#WRFL Alum

[wrflmusic]

From the Archives: Ergo Phizmiz & Irene Moon

Ergo Phizmiz & Irene Moon - Pangolin Variations (2004)

Irene Moon is the stage name of WRFL/UK alumna Katja Seltmann, who is also an entomologist. On Pangolin Variations she talks about pesticides, and Phizmiz and Moon sing songs with surreal lyrics about nests and manatees, and sample BBC clips on a type of anteater called the pangolin. This is all over weird, tinny electronic beats. It’s not online anywhere, so if you want to listen, find it in the library! It’s great.

Recommended Tracks: 3, 4, 5

[ukfinearts]

UK grad managing youth orchestra

Country roads are taking this UK graduate back home as she embarks on a new journey as the manager of the West Virginia Youth Symphony (WVYS). Aryana Misaghi, School of Music alum, graduated in Spring 2018 with a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education with a flute focus and a minor in Biological Sciences. 

Misaghi currently manage the West Virginia Youth Symphony (WVYS) in Charleston, WV. The WVYS was one of the most formative musical experiences Misaghi had while growing up, one that led her to be a part of the UK Symphony Orchestra for all four years of college. She says, “it's been such an honor to work for a group that I love and believe in.” Her work includes organizing rehearsals, booking concerts, fundraising, grant-writing, and promotions--everything except the music-making. “The students impress me at every performance,” she explains, “and their music makes all the hard work worth it.” Being a member of UKSO and on the Board of Directors at WRFL, prepared Misaghi for most of what the job has thrown at her. “I never thought I would end up being in an arts administrative position as a career,” she exclaims, however, her experience in college of participating in activities that she wanted to do like playing in orchestra, being on the radio, and tutoring other students in writing, primed her for her current position!

[ukfinearts]

UK Alum portrays prosperous Kentucky woman

Written By: Michaela Bowman

Debra Faulk, a University of Kentucky Theatre graduate, took to the stage this past February in honor of Black History Month to portray Nancy Green who went onto become one of the first prosperous African American women in the United States. Presented by Kentucky Humanities, “Being Aunt Jemima - The Pancake Queen,” follows the story of Nancy Green who was born a slave in 1834 in Montgomery County, Kentucky. While in Kentucky she worked for the Walker family, and moved with them to Chicago just after the Great Fire, in 1872. Eight years later, Nancy Green became “Aunt Jemima.” Businessman R.T. Davis had purchased a pre-mixed, self rising recipe for pancakes and wanted an “Aunt Jemima,” a character from minstrel shows, which were popular at the time, to be the face of his pancakes. “Aunt Jemima” would be a friendly, animated, African American cook who served a wealthy white family. Playing the role of “Aunt Jemima” gave Green financial independence few African Americans and few women experienced at the time. She used her wealth as a means to empower her community. She was particularly active in her church, leading missionary trips, investing in anti-poverty programs for African Americans, and advocating for equal rights.

The script was written by Bo List, a Lexington native and UK Theatre graduate who has worked in the area as an actor, writer and director for more than twenty years. Additionally, the work was made possible through Kentucky Chautauqua, an exclusive presentation of Kentucky Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and other sponsors. Kentucky Humanities is a non-profit Kentucky corporation affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

Debra Faulk was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, and graduated in 2007 from the University of Kentucky. She majored in Theatre and while a student at the University she interned for the Theatre In Diversion program which was a joint collaboration between UK and the Kentucky court system to encourage youth at risk.

In 2013 Ms. Faulk received her Master’s of Fine Arts (MFA) in Media Studies with emphasis on Television, Film & Theatre from California State University Los Angeles. While a master’s student, she implemented a Life Skills Theatre course for the Asian American Drug Addiction Program (AADAP) as a part of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office effort to prevent and reduce gang membership and gang violence.

Debra has been a professional comedienne for more than two decades and is the founder and artistic director of her own company called Rainbow Attractions, LLC. Her company combines entertainment with education highlighting serious health issues with added elements of humor and joy. Rainbow Attractions has featured Debra in her one woman show Nobody Does It Alone which helps explain the effects and symptoms of dementia on the elderly and their families. She has lead a Walk To End Alzheimer’s sponsored by the National Alzheimer’s Association and has organized her own annual event through the Veteran’s Administration to honor all veterans suffering from this illness. Rainbow Attractions has also presented the Comedy Connections workshop as a means of furthering Debra’s interest in working with teenagers who are on the margins of society.

