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THE PATH The Epiphany School of Global Studies Magazine
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2301 Trent Road New Bern, NC 28562 2201 Henderson Avenue New Bern, NC 28560 252.638.0122 www.epiphanyglobalschool.org Head of School Dr. Dwight Carlblom Assistant Head of School and Director of Middle and Upper School David Wang Director of Lower School Dr. Heather French Director of Admissions Tahira Copland Director of Advancement Brittany Spear Director of Athletics Matt James Director of Finance Tara Hughes Director of Learning Services Dr. Morgan James Director of Spiritual Life Kirk Ronzheimer Director of Student Life Ryan Seeger Director of Technology Peter Williams Associate Director of Admissions and Advancement Molly Ostmann College Counselor Michele DeCamp
In This Issue: 3
From Dwight's Desk
4
More than an Extracurricular
6
Student Senate
8
Alumni Class Notes
14
Growing the Arts at Epiphany
16
Art and Music at the Lower School
26
2021-22 Lower School Talent Show
30
Art Walk
34
Choral Performances and Beary Merry Tree Lighting
38
Epiphany Helped Set the Stage for Actor John Mayo
43
Middle and Upper School Instrumental Music
46
Room to Grow: Epiphany's New Dance Program
50
Middle School and Upper School Visual Arts
56
A former Falcon Dreams of a Future in Animation
60
Middle School and Upper School Talent Show
64
Epiphany in the House!
65
New Faces & New Spaces
66
Musical Theatre
84
NC Thespian Festival
86
Arts Faculty and Staff Enjoy Extracurriculars, too!
93
Art Honor Societies
94
Community Service and Fundraisers
The Epiphany School of Global Studies, anchored in the JudeoChristian commandment to Love God and Your Neighbor as Yourself, is a comprehensive college-preparatory and globally-focused school where dynamic and innovative learning is stretched beyond the classroom walls, emphasizing the knowledge, skills, creativity, adaptability, curiosity, and international experiences students will need to flourish in an increasingly globalized 21st century.
PAGE 3
FROM DWIGHT'S DESK When you read through this edition of The Path (and look at the amazing pictures!), you will be able to see how things have changed over the period of one
! y n a h p i p E , o Hell
year.
COVID
had
caused
the
cessation of so many activities, but this staff brought back all that we had and
It was a couple years ago that our
more. Drama classes, drama club, choral
Board of Directors committed to the
and
further development of our Fine Arts
shows on and off campus, the return of
Department. Since that time we have
talent shows on both campuses, and
hired a part time Coordinator for our
more! I am so proud of what this crew
Fine Arts program, and we also hired a
put together as we continue to “uncover
part time teacher to work with drama
gifts for the journey”.
and
begin
a
dance
program.
instrumental
concerts,
We
already had an excellent staff, so that addition was exactly what we needed to complete the puzzle!
Dwight Carlblom, PhD Head of School
fine
art
PAGE 4 STUDENT STORIES
More than an Extracurricular.
By Elizabeth Steinman '26
Many people see the arts as only an extracurricular.
To
some,
it’s
just
talented
peers.
productions
was
recent
were
Almost
in
Maine,
me, are my life. I struggled a lot when
Bradbury, and Oliver at Rivertowne.
the lockdown happened. All of the
Both of these really improved my skill,
theater
and in Oliver I had a chance to work
down,
and
I
didn’t
I
had
have
shut
another
with
a
junior
most
there for entertainment. The arts, for
opportunities
a
I
The
couple
with
incredible
October, when I participated in New
Sumner. I also worked with a bunch of
Bern’s Ghost-walk. It was one of my
people my age and younger and have
favorite acting experiences and really
formed some amazing relationships. I
brought me out of a hard time. This
have grown so much and have come so
school year I have been in multiple
far from where I started, and I’m so
school
excited
Double,
and
Pirates
of
as
Double,
Penzance.
These were so much fun, and I got to work with some of my extremely
to
see
what
and
adults,
including
such
DiNapoli
Saax
experience to act again until this
programs
Ciara
of
show
the
Willie
theater
community in New Bern and Epiphany have in store for the future!
PAGE 5
PAGE 6 STUDENT SENATE
STUDENT SENATE by Emma Moody '22
L ooking back at all that the Student
Countdown
to
Christmas,
and
a
Senate has accomplished this year is
dreamier Prom than what we were able
something
to bring to life.
to
Overcoming
be
many
proud
of.
