Dr. Allen, Guest Lecturer for Harding University
Dr. Ferris Allen, Choral Instructor was invited to Harding University last week as a guest lecturer. He spent the day offering five individual voice lessons and one public masterclass.
NPC Hosts Annual Holiday In The Park
Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) and the Fun City Chorus of Hot Springs, will host Holiday in the Park Tuesday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m. in Horner Hall at the Convention Center in Hot Springs. This year’s guest host is Mr. Jason Hudnell. The annual event features choirs from Garland County School Districts and National Park College. Nine local choirs are scheduled to perform. Performances will include a mix of traditional and modern holiday compositions from the NPC Singers, Fountain Lake Cobra Chorus, Fountain Lake Freshman Singers, Jessieville High School Treble Makers, Jessieville High School Concert Choir, Fun City Chorus, Lake Hamilton Singers, Cutter Morning Star High School Choir, and the Hot Springs High School Varsity Choir.
NPC Art Student Featured at River Valley Arts Center
Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) art student Carol Sheets has been invited to exhibit her work at the River Valley Arts Center during the month of December. An opening reception will be held December 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. Sheets won “Best of Show” during the Collegiate Art Competition earlier this year for her portrait, “Best Friends,” which featured her granddaughter Micah and her dog, Piper. Sheets earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Science in Education from Henderson State University. She spent 31 years teaching secondary and elementary education in the Garland County area. Upon retirement, she enrolled at NPC to pursue an interest in the subject of art.
NPC Singers Host Fall Concert
Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) choral ensemble, the NPC Singers, will host a fall concert at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Tuesday, December 6, at 7 p.m. The choir will perform "A Wealth of Common Song" and the program will feature folk music from Scotland, Ireland, England and Canada. Local flutist Shelley Martin will be featured on an arrangement of the Irish ballad "Carrickfergus" for choir and flute. Pianist Lowella Cherry will accompany the choir.
New Start For Choir, Art Programs
Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) choir and art programs have embraced a new start this semester with two new faculty members. Dr. Ferris Allen, Director of Music Programs, and Lana Taliaferro, Art Faculty, began teaching in August. Taliaferro attended NPC before transferring to Henderson State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art. She has a master’s of Fine Art from Vermont College of Fine Art. She is a licensed art education teacher and has worked as an instructor for Hot Springs School District, Benton School District and Henderson State University. Her art has been featured in galleries and exhibits across the state. Her most recent work has been shown at The Blue Rock Studio. Her accolades include the G. Roy Levin/Jessica Lutz Merit Prize, Vermont College of Fine Arts Merit Scholarship, and the Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, among others.
Choir Scholarship Auditions
Every semester, over $10,000 in scholarships are awarded to singers in NPC's two choirs: National Park Singers and the Soundwaves. Auditions for scholarships and admission to the ensembles will be held Friday, August 26, from 11:30-12:30 and from 1:00-3:00 PM in CR 100. To make an audition appointment, e-mail Dr. Ferris Allen, ferris.allen@np.edu. National Park Singers rehearses Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00-12:20. Soundwaves rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00-12:20.
Visual and Media Arts Hosts Summer Shorts Film Festival
Hot Springs, Arkansas – The National Park College (NPC) student Film Group of the Visual and Media Arts Department hosted a Summer Shorts Film Festival for young filmmakers Tuesday on the NPC campus. The festival featured students currently attending area colleges and high schools. Cash prizes of $500 were awarded for the best picture in both the college and high school categories. Second place films in each category were awarded $250, and third place films received $100.
Visual and Media Arts Hosts Summer Shorts Film Festival
Hot Springs, Arkansas – The National Park College (NPC) student Film Group of the Visual and Media Arts Department will host a Summer Shorts Film Festival for young filmmakers June 28 and 29 on the NPC campus. The festival is open to students currently attending area colleges and high schools. Cash prizes of $500 will be awarded for the best picture in both the college and high school categories. Second place films in each category will be awarded $250, and third place films will receive $100.
Visual and Media Arts Hosts Summer Film School
Hot Springs, Arkansas – The National Park College (NPC) Visual and Media Arts program and Continuing Education Department will host a summer filmmaking course for high school students who will be in grades 10, 11, and 12 in the fall. The class will be a thorough introduction to all aspects of filmmaking. The schedule will be four days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., May 31 to June 26. The fee will be $100 per student. The course will cover aspects of preproduction from scriptwriting to preparation of storyboards. Principal photography will include lessons on camera operation, professional sound procedures, lighting, and more. Post production work will involve all aspects of digital film editing. The last week of the course will cover film promotion, including design of flyers and lessons in creating posters via silk screen printing. The students will have access to professional film equipment including Sony Cine Alta cameras, cinema lenses, professional lighting, and professional sound equipment including mixers, microphones, and booms.
Communication and Arts Hosts Seventh Annual Poetry Contest
Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) Communication and Arts Division hosted the seventh Annual Poetry Contest last week in the NPC Library. Contest winners are selected anonymously by the English faculty. On average, the contest has about 25 entries each year. This year’s winners included, Steven Barber, first place for his poem, Midline; Ken Cooper, second place for his poem, Katesville Mills; and Steven Joe Echols, third place for his poem, With You.
