The music department at Bluefield University experienced some changes this year when Dr. Andy Necessary retired over the summer. Dr. Necessary was a beloved professor at Bluefield for many years who brought much joy through his passion for music and his students.
“Dr. Necessary always made sure everyone felt at home. His band was like a second family to him. Even when we were small in numbers, we were never small at heart. He encouraged every one of us to not only play with confidence but to carry that confidence to serve our university and the community no matter what we did,” said John Thompson, a previous student of Dr. Necessary.
While Dr. Necessary will be greatly missed, BU is excited to welcome Dr. Carl Hess as director of bands and assistant professor of music. He is very excited to implement new changes and shows for the band. Dr. Hess attended Graham High School and has a great passion for the community in the Bluefield area.
On Saturday, September 12, I had the privilege of attending Culturefest, the Mercer County Grassroot District’s annual festival celebrating music, arts, and community. Presented by the Princeton-based nonprofit RiffRaff Arts Collective, this free festival brought storytelling and cultural experiences into the community. Culturefest featured over 30 music and dance performers, unique artisan and retail vendors, workshops, children’s activities, healing arts, and opportunities to explore the vibrant venues and businesses throughout the downtown district of Princeton, West Virginia.
The festival featured artists and performers ranging from internationally to locally known groups with music styles including Appalachian folk, African drumming, world fusion, soul, and so much more.
While attending the event, I spoke with Lori McKinney, the event’s organizer, who said that Culturefest has “a lot of intention behind it.” She said that the event is about “creating a space for human connection through music and art.”
Over the past few months Bluefield University has been implementing new initiatives to be used in recruiting efforts. During the summer Bluefield’s marketing team launched the Discover Bluefield Initiative, which provides an open invitation for anyone who wants to visit campus, get connected with admissions staff, and learn more about the program they are interested in.
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Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Elei Haynes. A new multimedia audio/video recording studio for the Communications Department is being built in Lansdell Hall that will give students several opportunities to explore different types of broadcasting. No specific date has been set for the studio to be finished, but it is possible for it to […]