Alumni in the News
Kirstin Allio (BA ’96) released her first novel, Garner (Coffee House Press, 2005), to rave reviews. The book is a murder mystery set in rural New Hampshire circa 1925.
Carl Bowlby ’s (BA ’95) recently-recorded song, “Bits and Pieces,” earned a semifinalist spot in the United Kingdom Songwriting Competition and was picked up for airplay on the Celtica Radio Ltd. in the United Kingdom .
Wendy Hilliard ’s (BA ‘88) Wendy Hilliard Foundation (WHF) celebrated its 10th anniversary of providing outstanding gymnastics to NYC inner city youth in late 2005. Olympic gymnasts and professional performers took part in a celebratory gala at the Harlem Police Athletic League to commemorate the occasion. The event was emceed by Marysol Castro of Good Morning America Weekend Edition.
Sabrina Schmidt Gordon (BA '90) coproduced and edited a documentary film that was screened at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Beyond Beats and Rhymes: A Hip-Hop Head Weighs in on Manhood in Hip-Hop Culture was one of 120 films selected from a pool of 7,000 submissions, and was featured in the festival’s Spectrum category. PBS has also selected the film for a national television broadcast on its Independent Lens series. Beyond Beats and Rhymes examines masculinity and gender politics in hip-hop culture and features interviews with famous rap stars and music industry executives.
Yale Strom (MA ’84) had his tenth book, The Absolute Complete Klezmer Songbook, published in December 2005. The book includes 313 klezmer tunes, most from out-of-print sources, as well as Strom’s field research.
Tara Wray (BA ’04) is the director of Manhattan , Kansas , a documentary film that was selected to premiere at the 2006 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin , TX . For more information visit http://www.lbthunderponyproductions.com.