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The Arts Association of East Alabama

Fine Arts Scholarship Auditions

presents the
Scholarship Candidates
Rachel Cason, dance

Carrie Samford Giles Joshua Gillen, saxophone


Earl Peacock Twanavious Menafield, voice, piano, & drama
Spann-Freeman Kathryn Spain, voice & drama

Sylvia Wehrs, piano & violin

Fine Arts Scholarship Auditions Kevin Xu, piano

Scholarship Committee
Carolyn Moore, co-chair
Frances Capps-Palmer, co-chair

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 5 PM Application Judges


Opelika Center for the Performing Arts Frances Capps-Palmer
Kathy Johnston
Carolyn Moore
Audition Judges The Arts Association of East Alabama

Mark DeGoti is the newly appointed Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Auburn Scholarship Program
University. Prior to joining the faculty at Auburn, Dr. DeGoti taught at Eastern Illinois
University in Charleston, IL for several years. He received his Doctorate of Music in Brass From its founding in 1966, The Arts Association of East Alabama has
Pedagogy at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. In addition, he holds a awarded annual scholarships to deserving students to enhance their
Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Indiana University and prior to that, he experiences in the arts. Since 1983, the scholarships have been designated
received a Bachelor of Music both in Trumpet Performance and Music Theory from the
for auditioned high school seniors to support enriching arts opportunities at
the college of their choice. The Carrie Samford Giles Scholarship, The Earl
University of Michigan. Dr. DeGoti has maintained an active performing career while
Peacock Scholarship, and The Spann-Freeman Scholarship are offered
teaching. He has played with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro Symphony
annually in the amount of $1,000 each.
Orchestra, Peoria Symphony, and the Auburn Brass Trio. He has also collaborated with
artists such as Leanne Rimes, The Tommy Dorsey Band, The Indianapolis Chamber The late Carrie Samford Giles was a well-known organist in Atlanta,
Brass, and The Michigan Brass. Dr. DeGoti can be heard on several recordings with the Georgia. According to a former student, “Miss Carrie kept music alive in
Owensboro Symphony as well as on the Klavier Records label with the Philharmonia Á
Opelika.” She taught piano and was the organist at The First United
Methodist Church of Opelika for many years. Teaching piano lessons in her
Vent
studio located next to her home on North Ninth Street, her love of music
influenced many students. She died in 1984 at the age of 104.
Kathryn Floyd is an assistant professor of art history at Auburn University where she
teaches courses in modern and contemporary art, as well as in the history of the arts of Earl Peacock was born and educated in Opelika and received his
Africa and the United States. She has a B.A. degree in fine arts and anthropology from Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Auburn University. His work is
evidenced in a number of buildings in East Alabama which he designed or
Vanderbilt University, an M.A. degree in art history from the University of Georgia, and a
renovated, as well as private homes. Included are the Lewis Cooper Jr.
Ph.D. in art history from the University of Iowa where her dissertation won the
Memorial Library, Farmers National Bank (now J. Smith Lanier), and First
Graduate Deans' Distinguished Dissertation Prize in the Humanities for 2006. Dr. Floyd's
Federal Savings and Loan (now BB&T). He was the charter vice-president of
research is concerned with the history of art in modern Germany, in particular the the Opelika Arts Association, and a member of the Board of Directors for
history of art exhibitions in the twentieth century. She was also the 2011 recipient of the many years. He was also a gifted artist, working mainly in oils and acrylics,
Auburn University SGA Outstanding Faculty Member Award for the College of Liberal teaching art at Southern Union. He died in 1983 at age 54.
Arts.
The Spann-Freeman Scholarship was founded by Sherry and
Richard Freeman of Opelika in memory of their parents who encouraged
Heather May holds a Ph.D. in Theatre History, Literature and Criticism from their children in music, drama, and scholarship. Ruth Spann, of Moss Point,
Indiana University (Bloomington), an M.A. in Drama from Washington University
(St. Louis), and a B.A. in Theatre from Grinnell College. She just completed her
Mississippi, was the co-founder to that area’s Community Concert series in
fourth year as an Assistant Professor at Auburn University where she teaches a the 1950’s, and was an elementary school teacher for many years.
range of courses from Introduction to Theatre, Theatre History, Stage
Management, to Directing. She is a stage management member of Actors' Equity
Association and a professional director. Her most recent work as a director,
MACHINAL, was seen on the stage of the Telfair Peet Theatre, where she has also
directed productions of THE AMERICA PLAY, STILL LIFE WITH IRIS, and INTIMATE
APPAREL. Outside of Auburn, she received rave reviews in the WASHINGTON
POST for her production of WHY WE HAVE A BODY at The Theatre Conspiracy in
Washington, D.C. Her work has been seen on stages in Bloomington, IN; Grinnell, 1032 South Railroad Avenue
IA; Washington, D.C.; and St. Louis, MO. Her scholarship is in the performance of Opelika AL 36801
race and gender on the nineteenth-century American stage, with a particular
specialization in female impersonation in late American minstrelsy. www.eastalabamaarts.org

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