Now a junior journalism major, Pfabe has been elected the executive director of ������Ƶ News Network for the 2026-27 academic year. Her path to the top leadership spot was a fast one, starting with a variety of roles in broadcast, web, and print. By the spring of her first year, she was already helping others get started as a new member coordinator.

“I helped new students get acclimated to ENN, responded to emails, and acted like I knew what I was doing,” Pfabe said.

Her passion for the craft actually goes back to her childhood. While she briefly considered psychology because she loved learning why people act the way they do, she realized journalism was a better way to learn others’ stories. She did morning announcements in elementary school and even acted as a reporter for Junior Achievement BizTown, which combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to a simulated town.

“I think local news is one of the pillars of local community and society,” Pfabe said. “People trust their local news more than they trust their national news. There is such a value in having people that are constantly around and making those connections to tell stories, especially ones that don’t get told often.”

Pfabe finds inspiration in local reporters she grew up watching in Baltimore, like investigative reporter David Collins. She recalled being starstruck when she finally met him during an internship. She also looks up to ������Ƶ alumni who started exactly where she is now, such as Gary Grumbach ’16, a legal affairs reporter for NBC News, and Maya Eaglin ’19, an on-air reporter for MSNOW.

“They started where we’re starting, and their ������Ƶ education helped them get there,” Pfabe said. “That is so phenomenal.”

As she looks toward her new role, Pfabe wants to shift the focus toward community-facing initiatives. She plans to lead ENN in more outreach and volunteer events throughout Burlington and Graham to build relationships that are not just transactional.

“You’re going, and you’re volunteering in your community. You’re doing good, and you’re not getting a story out of it,” Pfabe said. “You’re just doing something for the community.”

Transparency is another major goal for the upcoming year. Pfabe said she wants to break down the mystery of how news is made and show the campus that the staff is juggling many responsibilities at once.

“There is this idea that we are journalists first and students second, but we’re journalists and students at the same time,” Pfabe said. “We are still learning, and we’re still doing schoolwork at the same time as we’re doing our stories. We have classes with the same people we’re interviewing.”

Gabriela Alvarez ’28 built her ������Ƶ experience around connection, opportunity and identity. As a first-generation college student, she has embraced campus communities that strengthen her character while also discovering her passion for strategic communications.

In her junior year of high school in Westchester, New York, Alvarez signed up for the Immersion experience through the Emerging Journalists Program at ������Ƶ, where she was flown to ������Ƶ for a week to gain experience in her passion for news and broadcasting. Before the program, ������Ƶ had not been on Alvarez’s radar.

“The program changed my view of ������Ƶ. I had a really good time and connected with the professors and the cohort I was in. So, I decided to come see ������Ƶ as a result,” said Alvarez, who notes communications faculty Colin Donohue, Kelly Furnas and Israel Balderas were influential in her experience.

Her campus tour was on Homecoming & Reunion weekend, where she spoke up about her interest in journalism, which resulted in the tour guide encouraging her to explore the newsroom. There, she was able to chat with alumni from the School of Communications, who shared their positive experiences from their time at ������Ƶ.

After touring the communications facilities and connecting with these alumni, she knew ������Ƶ was the place for her.

Her first year here, Alvarez was a journalism major, and joining Live Oak Communications Agency became a turning point in her communications career. After contributing to the agency, Alvarez realized her passions aligned more with the strategic communications major.

“I fell in love with agency life. I liked strategic communications better because there was more creative freedom for me. I enjoy helping businesses that are someone’s life’s work, blossom even further,” she said.

As a part of the Communications Fellows cohort, Alvarez was able to attend a Winter Term Florida trip in her first year. She notes that this trip gave her the opportunity to explore different fields within communications, which reinforced her passion for strategic communications.

“I think the Fellows is an amazing program. It’s given me some of my best friends, and it opened doors for me to connect with professors,” said Alvarez. “I’m so glad I met Professor (Vanessa) Bravo through a Communications Fellows networking event because, like me, she is Hispanic, and that’s very important to my identity. I connected with her, and I joined the Unity in Communications club that helped me connect with other people who are interested in diversity in the communications world.”

