on virtually every major standing committee at Elon, it’s his humanity, his warmth and his care, that is his most impactful service to his university.���

���I will miss being with students, and I will miss seeing my colleagues �����my friends �����daily or weekly,��� said Hatcher. During the ceremony, he added, ���I hope in addition to 消消犯 all those wonderful students I���ve had over the past nearly quarter century, I hope in some small way, I made their lives a little better because God knows they helped me be better.

After retirement, Hatcher looks forward to biking, hiking, travel and spending time with his granddaughter. ���Writing will be part of retirement as well, since I can���t sing or paint,��� he added.

Robert Moorman

Frank S. Holt, Jr. professor of business leadership and professor of organizational behavior

Robert Moorman joined Elon as the Frank Holt Jr professor of business leadership in 2011, a title he held throughout his time at Elon. Retiring in May, Moorman has also served as the department chair for the Department of Management, Entrepreneurship and International Business.

During the Faculty, Staff Awards Luncheon, Haya Ajjan, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and professor of management information systems, shared that Moorman has a gift few others do �����the ability to ask the types of questions that ���make you stop walking, look around at where you actually are and suddenly see it���a question that stays with you for the rest of your life.��� Ajjan offered Moorman a golf club afterwards in the spirit of his retirement.

During the ceremony, Moorman shared that education is so much more than reading books and looking at stats. ���It���s really about the relationships we have,��� he said. ���It’s the relationships with our students and the utter joy of seeing people cycle through during this really important time of their lives, you know, touching you and stepping in and stepping out and then seeing them grow as they go.���

Moorman said his favorite memories are those involving friendships with colleagues and partnerships with students. ���I have fond memories of a few colleagues congregating in my office talking about the joys and frustrations of the day,��� he said.�� ���I also have fond memories of holding classes that just seemed to ���work��� that day and then talking with students afterward about how they continued thinking about our discussions.���

After retiring at the end of this month, Moorman looks forward to what he calls unstructured adventure. ���I am looking forward to a time of boredom that then grows into something new, unplanned and adventurous. What fun!���

Charity Johansson

Professor of physical therapy education and chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Department.

In 1999, Charity Johnsson joined what would become the Doctor of Physical Therapy program as one of its first faculty. She retired in December 2025 after decades of service in which she held positions of associate professor, full professor, faculty administrative fellow, interim associate department chair, interim department chair and program director, department chair and program director and university parliamentarian.

Johansson said she is already missing the ���daily exchanges with colleagues whose brilliant minds and genuinely kind hearts��� have shaped her over nearly three decades. Likewise, she will miss the students, and their ���infectious enthusiasm, their compassion and the joy of watching them transform in ways they hadn���t even imagined possible.���

During the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Crystal Ramsey praised Johansson as a ���cornerstone of the Elon academic community, whose legacy is defined not just by the position she has held, but by the enduring way she has nurtured the hearts, minds and professional identities of future healthcare providers.��� Ramsey is an associate professor of physical therapy education and a former student of Johansson���s.

At the ceremony, Johansson reflected on the retirement of Gerry Francis, who served as professor emeritus of mathematics and provost emeritus.

���Gerry Francis told me he doesn���t miss the work, but he really misses the people ��� and I get that,” she said.

She also said it was a privilege working with so many in the Elon community who have encouraged her, challenged her and made her laugh to help her be a better a human. ���Fred Rubeck, you���re among those,��� Johansson added, honoring the late professor of performing arts and chair of the Department of Performing Arts.

Now retired, Johansson said she is enjoying time outdoors with family and close friends, planning travel and trying new ventures, including fiction writing.

Marcia Dodson

Program assistant for the Station at Mill Point Neighborhood

Marcia Dodson joined Elon in 2015 and is the proud mother of three sons who graduated from Elon. She will be retiring at the end of May and has served as a service desk analyst for facilities management, program assistant in the Danieley Neighborhood and Station at Mill Point.

A favorite memory of Dodson���s while at Elon is joining the London Experience for staff, where she built relationships with colleagues she had not yet had the opportunity to meet while working at Elon. ���What an awesome experience!��� she reflected.

