Music student Waldner earns prestigious internship opportunity

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 17:25:58 +0000

Fourth-year Bachelor of Music (voice) student Alyssa Waldner has been awarded an internship at the prestigious Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC for the spring of 2017. The Smithsonian Jazz Music Program’s internship is a combination of concert and program production as well as concert outreach and promotion, with the goal to equip interns with helpful tools for future work in music, museum, or event production and communication.

Waldner, a fourth-year Bachelor of Music student, applied for the opportunity through the Alberta Smithsonian Internship Program in January 2016.

“Academic appointments at the Smithsonian afford the opportunity for learning, study and research through our unparalleled collections, experts and facilities,” says Eric Woodard, director of Fellowships and Internships in Waldner’s acceptance letter. “In accepting this appointment (students) are exposed to new ideas… have a chance to get outside (their) comfort zone, explore, discover and share what (they) learn.”

Waldner applied for the opportunity through the Alberta Smithsonian Internship Program in January 2016. She was excited to find out in the fall that funding came through and she’d be able to attend in spring 2017.

“I’m always looking for things to do, especially travel opportunities,” explains Waldner. “I want to explore different areas outside of performance to help figure out what I want to do in the future. I know I love music and want to work in a field that involves music so this internship is a way to explore my options.”

As part of the internship, Waldner will work on the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra 2016-2017 concert season and Jazz Appreciation Month. She’ll be involved in repertoire selection, content research, concert planning, musician organization and concert production. She’ll also get experience in audience development, communication and outreach tools for local and national audiences.

“I’m interested in music research and have been working as a research assistant with Dr. Paul Sanden,” shares Waldner. Because of this, she’s very excited to get there and work in the archives.

“I’ll be working on exhibits and displays for Jazz Appreciation month, and it’s Ella Fitzgerald’s centennial. They have everything! They have her baseball collection – not that it has anything to do with jazz,” laughs Waldner.

Waldner will spend 9.5 weeks in DC with the internship beginning on Feb 8.

“I get to stay and perform in our big opera production, then leave two days later,” says Waldner. “I’m just excited to learn things and not be graded or worried about marks – learning because I’m just curious.”

Waldner is a student of Dr. Blaine Hendsbee, and was featured last year as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, and appears Feb 3 and 4 in The Best of Gilbert and Sullivan, in collaboration with the Lethbridge Symphony.

U of L students recognized at Leaders of Tomorrow Gala

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 21:43:03 +0000

Volunteer Lethbridge celebrated the volunteer spirit in the community Wednesday night, including a total of seven ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students who were honoured with awards at the 2015 Leaders of Tomorrow Gala.

The annual gala celebrates the achievements of local youth volunteers who have worked to better Lethbridge and southern Alberta. The Leaders of Tomorrow program acknowledges youth who have made outstanding contributions to our community through volunteering. Volunteer Lethbridge recognizes and celebrates the dedication, conduct and good work of exceptional youth volunteers whose example is an inspiration to their peers.

A total of eight Excellence Awards were handed out and two U of L students received recognition, Michelle Kwan and Alyssa Waldner (their citations are below). As well, Ashtin Halmrast, Holly Locke, Heung Yee (Janis) Lui, Jordie Prestie and Jacquelyn Walker, all of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, were honoured with Recognition Awards.

Michelle Kwan

Michelle continuously demonstrates leadership and is an inspiration to others. Michelle has been an active volunteer with the Helen Schuler Nature Centre for two years where she is involved with Junior Naturalists and Extreme by Nature as a program assistant. She also acts as an Exhibit Rover where she provides direction and answers questions from visitors. Michelle volunteers with the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge particularly in their children ministry as a Sunday School Teacher. Her work within Alberta Health Services is also commendable. She has acted as an Ice Water Deliverer and Pediatrics Volunteer where she provides one-on-one attention to the patients and siblings on the Pediatrics Unit. Michelle is involved in many other volunteer organizations throughout Lethbridge such as the Lethbridge and District Humane Society, The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. Michelle is consistently thinking of others first rather than the needs of herself.

Alyssa Waldner

Alyssa is a devoted volunteer with a passion for helping! She is an Assistant Music Educator to the Con Moto singers, where she helps spread the love of music. Alyssa has volunteered her musical leadership and talents with St. Augustine’s Church as the Music Coordinator for Vacation Bible School, Lethbridge Musical Theatre, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Lethbridge Family Services and many other organizations. As a student at Winston Churchill High School, she was President of the Interact Club where she organized the “Bald for Bucks” Campaign, acted as Student Council Vice-President, and the Young Blood for Life Peer Recruiter for Canadian Blood Services where she increased blood donations within her school. This year, Alyssa has volunteered with Volunteer Lethbridge as the Leaders of Tomorrow SCiP Intern where she has assisted with the overall organization of the event. She also volunteers at Gift Wrapping and the Summer Colour Fun Run.

The Leaders of Tomorrow program began in 1997 and has grown over the years. Since its launch, the program has recognized 1,825 young people, including 74 nominees being recognized at the 2015 event.

UNews - Alyssa Waldner

Music student Waldner earns prestigious internship opportunity

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U of L students recognized at Leaders of Tomorrow Gala

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