Alvarez is also a proud first-generation college student. As the secretary for ������Ƶ’s First-Generation Society, she is consistently making the most out of the opportunities offered to her.

“I really love being first-generation,” she said. “It’s a big part of my identity. I try to do as much as I can to make my parents proud and make their sacrifices worth it.”

In addition, she is also a Bill and Sue Smith Odyssey Scholar. Through attending workshops on financial literacy, discussions on how to stay motivated, and even mental health checks.

“Odyssey has pushed me to be a better person and a better leader who is not afraid to ask for help or try new things. I’ve become more aware of how to succeed in the future, and I feel prepared for post-graduate,” she said.

Through the many communities and cohorts Alvarez is committed to, she has found belonging and purpose on ������Ƶ’s campus.

“I think being a part of these communities, like Odyssey, First Phoenix and Unity in Communications, is a way for me to stay true to myself,” she explained. “I grew up in a Hispanic-centered community, so coming to a predominantly white institution was a bit intimidating, but joining these communities helped me connect to others who have similar backgrounds and qualities as me. It’s important to stay true to the characteristics that are important to you and what makes you, you.”

Her scholarships have been a “weight off her shoulders” throughout her experience at ������Ƶ, allowing her the opportunity to see her dreams realized.

“Being able to tell my family they don’t have to worry so much about me and that I’ve worked hard in school and will continue to work hard is very rewarding. I’m very proud of myself. I’m proud to make my parents happy,” she said. “I’m willing to fight for dreams and fight for what I’m passionate about, and my scholarships have made that possible for me.”

Inspired by real-world stories about the high-stakes race for valedictorian, student filmmakers and spent the past several years bringing to life “Valediction,” a feature-length film set to premiere on Wednesday, April 8, in .

A twisted coming-of-age comedy, this first-ever feature film by ������Ƶ undergraduates explores the dangers of apathy and obsession. The screening, scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m., will be followed by an informal reception.

“I think people should be excited for the screening because it’s the culmination of so many ������Ƶ students and faculty’s hard work over these past two and a half years,” said Martin, a strategic communications and cinema and television arts double major. “No matter your major, you will almost certainly see a familiar face or two onscreen or in the credits.”

What began as a concept rooted in academic pressure quickly expanded into a genre-bending, feature-length production – an uncommon scope for undergraduate filmmakers. Sherouse, a cinema and television arts BFA major, and Martin collaborated to develop an intricate story and cast of characters, ultimately committing to a longer format to fully realize their vision.

At the center of their story is Sam, played by , an isolated overachiever who fights her classmates tooth and nail for the title of valedictorian. The film draws inspiration from the competition surrounding academic achievement, a dynamic explored in Margaret Talbot’s 2005 New Yorker article that examines how the pursuit of valedictorian status can push students to extremes. Sherouse said he read the article years ago, and the subject stayed with him long after.

“To include everything we wanted in the story, it became clear to us that ‘Valediction’ had to be feature-length, rather than a short film like most ������Ƶ productions,” Sherouse said. “We knew it would be a long and arduous process, but worth it to bring this story to life.”

That extended scope also shaped how the story is told. A balance of satire and suspense drives the film’s tone, blending humor with unexpected twists.

“‘Valediction’ is simply a movie that’s meant to be seen by a large audience,” Sherouse said. “There are laughs, scares and shocking turns – a whole emotional rollercoaster that’s best experienced with friends. I guarantee there are some twists you won’t see coming.”

As the premiere approaches, the scale of that effort is giving way to reflection.

Martin expressed pride in what the team accomplished and excitement to share the finished film, while Sherouse acknowledged the mix of anticipation and nerves that comes with completing a nearly three-year creative process.

Produced through , “Valediction” drew on support from faculty across campus.

Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television Arts Kai Swanson served as the project’s primary faculty sponsor, while Director of Technology, Operations and Multimedia Projects Bryan Baker and Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television Arts Youssef Osman provided mentorship and feedback throughout development and production. Baker also assisted with securing equipment for principal photography.