Debra has received the Lola Robinson Theatre Scholarship for dedication to the art of theatre, the Raymond Smith Theatre Scholarship for leadership and the Carol S. Sutton Journalism Award to students with strong writing skills and high academic standards. Debra had a radio show called Quality Time on UK WRFL station.

Some of Debra’s entertainment credits include: Lorraine Hansberry’s Raisin In The Sun (Mama), Lynn Nottage’sIntimate Apparel, (Mrs. Dickson), Live at the Apollo in New York City, Let’s Talk About Sex (New Line Pictures), How To Be A Player (Gramercy Pictures), Wayan Brothers Show(Paramount Studios), Malcolm & Eddie Show (Sony Studios) and served as thee mistress of ceremonies for the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Tour and Me’Shell Ndegeocello concerts. Readers Magazine named Debra as the number one emcee in Los Angeles in the late nineties and FYI Magazine called her show the most entertaining in Los Angeles seen weekly by Hollywood’s VIPs.

[wrflmusic]

WRFL is excited to announce that local post-punk synth-heavy Chlorine and solo artist and self-proclaimed "Daddy Anarchist," Dr. Paul are joining the lineup of ADULT. and Alex Cameron at this year's WRFL Birthday Bash. The show will also feature DJ sets throughout the night from WRFL alum Rob Theakston and David Austin (thank you for coming to our parties). Tickets will go on sale late next week, so stay tuned for more information on where you can pick them up!

Make sure to respond to the Facebook event for forthcoming information: https://www.facebook.com/events/970545243081540/

[ukfinearts]

It’s all green lights for alum Jackson Schad

By Ashley Rhinehart, arts administration student

Jackson Schad (Arts Administration) graduated from UK in December 2013 as a non-traditional student, having returned to college in his mid-twenties. After a year in Nashville, Jackson moved to NYC and began to work for Uber through a temp agency in 2015. Currently, he is a Greenlight Supervisor with a focus in People Management. His hopes to become a GM for NYC Greenlights and strengthen his skills in Training and Development. Most recently, he conducted a Culture Audit across the NYC support centers and hosted a summit for the Management/Supervisor team wherein he used a SWOT Analysis and Mission Statement exercise as methods of engagement. “My time at UK greatly informed my abilities to work with limited resources, manage chaos, embrace failure and capitalize on wins both big and small!” It is so great to see successful alumni who are so passionate about what they do.

What’s your favorite item you have in your office?

I work in an “open office” so my favorite thing is my headphones! My noise canceling headphones vs earbuds, signal to those around me that I am in the zone and probably don’t want to be disturbed. That said, resources like internal chats and shared calendars make us reachable without disturbing one another in the moment.

What is your favorite memory from your time at UK?

My Community Engagement class partnered with the UK Art Museum for a family day. My class built large, cardboard panels of varying shapes and painted each a single primary color, modeled after the David Hayes pieces which were currently on display. We had anticipated participants would not want to see their creations dismantled so had a plan for coordinating around families coming and going...we learned an incredible lesson that day. The children took it upon themselves to break down their own structures when newcomers arrived. They worked in mixed teams and gave each other feedback. It was inspiring.

How did your experiences at UK help you find your first move after graduation?

My first move was motivated by something outside of my career search although I did have a promising connection with a museum in the new city I was leaving for. It didn’t pan out and I found myself in limbo for a year, tour managing a rock band, making smoothies in a co-op in a gentrified neighborhood, not making money and feeling unfulfilled. I have hundreds of experiences at UK which span my involvement with WRFL, my time in the Arts Admin program and my connection with UK off-campus. Before I moved to Lexington, I was also lost and unfulfilled. Carrying my stories in my heart always kept me hopeful and this narrative ultimately motivated my second big move - New York City.

What qualities do you look for in hiring a new graduate?/What are some attributes of people who are most successful in your field?

I do a lot of hiring nowadays and my organization within my company hires mostly young people, high school and college graduates alike. What I look for in a candidate are:

A capacity for empathy

The willingness to give and receive live feedback

Curiosity

Positive energy

The most successful people in my field (People Management) are those who:

Take it upon themselves to solve problems and own projects

Know how and when to zoom out

Can detect and analyze data trends

Communicate openly

Fail fast and fail often 

What advice can you offer someone entering the Arts Administration program?

Challenge your professors, your classmates and yourself. The courses in this program work so much better when everyone participates in intellectual discussion, principled confrontation and being yourself.

Photos submitted by Jackson.