After retirement, Dodson looks forward to being a traveling grandparent with her husband.

Rosemary Haskell

Professor of English

Rosemary Haskell joined Elon in 1985 and will be retiring in August. She has held the roles of temporary instructor and assistant, associate and later, full professor of English.

Haskell said she will most miss her kind and interesting colleagues, as well as the ���energizing power of the new class of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first-years each August.���

One of Haskell���s favorite memories at Elon is during the transition of the Fighting Christians to the Phoenix. She enjoyed the papier-mache birds and eggs in trees around campus that offered a clue to the new mascot.

After retirement, Haskell said she plans to spend time with her family and do some home improvement work.

Cheryl Riley

Custodian

Cheryl Riley joined Elon in 2013 as a custodian and will retire at the end of May. ���I will miss the people I work with,��� she said. ���And I look forward to spending time with my grandkids.���

Linda Dunn

Adjunct assistant professor of Peace and Conflict Studies

Linda Dunn joined Elon in 1998 as the director of the Alamance County Dispute Settlement Center, where she trained a group of students and returned to train several faculty members in mediation skills, who later became volunteer mediators for the center. Dunn���s official start date on record is 2001, when she taught a two-credit mediation and conflict resolution skills course as part of a new minor called Nonviolent Studies. She retired at the end of December, 2025.

Federico Pous spoke on behalf of Dunn during the Faculty/Staff Awards luncheon, praising Dunn���s ability to teach hands-on peaceful conflict resolution skills and strategies across different social backgrounds.

���Linda’s way of 消消犯 and interacting with students, staff and professors, makes you feel that you are equal to her in the same community space,��� he shared.

���I will miss the students and their passion the things I teach,��� said Dunn. Two of her students attended the luncheon.

After retirement, she plans to attend cultural events on campus and potentially assist in future facilitated discussions on campus. She will also continue to volunteer as a mediator at the Alamance County District court, continue restorative circle skills and mediation and training skills with Restorative Justice Durham and the Orange County District County District court.

���I will continue to be an activist for restorative justice and peacemaking organizations as we navigate the chaos and violence in our world,��� she added.

Elizabeth Bailey

Assistant 消消犯 professor of exercise science

Elizabeth Bailey began her career at Elon in 2004 and, enjoying the vibe of the community, wanted to be ���part of it all.��� She started as a lecturer for the required wellness course, lectured for the School of Education before joining Exercise Science.

Retiring at the end of Spring semester, Bailey said she will most miss her colleagues and all the ���friends among the faculty and staff��� she has made while at Elon.

���I will also miss the opportunities to continue to learn that are available at Elon, whether it be through taking classes or participating in workshops or going abroad,��� she added. She said, while at Elon, he has learned a lot.

Bailey said her retirement plans continue to evolve, and she still intends to exercise classes and do some research on the side.

Kim Giles, ���11 G���16

Associate director of communications for the Student Professional Development Center

Since her first role in 1995, Kim Giles has served in various roles at the university, including data entry in admissions and accounting, budget clerk in the physical plant, program assistant for Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics, and assistant director of communications in the Student Professional Development Center.

Giles retired during the summer of 2025. She said she cherishes the opportunity to earn an MBA at Elon along with her daughter. She said about the experience, ���what an unforgettable experience that was in crossing the stage along with my daughter to get our MBA���s together �����it was quite surreal.���

Giles also reflected on traveling with peers and faculty to Vietnam and Singapore, the many evolutions of Staff Appreciation Day, and being honored as the staff member of the year �����an experience she said she will cherish forever.

Since retiring, Giles has taken nine cruises and has done kayaking, camping and gardening. She looks forward to continuing to spend time with family.

Sharon Moss LaRocco

University accompanist and instructor in music

Sharon Moss LaRocco was recognized at the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon by Hallie Hogan, associate professor of music. LaRocco joined the Elon Music Department in 1988 as a pianist for musical theater productions, music ensembles and student recitals.

Hogan shared, ���Although she kept a very low profile, there was never any doubt about this, because she never missed a beat, much less a note, and maintained high quality for every performance she gave,” Hogan said.