Faculty also stepped into the story itself. Several faculty members appear in the film, including Assistant Professor of Journalism Israel Balderas, Assistant Professor of Classical Languages Tedd Wimperis, Associate Professor of English Scott Proudfit and former journalism professor Susan Ladd – many trying their hand at acting for the first time.

Several mentors praised the students’ ambition and execution in bringing a feature-length film to the screen.

“I had the chance to see a rough cut and was very impressed with their ability, passion and perseverance in completing an entire feature film on their own,” Osman said. “The film is a fun, highly stylized and engaging dark comedy.”

Swanson noted that the project originated as a student pitch and has grown into ESTV’s first made-for-TV movie.

“The students have put an incredible amount of work into this project, from development through production and post,” Swanson said. “It’s a great example of the kind of ambitious, long-form work students are starting to pursue.”

Credits

Roof Rat Productions (creative team)

• Talula Martin – co-director, co-writer, producer, actress
• Hammond Sherouse – co-director, co-writer
• Althea Muldrew – producer
• Katharyn MacDonald – lead actress, associate producer

Crew

• JJ Duckworth – production sound mixer, actor
• Karter Evans – makeup artist
• Lauren Nesbit – costume designer
• Gabi Emerson & B Underhill-Reed – composers

Cast

• Katharyn MacDonald – Sam
• Hope Hynes Love – Eliza (Sam’s mother)
• Jeff Alguire – Dr. Whistler (Sam’s father)
• Grace Minton – Deidre (Sam’s friend)
• JJ Duckworth – Ben (politician)
• Monty Lewis – Henry (student reporter)
• Amelia Brinson – Abe (theater kid)
• Graham Boggess – Nate (jock)
• Ryan Voisard – Charlie (stranger)
• Susan Ladd – Mrs. Garden (psychology teacher)
• Hank Heimlich – Seth (theater kid)
• Talula Martin – Jeremy (theater kid)
• J. Israel Balderas – Mr. Haruspex (principal)
• Jackson Bennett – Patrick (student reporter)
• Maverick Powell – Nora (student reporter)
• Rose Fyffe – Sarah (theater kid)
• Tedd Wimperis – Dr. Franklin (scientist)
• Wrigley Koch – Ms. Burnesse (guidance counselor)
• Scott Proudfit – Dr. Miles (scientist)

Tickets sold out for the fifth annual on March 27 at NC State University. Nearly 300 attendees participated in 28 sessions that addressed topics like innovating student journalism, navigating state elections, covering climate change, and reporting on immigration emergencies. WUNC’s program hosted a live broadcast during the Summit’s lunch hour.

The keynote, “North Carolina’s AI Crossroads: Innovation, Investigation, and the Public Interest,” was moderated by Alex Mahadevan, director of the Poynter Institute’s MediaWise and AI Innovation Lab. It included an expert panel: Dr. Siobahn Day Grady of NC Central University’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research, Ricky Leung of Code the Dream and investigative reporter Lisa Sorg of Inside Climate News.

To see photos of the Summit, visit this .

The , based in ������Ƶ’s School of Communications, also presented its annual Sunshine Awards. Categories recognize public servants, journalists, student reporters and advocates who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to government transparency, press freedom and the public’s right to know.

“It’s never been more important to honor individuals and organizations who embody the principles of open government and freedom of information,” said Pate McMichael, director of the NC Open Government Coalition. “Their work ensures that citizens, journalists, advocates and communities can access the information they need to hold power accountable.”

Sunshine Award for Advocacy

Raleigh attorney Hugh Stevens, a founding board member and past president of the NC Open Government Coalition, was honored for a lifetime of exceptional open government advocacy in North Carolina.

“I am extremely grateful for this award,” Stevens said, “not only because I was privileged to be a founding director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition, but also because the Coalition’s home is at ������Ƶ.”

Stevens explained how the partnership started.

“Fortunately, ������Ƶ’s emerging School of Communications, in the person of its newly appointed Dean Paul Parsons, raised a welcoming and visionary hand,” Stevens continued. “It was during our initial conversations with Paul and his colleagues that I met Connie Book, who was then a member of the School of Communications faculty and is now the dynamic and much-lauded president of ������Ƶ. Connie has supported the Sunshine Center from its infancy, and I am delighted to be both her admirer and her friend.”

