Jacob Erickson, Author at BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

Ed Carter Appointed as New School of Communications Director

Jacob Erickson — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 19:13:20 +0000

The School of Communications welcomes Dr. Ed Carter as its new director. Carter replaces Dr. Ed Adams, who served as director for the last three years. Carter’s three-year term begins on June 1, 2015. Before accepting this position, Carter worked as an associate professor and an associate dean for the College of Fine Arts and Communications. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from BYU and earned a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Carter attended the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU, and served as a law clerk for Judge Ruggero J. Aldisert. Later, he became a full-time faculty member of BYU’s Communication Department. During Adams’ time as director, the Department of Communication became the School of Communications. In 2005, the Adlab was created and in 2008, the Bradley Lab went from a student run agency to a fully integrated public relations firm. Carter comes highly recommended by both his colleagues and the faculty. “Many names were submitted and considered for this position,” said Dean Stephen Jones. “The name that was most often mentioned was Dr. Ed Carter’s and over time it became clear that he was the right choice for this position. We appreciate Dr. Carter’s willingness to accept the position as Director of the School of Communications and wish him and his colleagues every success moving forward.” For Carter, this is a thrilling opportunity to serve both the students and the faculty of the School of Communications and he feels that there are many amazing possibilities on the horizon. “I look forward to the future and I know that there are challenges ahead but I choose to focus on the opportunities and the great things we can and will do together,” said Carter.

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College of Fine Arts and Communications Spring 2015 Convocations

Jacob Erickson — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 16:47:56 +0000

On Friday, April 24, the College of Fine Arts and Communications hosts three convocation ceremonies in the de Jong Concert Hall to honor this year’s graduates. The first convocation ceremony honors graduates of the Department of Art and Department of Design and begins at 8:00 a.m. The speaker for the ceremony is Mark Graham, Professor of Art and Area Head, Art Education. Student of the departments of Dance, Music Dance Theater, Theater and Media Arts and the School of Music will be honored during the second convocation, which begins at 11:00 a.m. Kory Katseanes, director of the School of Music, is the keynote speaker. The final ceremony commences at 2:00 p.m. and the keynote speaker is Dr. Ed Adams. This convocation also marks the first for the new School of Communications. The Department of Communications recently achieved school status and was renamed the School of Communications. Associate Dean Dr. Ed Carter is delighted to be part of this historic event and hopes that students will remember the people that have made the new school possible. “The School of Communications has a bright future,” said Carter. This first convocation under the label of School gives students, staff and faculty the opportunity to reflect on the service and sacrifice of many dedicated individuals over the last 80 years. The strength of the School is the people who teach, study and work here, and I look forward to decades of continued progress.” As supervisor and an advisor for the CFAC Advisement Center, Julee Braithwaite is extremely grateful to help students along their journey towards graduation. “I am most pleased that as an academic advisor, I may have perhaps played a small part in guiding students towards their graduation goals,” said Braithwaite. “I recognize that the accomplishment of graduation is a result of much personal determination, self-discipline and dedication on the students’ part and hope that as they move on to new opportunities, they will enjoy a sense of satisfaction in the things they learned, created and achieved while here at BYU.” Family and friends who can’t be present at the convocations can view all three ceremonies online by clicking here.

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Department of Design Takes Home 19 Graphis Awards

Jacob Erickson — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 18:48:44 +0000

The BYU Department of Design wrapped up this year’s Graphis awards with 19 of their 21 entries selected to be featured in the Graphis magazine. Graphis, the International Journal of Visual Communication, has been around since the 40’s. Graphis’ prestigious award for New Talent Annual acknowledges some of the best and brightest up-and-coming graphic design artists. Each year, designers from all over the world submit their work to be featured in the journal. This year, BYU had 21 entries and 19 of them were chosen. “There’s an index in the back of each annual and it lists the schools and how many awards they have listed,” said associate professor Brent Barson. “Each year a couple of schools tend to submit hundreds of entries and if they’re lucky they maybe get 20 of them. For us to submit 21 and get 19 is huge for the program. It helps with our name recognition, prestige and it looks great for both the students and faculty.” The faculty focuses on teaching their students hard work and tries to help develop the talent that they have in their program. For the students, it is quite a feat to get into such a competitive program, but once admitted they have the full support of the faculty. “Our role as faculty is to encourage and critique our students,” said Barson. “If that means students are re-doing and re-doing and hardly getting any sleep the week before something’s due, so be it. Many of our students might tell you that they’re stressed and exhausted, but pushing them to the highest level of quality that they are capable of is how we best prepare them.” For the students that received a Graphis award, this is a major accomplishment and is a great boost for their resume and portfolio. “I think that it’s important that students get recognized for their work, not just by their professors, but by professionals currently working in the industry,” said BYU graphic design student Emma Vidmar. “Winning a Graphis also helps set us apart because we have been judged by our peers and they recognize our talent and skill.” BYU faculty and students featured included Adrian Pulfer, Tyson Cantrell, Bomi Lee, Sam Wood, Nicolina Brown, Kristen Rogers, Emma Vidmar, Kaeli Wood, Eric Gillette, Rachel Asplund, David Bowman, and Hayden Davis.

