Curb Event Center Announces April 21 Phillip Phillips Concert

Belmont University’s Curb Event Center announced today that singer/songwriter and season 11 “American Idol” champion Phillip Phillips will appear in a headlining concert Sunday, April 21, at 7 p.m.

Tickets, which go on sale tomorrow, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m., are general admission and can be purchased for $25. Tickets can be purchased on-line by clicking here or at  www.ticketsnashville.com, by calling (615) 460-8500, or in person at the Curb Event Center box office (Monday – Friday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.).

The same day that Leesburg, Georgia-bred Phillip Phillips claimed his victory in the season 11 finale of “American Idol,” the 22-year-old songwriter/guitarist released “Home,” a debut single that showcases his rich, raspy vocals and masterful guitar skills. The track has since gone quadruple platinum and was used as the soundtrack for the 2012 U.S. Olympics Women’s Gymnastics team. Phillips released his debut album The World From the Side of the Moon in November where it debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and has already reached gold status. Phillips is currently enjoying a 20+ college headlining tour after opening earlier this year for Matchbox 20, and his second single “Gone Gone Gone” releases this month.

Gen. Colin Powell Shares Qualities of Effective Leadership Through Anecdotes

By listening to staff and infantrymen of all levels and pacing himself through his work, Colin Powell was an effective leader, he said. The retired four-star general and former secretary of state spoke May 30 in the Massey Performing Arts Center to promote his latest book, It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership.

“A successful leader is somebody who has the ability to inspire followers,” Powell said. “It is born in you to start with. You must have affection for people … and from that point on it is trained and developed through education. Leaders delegate the ability to get the job done and look at the broader world that you are in.”

The book focuses on human relations and translates his experiences with former President Ronald Reagan and an African American street sweeper in Philadelphia as well as relates stories from his time in Vietnam, Fort Campbell, Ky. and the U.S. Department of State into lessons on leadership for university classrooms and corporate boardrooms.

Powell’s appearance in Nashville was part of Salon@615, an author reading series presented jointly by Humanities Tennessee, the Nashville Public Library, the Nashville Public Library Foundation and Parnassus Books. Random House Executive Editor and Executive Vice President Jon Meacham conducted the conversation with Powell before an audience of more than 900 people before a brief question and answer session and book signing.

Before his visit to Nashville, Powell stopped at Fort Campbell, Ky., the army base where he once served as second brigade commander. (more…)

Retired Four-Star General Colin Powell to Speak at Belmont May 30

Retired four-star general and former Secretary of State Colin Powell will speak in Nashville at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30 as part of Salon@615, an author reading series presented jointly by Humanities Tennessee, the Nashville Public Library, the Nashville Public Library Foundation, and Parnassus Books. Joining those organizations to present this event is Belmont University, which will host “An Evening with Colin Powell” in the campus’ Massey Concert Hall. The event arrives on the heels of Powell’s latest book release, It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership, which hit stores May 22.

All tickets for this free, general admission event have been reserved. Individuals interested in attending can call the Box Office at 615-460-8500 to request to be placed on a waiting list should tickets become available.

“An Evening with Colin Powell” will be conducted as a conversation with Jon Meacham, the executive editor and executive vice president at Random House. A former editor of Newsweek and a Pulitzer Prize-winning, bestselling author and a commentator on politics, history and faith in America, he is a contributing editor to Time magazine. A book signing will follow the conversation between Gen. Powell and Mr. Meacham. Gen. Powell will sign only copies of his book, and no other memorabilia. No photography is allowed at this event.