Stevens practiced law in North Carolina for six decades and served as the NC Press Association’s legal counsel for 20 years. A founding partner of , Stevens has mentored generations of media lawyers and journalists. In 2006, he was inducted into the NC Journalism & Media Hall of Fame.

Amanda Martin, supervising attorney of Duke Law’s First Amendment Clinic and a Coalition board member, presented Stevens — her mentor and friend — with the award. Beth Soja, senior staff attorney at Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, provided the nomination.

“In addition to counseling hundreds of journalists, editors and publishers over the years,” Soja wrote, “every transparency and media law attorney in the state of North Carolina has benefitted from Hugh’s mentorship. His guidance and example have shaped the lives and careers of every government transparency advocate in our state, and consequently, every journalist and every member of the public.”

Sunshine Awards for Public Service

Lexington was honored for his exemplary commitment to supporting local journalism, civic dialogue and the essential role of a free and independent press. Antionette Kerr, publisher of , nominated Hayes for his commitment to transparency.

“In recognition of his exemplary commitment to supporting local journalism, civic dialogue, and the essential role of a free and independent press,” Kerr wrote. “In an era when misinformation spreads quickly and trust in institutions is fragile, Mayor Hayes stands out as a public servant who values the role of local journalism not simply when it is flattering, but when it holds power accountable.”

Public Records Officer Joel Ferdon & Records Analyst Samantha Rivenbark,

Public Records Officer Joel Ferdon and Records Analyst Samantha Rivenbark were recognized for their outstanding public records management at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. By the end of 2025, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education had received 710 public records requests and released more than 12,000 records. acknowledged that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had supplied all relevant records requested by the newspaper since the beginning of 2025.

Sunshine Awards for Journalism

The Sunshine Award in Journalism recognizes journalists and news organizations that have effectively utilized public records to tell stories of significant importance to their communities. Judges included Kate Martin of APM Reports, Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism at ������Ƶ, Natalie Jennings, senior managing editor of Wake Forest Magazine, Amanda Sturgill, associate professor of journalism at ������Ƶ, and McMichael.

Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica —

Clark was recognized for his sweeping investigative series on North Carolina’s judicial and political landscape, including investigations into how conservative court-packing reshaped state government and how a legislative power grab diverted funds meant for sexual abuse survivors.

Clark filed dozens of public records requests to numerous North Carolina institutions, ultimately amassing thousands of pages of emails, calendars, contracts, budgets, and other records. When state court officials attempted to block access to certain documents, ProPublica successfully compelled their release, illuminating how the legislative maneuver had harmed victims of sexual violence.

Kyle Ingram, The News & Observer —

Ingram was honored for his data-driven reporting on the Judge Griffin election challenge, which revealed that Black North Carolina voters were twice as likely to have their ballots contested as white voters — a disparity that persisted regardless of party affiliation. Ingram’s analysis of the demographics of more than 100,000 voters on the state’s challenged-voter list also found a disproportionate impact on young voters and those unaffiliated with any party.

Frank Barrows Award for Excellence in Collegiate Journalism

The 9th Street Journal at Duke University was honored for its series: “” Student journalists Katelyn Cai, Valentina Garbelotto, Reece MacKinney, Paige Stevens, Noor Nazir and Jack Regan dug through public records and wrote in-depth portraits of longtime voters — including a 113-year-old Durham resident who has voted consistently since 1945.

“Through this series, our students brought attention to a group of citizens who show their dedication to democracy in a simple yet critical way, by casting their votes season after season, election after election,” adviser Alison Jones wrote in her nomination.

About the NC Open Government Coalition

The unites organizations interested in ensuring and enhancing the public’s access to government activity, records and meetings. The nonpartisan coalition educates people about their rights to gain access to records and meetings that are considered public under North Carolina law. Through educational programming and public service, the coalition advocates for the principles and benefits of open government at all levels. Learn more at or .