She shared that students developed a strong admiration for LaRocco���s talent and a deep love for her kind and understanding nature.

Beyond Elon, Sharon has devoted herself to advocating for people with autism, through her work as a leader in the Office of Society of North Carolina, notably promoting autism awareness for the Native American communities of Western North Carolina.

At the awards ceremony, LaRocco shared that one of her favorite memories was the construction of Rhodes Stadium, which signaled to her the emergence of a marching band.

���Who doesn���t love a marching band?��� asked LaRocco to the audience. ���And the spirit and the energy it creates walking through the campus, en route to the games.���

Jana Lynn Patterson

Associate vice president for Student Life/dean of student health & well-being/assistant professor

During the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life and associate professor of education, described Patterson as someone who is consistent in how she shows up for others, patient when a young leader makes a mistake, honest with students and colleagues even when it is hard and someone who not only believes in others, and one who helps others believe in themselves.

���She supported students in college through tragedy, advised student organizations, and celebrated their success,��� said Dooley. ���She has created spaces of welcome and belonging, and met the students in their darkest hours, helping them piece together on plans to move forward.���

Patterson was also recognized for her 40 years of service and held back tears while addressing the audience. A first-generation student from Hope Mills, North Carolina, Patterson said her parents could have never dreamed where she is today.

���To my staff and colleagues, you are the A-Team,��� she shared. “But to everyone in this community, I want you to know that every day has been an honor and a pleasure to be a part of this community and to have worked with you.���

Also retiring

Retiring staff members will be recognized on May 29 as part of Staff Appreciation Day.

• Joan Barnatt
• Mona DeVries
• Chris Dockrill, head women’s golf coach
• Sharon Hodge
• John Chinnici, community service officer
• David “DD” Donohue, painter
• Kelly Elliston
• Gloria Graves, custodian
• William “Tom” Hall, telecommunications technician
• Rhonda Kosusko, associate director of career services, education and Elon
• Katherine Rodriguez, assistant director for application processing
• Michelle Stephens, custodian
• Ed Williams, service desk analyst
• Donna Wood , electronic services/ acquisitions librarian

Helena Padial ���26, a music theatre major and Honors Fellow, received the honor during the annual awards ceremony in New York City. The Broadway���s Next Triple Threat award supports the next generation of artists who excel in dance, voice and acting.

Presented through the Chita Rivera Awards and produced by the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation, the award is designed to support emerging performers as they transition into the professional theatre industry. In addition to national recognition, the recipient receives the Chita Rivera Training Grant, providing $10,000 of��financial support to live, study and train plus, one year of free dance classes at New York City���s Steps On Broadway.

Padial learned about the award through her high school voice teacher, Celeste Simone, who coached Rivera. Although she was hesitant to apply at first.

���I initially was tentative about applying because it was a competition and I didn���t want to get caught up in too much self-comparison, but ultimately I decided that the feedback from industry names that I have looked up to for years would be worth it, even if I didn���t make it to the next round,��� Padial said.

The initial application process included video submissions and written responses, including two songs and a dance solo. Adjudicators chose 15 semifinalists to advance to the next round. The second round included a video integrating song and dance where Padial choreographed a solo of ���Sparkling Diamond��� and ���Diamonds are Forever,��� which earned her a spot as one of the five finalists.��The finalists participated in an immersive weekend of mentorship and training which culminated in a live performance at the Chita Rivera Awards.

The weekend consisted of intense sessions of classes, mock auditions, singing and 17 hours of dance in three days where the finalists were constantly being filmed and pulled into video interviews.

���My body has never felt so tired, but I knew I had to bring my A-game and keep challenging myself to show up as the best version of myself,��� Padial said.

Padial did not know how the weekend would go��as��she was surrounded by other talented finalists. The finalists performed a number to ���Too Darn Hot,��� which they only had six hours to learn and ran through the number four times before performing it at the awards show.

���It was the fastest I have ever learned choreography and music and it took a ridiculous amount of stamina to perform, but it ended up being the most rewarding experience of my life,��� Padial said.