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Dreams Come True for BYU Graduates with "Dreamling"

Jacob Erickson — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 23:37:21 +0000

The dream of starting a successful children’s publishing company is finally coming true for BYU graduates Ben Ehlert and Mitch Stevens, as their company, Dreamling Books, prepares to release its first book. The Boy Who Spoke To The Earth is a children’s book written by adventure photographer Chris Burkard and illustrated by Disney interactive artist and alumnus of the illustration program, David McClellan. The story follows a young boy who is on a long and difficult journey to find happiness. With the help of the Earth, the boy travels far and wide as the Earth show him his greatest creations. In the end, the boy discovers that there is happiness all around him and that he just needed to open his eyes. “This is our first book and we couldn’t be more excited about it,” said Stevens. “The Boy Who Spoke To The Earth is very inspirational and has great messages for both kids and adults. It encourages them to explore the outdoors and find joy in the journey.” Dreamling Books | Our Story from Dreamling Books on Vimeo. While studying at BYU, Ehlert and Stevens took Writing for Children and Adolescents from English professor Rick Walton. Professor Walton’s class affected them in such a strong way that they both became passionate about children’s publishing. “If it wasn’t for Rick Walton, I never would have let the idea writing stories even become a reality in my mind,” said Stevens. “The first time I ever read one of my stories out loud was in his class, everyone laughed and applauded. I was shocked. But that was the first time I felt accomplished in story writing. It was an amazing feeling that has stuck with me over the years.” Elhert and Stevens’ friendship with Walton and their love for BYU is still strong as Dreamling Books continues to work with both the illustration and editing programs here at BYU. “We have been super lucky to work with the BYU editing and illustration programs,” said Stevens. “We pull many of our interns from both these programs. I know that BYU helped cultivate our dreams while we were here. I think that we are just trying to pass this message along to others.” Dreamling Books is currently running a Kickstarter to help raise funds to publish its first book. To help support Ehlert and Stevens’ cause and get your own copy of The Boy Who Spoke To The Earth visit their page here. The Kickstarter ends on April 3, 2014.

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Four years full of memories

Jacob Erickson — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 17:27:27 +0000

Four years seems like a long time to a newly minted freshman, yet most college graduates will tell you that this time will be over in a blink of an eye. For Chelsea Hurst, this chapter of her life has sadly come to an end but a new and exciting one is just about to begin. In her senior year at BYU, Hurst has been first chair in both the Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras. She has also had the privilege of touring Europe twice which she feels has greatly enhanced her experience at BYU. In 2012, while touring in Western Europe with the BYU Wind Symphony she had a memorable moment with a local member in Berlin. “This was one of the last tours where they allowed students to stay with host families,” she said “My host parents were an elderly couple and it was really amazing because the sister played the bassoon. Luckily, I had my bassoon with me so I asked her if she wanted to play together and it ended up being a really special experience for me.” Hurst began playing the bassoon when she was in the sixth grade. Starting at such a young age was highly unusual because of how difficult the bassoon is to play. Learning to play the bassoon can be very arduous because of its particular style of fingering. Often, bassoonists find it challenging to get their fingers to play the high notes. The fingering can make it even more problematic when they are asked to play fast. This is why generally musicians will first learn on the clarinet or oboe to help ease them into learning the bassoon. “For the first couple of years when I was learning how to play the bassoon, I actually had to teach myself because my family couldn’t afford lessons,” said Hurst. Later, when her family was able to pay for bassoon lessons, Hurst studied with Denise Turner, a music professor at the University of New Mexico. It was also around this time that Hurst learned to play the Celtic harp, which she learned by baby-sitting for her teacher in exchange for free lessons. When the time came for Hurst to choose where she wanted to go to college, she knew that she wanted to go somewhere where she could improve her skills as a musician. With her mom’s help, she was able to do a lot of research about different schools. Hurst’s research ultimately led her to BYU. “The reason why I came to BYU was because of its amazing music program,” said Hurst. “I had heard so many spectacular things about the program and I knew that it would a great environment and a great place for me to grow.” After four years, Hurst is grateful for the opportunity that she has had to study at BYU and is sad that it has come to an end. But like most seniors, she is excited for the future. “My husband graduated a year and a half ago and he has patiently waited for me to finish school,” Hurst said. “So this fall we will be moving to North Carolina and my husband will be going to graduate school. I am really excited because I think this will be a great opportunity for me to get involved in community orchestras and teach bassoon lessons while we are living there. Also, this will give me an opportunity to share with people the many things that I learned while I was here at BYU.”