Colin Luther Powell was born in Harlem in 1937 to Jamaican immigrants who stressed the importance of education and personal achievement. A graduate of City College of New York with an MBA from George Washington University, Powell served two tours of duty in Vietnam during which he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Soldier’s Medal. In all, he has received 11 military decorations, including the Legion of Merit. In 1987, Powell was appointed National Security Advisory under President Ronald Reagan and later served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush. In 1997, Powell returned to his alma mater, the City College of New York, to open the Colin L. Powell Center for Leadership and Service, offering high-achieving CCNY students the opportunity to prepare for careers in policy and public service. For the rest of the decade, he continued his work with young people as Chairman of America’s Promise: the Alliance for Youth. In 2001, newly elected President George W. Bush appointed Colin Powell to be Secretary of State, an office he held until 2004.

It Worked for Me is filled with vivid experiences and lessons learned that have shaped Powell’s legendary public service career. At its heart are Powell’s “Thirteen Rules”—notes he gathered over the years and that now form the basis of his leadership presentations given throughout the world. Powell’s short but sweet rules—among them, “Get mad, then get over it” and “Share credit”—are illustrated by revealing personal stories that introduce and expand upon his principles for effective leadership: conviction, hard work, and, above all, respect for others. In work and in life, Powell writes, “it’s about how we touch and are touched by the people we meet. It’s all about the people.” 

About Nashville Public Library
Nashville Public Library offers a collection of two million items including books, DVDs, CDs and  downloadable ebooks and audiobooks, as well as more than 1000 public-use computers, 24/7 reference assistance, and free exhibits and programs. For more information, call 615-862-5800 or visit www.library.nashville.org.

 About Humanities Tennessee
Humanities Tennessee is a statewide, non-profit organization and the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Its programs include the Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word, which marks its 23rd annual event Oct. 14-16 in Nashville. www.humanitiestennessee.org

About Parnassus Books
Parnassus Books is an independent bookstore located in Nashville, Tenn., that was started by best-selling author Ann Patchett and publishing veteran Karen Hayes. In Greek mythology, Mount Parnassus was the home of literature, learning, and music. Parnassus Books provides a refuge for Nashvillians of all ages who share in the love of the written word. Visit Parnassus Books online at parnassusbooks.net or in person at:3900 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 14, Nashville, Tennessee.

Student Athletes Take Talent Show Stage in ‘Battle of the Bruins’

Athletics event to benefit Nashville Special Olympics

Student athletes will compete off court and away from fields in Battle of the Bruins, the first student-athlete talent show, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 in the Curb Event Center. All 11 of Belmont’s athletic teams will be represented on stage.

“This is also something fun for the athletes to get us all together because we are traveling a lot so we don’t always get to interact across teams. And it also will allow other students to know who we are when we aren’t playing sports,” said Jennifer Newnan, a senior on the women’s golf team, who will dance during Battle of the Bruins.

The talent show is presented by Belmont’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Among the performances are skits, dance routines and musical acts. Judges are three members from Diamond Rio, Golden Tate of the Seattle Seahawks, alumna Melinda Doolittle, Allison Demarcus and Special Olympic Star Josh Putnam. The athletes are competing for Bruins Supporting Bruins points, an initiative to get athletes to attend each other’s sporting events. At the end of the year, the most supportive team is rewarded with a dinner.

“Belmont is such a unique place with so many people that are musically talented. This talent show will give athletes a chance to show their natural talent, like singing or dancing or playing an instrument, that they usually cannot show off because they are busy with practice and games. Athletes are naturally talented and competitive, so this is a good fit,” said Morgan Gilman, a graduate student studying sport administration, who has been instrumental in the planning of Battle of the Bruins. While a swimmer at the University of Illinois, she and teammates hosted a similar talent show as a philanthropy event. She translated that event into Battle of the Bruins.

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Belmont University Winter Commencement Ceremony on Dec. 16

Belmont University will hold its winter 2011 commencement ceremony for graduate and undergraduate students at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Curb Event Center.

The University will celebrate the graduation of a total of 364 students. During the graduation ceremony, 275 undergraduate and 89 master’s degrees will be conferred.

Dr. Todd Lake, vice president for spiritual development, will present the commencement address.

The ceremony can be viewed live by webcast from the Belmont homepage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16.