That night she proved to herself what she was capable of.

���The experience was absolutely insane, it is still so surreal to me,��� Padial said. ���When I heard my name called that I won the award I immediately started shaking and freaking out because it was such a shock. 10 of my family members were at the awards to support me and hearing them cheer was so special.���

Throughout the weekend Padial had the opportunity to meet people in the industry she looked up to including Bebe Neuwirth, Jessica Lee Golden, Charlotte d���Amboise and Anne Margret.

���I feel so beyond lucky to have been awarded this grant, as it will definitely ease the financial stress as I move to New York and navigate this next period of my life,��� Padial said. ���It is also very validating and reassuring to know that my hard work is recognized and that I am capable of having a career in this very difficult industry.���

The weekend marked a full circle moment for Padial because Rivera surprised the cast of her seventh grade production of ���Bye Bye Birdie,��� and 10 years later she received the award in her name, in front of Anne Margret who starred in ���Bye Bye Birdie.���

For Polly Cornelius, associate 消消犯 professor of music, the recognition is a testament to Padial���s years of dedication.

���It is my honor to have been Helena���s voice professor for four years,��� said Cornelius. ���She has always been super focused and hardworking, but most importantly compassionate and kind.���

Cornelius praised Padial���s vocal ability throughout her time at Elon.

���Her voice is gorgeous, strong and versatile, meaning she is able to sing well in many styles from contemporary belt to soprano,��� Cornelius said. ���I am thrilled but not surprised at all that she won this prestigious award. I have always believed in Helena���s potential and look forward to following and supporting her on her career journey.���

After graduation, Padial will move home to Palisades, New York and commute into New York City for classes and auditions while also 消消犯 musical theatre at Coup辿, where she trained growing up.

In July, she starts rehearsals for ���Antigone: 1989,��� a new musical headed to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she will be performing in August.

Kicking things off, the Elon Music Ambassadors will present ���Songs of Summer: Celebrating the Music that Makes Every Summer Unforgettable��� on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in McCrary Theatre. Directed by Virginia Novine-Whittaker, this dynamic vocal and instrumental ensemble blends pop, jazz and contemporary favorites to capture the warmth and energy of the season. The program promises a mix of familiar melodies and feel-good moments that reflect both the memories of summers past and those still to come.

Later that week, audiences can take a step back in time with the Mixed Tape Concert ��� Music from the 60���s and 70���s on Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Life Center at Elon Community Church. Directed by Stephen A. Futrell, 辿l叩n ��� Elon vocal jazz will perform alongside a rhythm section, bringing to life classic hits from artists like ABBA, The Carpenters, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Simon & Garfunkel and Neil Diamond. With Beatles and Motown medleys woven throughout the program, the concert invites audiences to sing along and fully immerse themselves in the music.

The celebrations continue into May with the Elon Concert Band���s spring performance, ���Visions, Vibes, and Tales,��� on Tuesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. in McCrary Theatre. Directed by Michael Phillips, the concert will showcase a wide range of music and feature a graduating senior Production Technology student as an electric guitar soloist. The evening will conclude with an interactive piece, encouraging audience members to join in by singing or whistling along.

Closing out the series, the Elon Wind Ensemble will present its spring concert, ���A Semiquincentennial Celebration,��� on Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. in McCrary Theatre. Conducted by Jonathan Poquette, the ensemble will perform a variety of Americana works in honor of the nation���s 250th anniversary. The performance will also feature soprano soloist Polly Cornelius, adding another layer of artistry to a program designed to celebrate the richness and diversity of American music.

Directed by Assistant Professor of Music Alex Heitlinger, the concert centers around the music of Sun Ra, a visionary artist known for blending jazz, philosophy and Afrofuturism into a sound unlike any other. His work blurs the lines between swing and avant-garde, drawing inspiration from ancient Egypt, outer space and beyond. Through this performance, audiences will step into what Sun Ra described as a ���universe of sound,��� where music becomes both an artistic and conceptual experience.