COVID-19
Serving as the 2021-2022 Student Body
obstacles such as social distancing,
President has brought me many of my
long-awaited
limited
fondest memories and greatest new
gathering sizes was a challenge but
relationships, and was a kickstart to
not impossible for this year's group of
many of my goals in life after Epiphany.
student leaders. As president, I was
Having events such as spirit weeks,
able to witness all of the behind-the-
themed
scenes work that went into every
school Nerf nights were just a few of
event,
each
the many success stories of this year.
senator/executive member stepping
Under profound mentors, surrounded
up to fulfill their new role. I could not
by
have envisioned a year with a more
younger
energetic steeplechase, a spirit-filled
forever be one of my favorite chapters
as
the
very
dances,
well
and
as
a
athletic
capable
games,
and
executive
student
leaders,
middle
board
and
this
will
PAGE 7 STUDENT SENATE in life, and I am so grateful for the
middle and upper school!
chance to share it with my Epiphany
Thank you from the bottom of my heart
Family. After the many highlights and
to everyone who helped us along the
inevitable challenges that we faced
way this year and helped me realize that
this year, I am confident that we did
I am right where I am supposed to be.
the best job possible in serving the
My prayers are with you all for this
school community and cannot wait for
upcoming year, and I cannot wait to see
what
Senate
what the future holds for the senate and
said,
what new ideas will be brought to life. I
2022-2023
HOPE you all enjoyed this year and have
was
an amazing summer!
comes
boards.
from
That
congratulations Student
Senate,
future being
to
the which
just
elected and already holding an End of the Year Hawaiian Luau for both the
PAGE 8
i n m Alu es
t o N s s a l C
4
'21
Diggs Niethammer (1) graduated this February from Arkansas Elite Welding Academy with a certification in Elite Combined Structural/Pipe Welding. He is now working as a traveling welder with James Machine Works out of Monroe, Louisiana.
1
'20
Madelyn Bircher featured in a Daily Tarheel Article for
cofounding
MadGriffin
Studio
promoting
sustainability and accessibility for area artists. Evan Breasure (2) featured in a Sun Journal Article. currently (May 21-28) Evan and his Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity brothers just finished biking across Florida, 955 miles, as a part of “Gear Up Florida” which spreads the message of acceptance and understanding for people with disabilities. Johnny Paliotti named the recipient of the Isaac Frank Ormond, III Memorial Scholarship at North Carolina State University. The scholarship is awarded each year to students enrolled in a Health and
2
Exersice Science minor who demonstrate a strong academic standing and consistent commitment to the health and exercise field. Bloody “Didi” Samlouius graduated from William Peace University this May with a BS in Business Marketing. In addition to completing his degree in record time, he also played on the William Peace Pacers Soccer Team during his two years in Raleigh.
'19
Caroline Bell (3) Graduated from Meredith College
3
this May with a BA degree in Psychology and a Minor in English. She will start NC State's Master's in School Counseling program this fall.
PAGE 9
'19
Olivia Cottrell (4) was recently featured by ECU in their
Pirate
Profiles
for
starting
a
Women
in
Business chapter and her involvement with other student organizations. Nathan Liland graduated from UNC Charlotte with Honors this May with a BA degree in Political Science. He will continue his studies at Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law in August. Abbie Skladan (5) Completed a year-long internship
5
10
in LA with the professional women’s soccer team, Angel City FC, during their inaugural year. She also worked
with
the
Morehead
City
Marlins
last
summer.
11
'18
Andrew Breasure graduated from NC State this May with
a
(Finance
BS
degree
in
Business
Concentration)
with
Administration a
Minor
in
International Studies. He will start work as a Wealth Analyst for Truist in Charlotte in July. Katie Barnes (6) graduated from NC State this May with a BS degree in Plant Biology and Minors in Marine and Animal Science. She spent the last two years acquiring funding and completing research on
6
Crystal Skipper Butterflies and was able to present her findings at the NCSU Office of Undergraduate Research’s Spring Symposium. Mary Grace Brinson graduated with a BA degree in Public Relations through UNC Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Media and Journalism in December 2021. She started work as an Associate Consultant with Prophet in Atlanta this April. Meg
Burelle
(7)
graduated
Cum
Laude
from
Appalachian State University in December 2021 with a BS degree in Recreation Management (Outdoor Experiential Education Concentration) and a Minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management. She will be moving this summer to Colorado to begin work with Sage Outdoor Adventures.
