Honors College to Present 'An Evening of Nina Simone'

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Fans of Nina Simone, the classically trained “high priestess of soul” and civil rights activist, should mark their calendars now for a very special Honors College House Concert at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30.

Actors from TheatreSquared’s world premiere of The Champion, including Joy Jones as Nina Simone, will perform a couple of pivotal scenes from the play. U of A music students, directed by music faculty member and jazz guitarist Jake Hertzog, will perform some of Simone’s signature songs, including “I Loves You Porgy” and “Feeling Good.”

The concert is free and open to all on campus and in the community; light refreshments will be served. As always, the House Concert will take place in the comfortable intimacy of the Honors Student Lounge, room 130, Gearhart Hall. Seating will be limited, so please RSVP and come early to reserve your seat.

Valandra, director of African and African American Studies and assistant professor of social work , will comment on Nina Simone’s life and significance. Additional insights will be provided by Kimberly Hannon Teal, a professor of musicology whose research focuses on contemporary jazz, and John Stanley Walch, an assistant professor of theatre and head of playwriting at the U of A.

“We are delighted to partner with our friends at TheatreSquared and in the departments of music and theatre to present a most memorable House Concert,” said Honors College Dean Lynda Coon.

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and unites the university’s top undergraduate students and professors in a learning environment characterized by discovery, creativity and service. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $70,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. Fifty percent of Honors College graduates have studied abroad – three times the national average – and one hundred percent of Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.