Model U.N. and Carnegie Hall: Two groups of students in New York this week (with video)

From global policies to Mozart music, two groups of Randolph College students are making their mark in New York this week.

Randolph’s Model United Nations team is representing the Republic of Yemen in the National Model United Nations Conference. Meanwhile, Chorale, a student singing group,will perform in Carnegie Hall on Sunday.

Watch this video to hear Jennifer Dugan, a political science professor, explain what it is like to prepare to represent a volatile foreign government.

Model U.N. is a tradition at the College. Each year, students delve into the culture, history, and politics of the country they are assigned to represent. They attend the national conference to discuss policies and make proposals based on the needs and views of the country they represent. Randolph students often bring awards home with them recognizing them for their outstanding preparation.

Kira Chhatwal ’12 is serving as the head delegate from the Randolph team this year. You can track updates from the team by reading their Model U.N. blog.

On Friday, an alumna in New York is hosting a reception for the Model U.N. students.

Although the Randolph College Chorale has toured frequently, performing in Carnegie Hall is a new experience. Randall Speer, a music professor and conductor of Chorale, caught the attention of MidAmerica Productions more than a year ago, and the company invited him to conduct a choir in a festival concert in Carnegie Hall.

Randolph students are excited about their Carnegie Hall debut. Watch this video to listen to them practice.

Speer invited the Chorale students to come with him so they could experience the thrill of performing in such an impressive venue.

Over the next few days, they will hold rehearsals with an orchestra, professional soloists, and another choir that is joining them for the concert. On Sunday, they will take the stage to perform Mozart’s Solemn Vespers.

Then they will bring that music back to Lynchburg, performing the Mozart piece and Randall Thompson’s The Place of the Blest in a concert with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. on April 15 in Houston Memorial Chapel.

Randall Speer wins Davidson Award

Randall Speer, associate professor of music, was named as the recipient of the Katherine Graves Davidson Award during Convocation ceremonies August 31, 2010 at Randolph College.

The award is given annually to a faculty member who has brought distinction to the College.

"This year's winner has had a significant impact on our community," said Dennis Stevens, dean of the college, in announcing the award. "Not only is he a respected teacher, but he has enriched our lives by his contributions to the cultural life of the college and the greater Lynchburg community."

In the past year, Speer has published two original choral works, organized and directed the collaborative production of Mozart's Requiem, and led a student Summer Research team in a project to catalog the College's music archives. Speer serves as director of the Randolph College Chorale and the Touch of Harmony vocal jazz ensemble. He has composed original works for Randolph College theatre productions and served as a judge for community music competitions.

Speer has taken the power of music to Westminster Canterbury, and he has brought the power of music to Randolph College students in his international study seminar in Austria, Italy, and Bulgaria.

"A colleague says that he is affable, quick to laugh, optimistic, cheerful, never complains, and works incredibly hard," said Stevens.

The Katherine Graves Davidson Award was established in 1975 to honor Trustee Emerita Katherine Graves Davidson, '35. The award has been made possible by gifts from Mr. and Mrs. J. Wilson Newman in recognition of the services rendered to private education by Mrs. Davidson and her husband, Frank G. Davidson. It is given annually to a faculty member who has brought distinction to the college. The recipient is chosen by a committee of local alumni, in consultation with the Dean of the College.