The little-known history of Greensboro, North Carolina’s 1938 movie theater boycott protesting Jim Crow censorship was the topic of a March 6 public talk by Assistant Professor of Journalism Lorraine Ahearn at the city’s

The event at the museum, site of the pivotal Woolworth sit-in protests of 1960, also featured a presentation on North Carolina’s first commercially produced movie, 1948’s “Pitch a Boogie Woogie.” Veteran Associated Press reporter Skip Foreman talked about the once-lost featurette and the role his father, Tom Foreman, Sr., played in the all-Black cast.

“These two events expand our understanding of film history and the long journey of screen representation of African Americans,” Ahearn said. “They reveal Black people in North Carolina both resisting and negotiating Jim Crow conventions during two decades not often emphasized in this struggle.”

In 1938, students at Greensboro’s Bennett College for Women, an HBCU, organized a community boycott of white movie theaters. The students discovered that white exhibitors in the South were censoring out scenes casting Black performers on an equal social footing with whites, violating Jim Crow-era typecasting that relegated Black actors to subservient or comic stereotypes. The Black press was instrumental in covering the months-long boycott.

Ahearn first wrote about the forgotten incident as a newspaper reporter, then extended the research as a chapter in a scholarly anthology edited by Naeemah Clark, ������Ƶ’s Associate Provost for Academic Inclusive Excellence.

“The ‘38 boycott is noteworthy on a couple of counts,” Ahearn said. “For one, it comes a whole generation before Woolworth’s, lengthening the timeline of direct action initiated — once again — by college students. Equally important, the movie boycott turned not on the issue of where Black people were physically allowed to sit or eat, but on how Black people were allowed to be depicted to white audiences in the most powerful new medium of the time, Hollywood movies.”

A decade later, “Pitch a Boogie Woogie,” captured the disappearing genre of tented Black vaudeville and traveling minstrel shows in a complex post-war era of social and musical evolution. Black actors, musicians and dancers played all the parts in the short movie a white Greenville producer made exclusively for Black audiences and scored by the popular Greensboro band The Rhythm Vets. The band members were veterans of the World War II-era US Navy B-1 Band, among the first African Americans to hold Navy ranks above that of mess officer.

������Ƶ News Network earned 11 awards during the National College Media Conference hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press in San Francisco, March 5-7.

The awards contest included hundreds of entries from college media outlets from across the country. Below is a list of the ������Ƶ winners.

• Finalist – Online Pacemaker | Staff |
• 2nd Place – Best of Show Broadcast | “ENN Tonight” |
• 2nd Place – Best of Show Newspaper | The Pendulum |
• 4th Place – Best of Show Digital Newsletter | ������Ƶ News Network Weekly Newsletter |
• 6th Place – Best of Show Website |
• 6th Place – Best of Show News Story | Lilly Molina and Charlotte Pfabe |
• 10th Place – Best of Show Sports Story | Benjamin Berfield |
• 8th Place – Best of Show Feature Story | Charlotte Pfabe |
• 6th Place – Best of Show Newspaper Design | Sarah T. Moore |
• 7th Place – Best of Show Broadcast News Story | Anjolina Fantaroni | “
• 10th Place – Best of Show Broadcast Sports Story | Monika Jurevicius | “

������Ƶ students attending the National College Media Convention conference included Evan Cooper ’28, Trista Panagakos ’28, Megan Walsh ’28 and Nolan Williams ’28. They were accompanied by Kelly Furnas, senior lecturer in journalism and ENN adviser.

ENN is a student-run news organization covering ������Ƶ and the broader Alamance County community. It includes The Pendulum newspaper, “ENN Tonight” broadcast, elonnewsnetwork.com website, as well as social media accounts, podcasts and newsletters. regardless of their experience level, major or year in school.

The School of Communications community gathered March 5 in Snow Family Grand Atrium for the third annual Spotlight on Inclusive Excellence, an interactive event highlighting projects and initiatives advancing inclusive storytelling and media practice.

The program featured table conversations where attendees moved throughout the space to engage with students, faculty and staff about ongoing initiatives and projects.

Take a closer look at our Spotlight on Inclusive Excellence with our .

Assistant Dean Vanessa Bravo opened the event by emphasizing that inclusive excellence remains a core priority within the School of Communications and across ������Ƶ.

“Inclusive excellence is deeply important to us,” Bravo said. “These values have always mattered and will continue to matter.”