Throughout his life, Sun Ra���born Herman Poole Blount���crafted a persona as unique as his music. He famously claimed to have been transported to Saturn in the 1930s and instructed by alien beings to share his message through music. Whether symbolic or sincere, this narrative became central to his artistic identity. Beyond the mythology, Sun Ra was a groundbreaking innovator: one of the first jazz musicians to experiment with electronic synthesizers and among the earliest Black artists to establish an independent record label. His ensemble, known as the Sun Ra Arkestra, has continued performing for decades, carrying forward his legacy through electrifying, theatrical performances.

The April 24 concert will reflect that same spirit of creativity and unpredictability. The evening will feature two distinct sets: an opening small group performance showcasing works by Sun Ra and his contemporaries, followed by a high-energy big band set with more than 20 musicians and multiple vocalists. Adding to the immersive experience, Heidi Jo Schiemer, costume designer for Performing Arts, has created intergalactic attire inspired by Sun Ra���s signature style���complete with nods to both ancient Egyptian and cosmic themes.

While Sun Ra���s music is often described as experimental or avant-garde, it remains deeply rooted in the traditions of big band swing. This combination makes the performance both musically sophisticated and highly engaging���equally suited for close listening and pure enjoyment. Audiences can expect a concert that is as entertaining and danceable as it is imaginative.

Sponsored by the Department of Music, this performance promises to be one of the most unique musical events on campus this year. With its fusion of sound, storytelling, and visual spectacle, the Elon Jazz Ensembles��� tribute to Sun Ra invites audiences to embrace the unexpected and experience music in an entirely new way.

On April 21 at 7:30 p.m. in McCrary Theatre, the Elon Orchestra, conducted by Stephen A. Futrell, will bring this powerful element of storytelling to life. Performing selections from one of the most iconic film score series ��� “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” ���the orchestra will highlight how music alone can capture character, tension and emotion in ways that transcend the screen.

Composed by Academy Award-winning composer Howard Shore, the music of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” is widely recognized for its complexity and emotional depth. Film scoring, Futrell explains, has long been closely tied to classical music traditions, using recurring themes and motifs to represent characters, settings and emotional shifts. These musical elements heighten tension, signal resolution and guide the audience���s emotional experience throughout a story. While film is often considered a form of popular entertainment, its scores are often just as thoughtfully constructed and artistically rich as traditional symphonies. For the student musicians of the Elon Orchestra, performing this repertoire offers a unique opportunity to explore that connection and engage with music that bridges the classical and popular worlds.

While the orchestra explores cinematic storytelling through sound, 辿lan will take a different approach���bringing audiences back to the music of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Performing on April 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Elon Community Church, the ensemble will present a dynamic and nostalgic program featuring some of the most recognizable hits of the era.

The concert will include a wide range of artists and styles, from a powerful vocal arrangement of Bob Dylan���s ���The Times They Are A-Changin������ to a Beatles medley featuring classics like ���Let It Be,��� ���Hey Jude��� and ���The Long and Winding Road.��� The program also highlights Motown with a Stevie Wonder medley, alongside music from artists such as the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and Ashford & Simpson. In addition, audiences will hear selections from Paul Simon, including ���Loves Me Like a Rock,��� ���Mother & Child Reunion��� and a gospel-inspired arrangement of ���Bridge Over Troubled Water.���

Together, these performances highlight the versatility and artistry of Elon���s student musicians, showcasing music���s ability to tell stories across genres and generations. From the sweeping, cinematic scores of Middle-earth to the timeless hits that defined an era, both concerts offer audiences a chance to experience the power of music in different but equally compelling ways. Whether drawn by nostalgia, storytelling, or a love of live performance, attendees can expect engaging and memorable evenings that celebrate both tradition and creativity within Elon���s music community.

Wente���s research examines the relationship between music, performance, composition, and technology, particularly in relation to the player piano. She explores these topics in her 2022 book, “The Player Piano and Musical Labor: The Ghost in the Machine.” In the article, she offers a perspective on historical and contemporary questions of authorship, authenticity, and creativity, highlighting how emerging technologies continue to reshape the ways music is created, performed and experienced.