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Robert Cundick releases another inspiring CD

Jacob Erickson — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 20:54:19 +0000

DOWNLOAD/PRINT PRESS RELEASE Retired Mormon Tabernacle organist and former BYU music faculty member (1957-1965), Robert Cundick has dedicated his entire career of more than 50 years to changing lives and serving others through the power of music. As the oldest living member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir music staff, Cundick continues to enlarge his contribution of Gospel-centered music. Through The Redeemer and other works, thousands have had their testimonies strengthened, and The Gospel Restored continues that tradition of consecrated devotion. This latest CD of three previously composed works provides new insights into the Restoration for members as well as non-members. Each is intended to teach core principles of the Restored Gospel and to strengthen testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The first is titled “Remembering Joseph”. It depicts the first vision when God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared to the 14-year-old Joseph Smith. Thanks to his son Robb who wrote the text for this particular work, the music whisks listeners away into the 1820’s and makes them feel as if they were there with the Prophet Joseph during this sacred time. The second is titled “The Song of Nephi,” based on 2 Nephi 4:16-35 (one of the richest literary passages in the Book of Mormon) symbolizes the fundamental scriptural importance of that ancient record. Cundick composed this setting for his doctoral dissertation at the University of Utah. The final work “To Utah”, emphasizes the pioneers and their journey across the plains. On a text by the late BYU poet Edward L. Hart, this work reminds the listener of the many trials and tribulations endured by the pioneers. Initially a pianist, Cundick began playing the organ at age12 and shortly after became the ward organist. Excelling as a musician, his teacher quickly realized he had an exceptional gift. “I fell in love with the organ and after some private lessons, my teacher recommended me to Alexander Schreiner who was the organist at the tabernacle during this time,” Cundick said. “ Thanks to my teacher’s recommendation, Schreiner took me on as a student. I was the only scholarship student that he ever took because I couldn’t afford the lessons.” Following his graduation from high school, Cundick joined the Merchant Marines and later enrolled at the University of Utah as a music major. Later as a student teacher, he met and married Charlotte Clark, who was one of his many organ students. “The biggest influence in my life is my eternal companion, my dear wife,” he said cheerfully. “She has been invaluable to me and to my music. Sometimes, I get discouraged with my music and I get ready to throw it in the wastebasket. When I’m discouraged while composing, she urges me to continue, by saying it will turn out just fine.” To his surprise, Cundick was called to serve as the organist at Temple Square in 1964. He served faithfully for 27 years before retiring in 1991. ” For any Mormon organist, the pinnacle of achievement is to sit at that bench. I was no different,” Cundick said in a 2004 article by the Deseret News. Now 87, Dr. Cundick views this CD as the culmination of his life’s experience and testimony. “BYU is very pleased to have this new CD of Robert Cundick’s works as part of its Heritage series,” said Stephen Jones, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at BYU. “Bob’s unflagging commitment to use his gifts as a composer to bear witness of important doctrines of the gospel has left us a rich legacy of works that I trust will endure for many years to come.” Tantara Records offers a free download of “The Gathering,” one of the tracks on the CD, at http://bit.ly/cundick. The CD is for sale at Seagull Book, Deseret Book and the BYUMusicStore.com. For more information call 800-879-1555. DOWNLOAD/PRINT PRESS RELEASE

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