Throughout the program, attendees explored a range of subjects, including work by student organizations, projects from Live Oak Communications — the school’s student-run communications agency — student journalism and research efforts, faculty scholarship and coursework connected to the university’s Advancing Equity Requirement.

Other discussions focused on topics such as women in sports, student research featured in academic journals, and projects examining how communications and media can amplify diverse voices and perspectives.

Bravo said the event helped the school community better understand the breadth of inclusive excellence initiatives taking place across the School of Communications.

“This is a great opportunity to learn about the many diversity-, equity- and inclusion-related efforts happening throughout the School of Communications,” she said. “From student organizations and faculty research to journalism projects and alumni work, these efforts demonstrate how our community is engaging these issues in meaningful ways.”

“The discussions highlighted how quickly the communications landscape is evolving — and why questions of equity and representation remain central to that change,” said Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and chair of the Inclusive Excellence Committee. “Our students, faculty and alumni are actively examining how media systems shape who is represented and whose voices are heard.”

Bravo thanked the faculty members who organized the event through the school’s Inclusive Excellence Committee, including Ahearn, Young Do Kim, Sydney Nicolla, and Lee Bush, as well as the students, faculty and staff who hosted conversations during the program.

More than 130 students gathered in Snow Family Grand Atrium on March 3 for the Communications and Sport Management Meet & Greet, an event designed to connect ������Ƶ students with industry professionals, internship opportunities and career insights.

Hosted in partnership with the Student Professional Development Center and the School of Communications, the event brought together employers from across the communications and sport industries. Representatives from organizations including APCO, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Carolina Core FC, SportsMEDIA Technology and the Burlington Sock Puppets met with students interested in exploring career paths and building their professional networks.

For photos of the Meet & Greet, visit our .

A defining feature of this year’s event was the strong presence of ������Ƶ alumni, who participated both in person and virtually to mentor current students and share insights from their professional journeys.

Alumni representatives included Shanna Van Beek ’12 of APCO and Laker Figueroa ’25 of the Burlington Sock Puppets, who attended in person, as well as Jack Taylor ’21 of Golin, Catherine Nester ’22 of The Walt Disney Company, Lexie Flood ’21 of Edelman, Luke LeSourd ’13 of NFL Films and Elena Kyriakos ’18 of NBC Universal, who joined virtually to connect with students.

Ryan Taube, associate director of corporate and employer relations for the School of Communications, said the event’s alumni participation added a meaningful dimension.

“What made this year special is the number of fantastic alumni who participated,” Taube said. “Our alumni always want to give back to current students, and this networking opportunity provided them a chance to speak about their current roles and how ������Ƶ prepared them to be successful in a competitive job market.”

In total, 138 students attended the event, engaging in one-on-one conversations with employers about internships, entry-level roles and career preparation. The event was coordinated with support from Ross Wade, Amber Moser, Alison Doherty, Kameryn Taylor and Taube.

Participating organizations – In-Person

APCO
Burlington Sock Puppets
Campus Greensboro
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.
Carolina Core FC
������Ƶ – Athletic Department
������Ƶ – Isabella Cannon Global Education Center
������Ƶ – Office of Alumni Engagement
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
SportsMEDIA Technology (SMT)

Participating organizations – Virtual

Columbus Blue Jackets
Edelman
NBC Universal
Golin
NFL Films
The Walt Disney Company

Assistant Professor of Journalism Israel Balderas appears on on March 3, offering a two-hour live analysis of North Carolina’s primary results and what they signal ahead of November.

Balderas discussed the major statewide contests, key congressional races affecting the Triad region and Capitol Hill majority. Also, how turnout patterns, voting results and current events (such as the War in Iran) will impact November’s Election.

“There are a lot of things that can happen in six months, and when you’ve got a war in the Middle East that is a war of choice, for a lot of people on the MAGA-right, (…) for the people who believe Trump, that he was going to get us out of war, that he wasn’t going to get us into war the way Bush got us into war, the way that Obama got us into war, the way Biden got us into war, he made a lot of promises. And those promises? They’re not coming to fruition.”

One of the largest stories from the North Carolina primary election was the extremely tight Senate primary between Senate leader Phil Berger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page for NC Senate District 26. 

“There’s always the ‘I’m the outsider’ versus (Berger) is the party loyalist. Among the MAGA-right, there’s this idea that ‘we don’t like the establishment, it doesn’t matter who it is. We just don’t like the establishment’ (…). (Berger’s) name is powerful,” said Balderas.

Now a journalism and Spanish double major at ������Ƶ, Vann will join with dozens of fellow ������Ƶ musicians for a Wind Ensemble performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City, a moment that will reflect her musical growth and commitment to balancing two distinct passions.

That performance takes place on March 11 as part of a showcase ensemble for the 24th Annual New York Wind Band Festival.

Vann, a Phoenix Band Scholar and member of the Fire of the Carolinas marching band from Siler City, North Carolina, played in a high school band. With only three clarinets, one musician per part, she was used to being the only one playing a section of a piece. In the ������Ƶ wind ensemble, there are multiple clarinets playing per part.

“I learned to be extremely aware of myself and how I sound,” Vann said of her 15-member high school band. “There wasn’t much balance or blend because we were all focused on ourselves. But I’m grateful for that experience because it helped me figure out my specific sound and establish strong practice habits.”

Transitioning from a small band to ������Ƶ’s 50-member wind ensemble taught her how to balance and blend in her section.

“The first thing I realized was how big the sound was here,” Vann said. “I was surrounded by people who genuinely cared about music. Our director focuses so much on the little details. In high school, we focused more on the bigger picture. Here, everyone is working in harmony to create something beautiful.”

Combining two passions

While music is a passion, Vann is not a music major. She studies journalism and Spanish and serves as a copy editor and reporter for , juggling interviews and deadlines with rehearsals and performances.

She credits ������Ƶ’s opportunities for allowing her to continue performing while pursuing a non-music degree.

“I love how ������Ƶ gives students who aren’t music majors the opportunity to participate in ensembles,” Vann said. “If they didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love.”

Her decision to continue playing was inspired by the Phoenix Band Scholarship. After taking a year off from playing the clarinet during her senior year of high school, she realized how much she missed performing.

“I decided to do it because I missed playing so much,” Vann said. “I am really happy I did. I have met so many people who share a passion for music.”

Jonathan Poquette, ������Ƶ’s Fletcher Moore Distinguished Emerging Scholar and director of bands, said he is intentional about welcoming any ������Ƶ student, regardless of major, to participate in music ensembles.

“As a faculty, we enjoy working with students who are passionate about making music, even if they are not music majors,” Poquette said. “The fact that so many of our students are non-music majors, and yet we can achieve tremendous experiences like this, is what makes ������Ƶ so special.”

Performing on the big stage

When Vann first learned the wind ensemble would perform at Carnegie Hall, she described it as “a roller coaster of emotions.”

“At first I was completely shocked, then excited, then nervous,” Vann said. “I felt a sense of pressure, but it was a good kind of pressure, the kind that pushes you to be the best musician you can be.”

Performing at Carnegie Hall represents nearly a decade of dedication and practice.

“It’s hard to believe I’m going to be on the best stage in the world, where so many legends have performed,” Vann said. “All the time and effort I’ve spent practicing since sixth grade has led to this moment.”

While she has not visited Carnegie Hall before, she is eager to step on the stage alongside her bandmates.

“I think I will feel everything, excitement, nerves and adrenaline,” Vann said. “But we’ve practiced so hard, and I know we are ready. I’m just going to take it all in.”

As she prepares for the trip to New York City, Vann is looking forward to sharing the experience with her band family.

“This will definitely be a core memory for me,” Vann said. “Each member of the ensemble is vital. It wouldn’t be the same without every single one of them, and Dr. Poquette has worked so hard to make this a reality.”

Beyond ������Ƶ, Vann said she hopes to one day report and write for a publication and tell stories she is passionate about. She also hopes to pursue translation work with her education in Spanish.

“Music will always be a part of my life and is another way to express myself,” she said. “I can’t imagine not doing music. Wherever I end up, I hope to join a community band or orchestra to keep refining my skills.”