7
14
PAGE 10 Cole Frogley (8) married fellow missionary Natalie
Yates
(they
met
during
their
individual missions in Brisbane, Australia) on March 27, 2021, in Bountiful, Utah. They welcomed a baby girl, Emry Frogley, into their lives on March 8 of this year. This happy family of three is now living in Columbia, Missouri. Megan Gerber graduated from Wake Forest University with Honors this May with a BS degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
8
'18
and a Minor in Math. She will be continuing her education at WFU this fall as a PhD student in Biology, studying plant hormone signaling with Dr. Gloria Muday.
Jill Chrise graduated from Elon University with Honors this May with BA degrees in Psychology
and
English
(Literature
Concentration). She presented her honors thesis, entitled “Caffeine Consumption and Anxiety
in
College
Students
during
the
COVID-19 Pandemic,” this spring. Matthew Clayton graduated this May from NC State University with a BS in Industrial Engineering. He has spent the last three summers working as a reliability-centered maintenance engineering intern at FRC East for the Department of the Navy’s Pathways program. Jacki Elliott graduated Summa Cum Laude this May from Queens University of Charlotte with a BA degree in Elementary Education.
Taylor Glover (9)
graduated
Magna
Cum
Laude from Barton College with a BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice Sciences in December 2021. She is now employed with the Wilson Police Department and is pursuing her Master’s
degree
at
Human
Counseling
Liberty
University
Services
with
gave a chapel message about her journey in law enforcement to the Trent Campus in March Josh Hall graduated Summa Cum Laude from American University this May with a BA in Justice and Law. He will be returning to DC this fall to pursue a Master’s in Science degree at American in Data Science with a focus in Applied Public Affairs.
Masters in Curriculum and Instruction–also at Queens! Josh Flye graduated from UNC Wilmington this May with a BA in Film Studies and Minor in Creative Writing. After completing several he hopes to pursue film and TV production work in the Wilmington area in the months to come.
a
concentration in Criminal Justice. Taylor also
She has already begun her next program–a
independent films during his time at UNCW,
in
9
PAGE 11
'18
Zoe
Hedelund
graduated
from
Meredith
College this May with a BA in Political Science with a concentration in Public Affairs. She was also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. She will be remaining in Raleigh to work for the Finance Department of the North Carolina Republican
10
Party. Marisa Kelly graduated Summa Cum Laude in December 2021 from East Carolina University with a BS in Biology with a concentration in Molecular/Cell
Biology
and
a
Minor
in
Hispanic Studies. She currently works as a virtual medical scribe for ScribeKick and will be starting an accelerated BSN in Nursing program at ECU in the fall of 2023.
11
Joseph Ku graduated this May from UNC Charlotte
with
a
BS
degree
in
Civil
Engineering and a Minor in Math. He is now working
with
Raleigh
as
the an
Kiewit
Corporation
Overhead
in
Transmission
Engineer. Josh LeRay graduated this May from NC State University with a BS in Forest Management. He is now working as an Arborist for Bartlett Tree Services in Raleigh. He also developed another passion as a result of his experiences and community at NC State–rock climbing! He now regularly trains and travels to explore the crevices and crags of the Appalachians and beyond. Cassandra Luthman graduated Summa Cum Laude this May from the University of South Carolina
with
a
BA
in
English
Maggie Polo graduated Magna Cum Laude this May from the University of South Carolina with a BS degree in International Business and Marketing and Minors in Spanish and Data Analytics. After backpacking through Europe this summer, she will start as a Commercial Trainee with Anheuser-Busch this September. Ingrid Watts (10) graduated this May from Elizabeth City State University with a BS in Aviation
(Professional
Aeronautics
Concentration). In 2020, Ingrid helped start and served as the first President of the Upsilon Zeta chapter of the Alpha Eta Rho International Aviation Fraternity at ECSU. She was named to the National Student Executive Board of the fraternity during her senior year. Holden Whaley (11) graduated this May from UNC Charlotte with a BS in Exercise Science and a Minor in Public Health. He hopes to start pursuing his Doctor of Chiropractic degree at the Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Florida campus in January.
(Writing
Concentration) and a Minor in Sociology. She also took part in South Carolina’s Honors College and has already begun another degree program in Columbia–her Master’s of Arts in Teaching.
11
PAGE 12
'17
'16
Madeline Davis became engaged to Cody
Tristan Stewart (12) Graduated from The
Hevener on September 18, 2021, while visiting
United States Army Ranger School. A camera
the
Their
crew followed Tristan’s class; a four-part
wedding will take place on June 4 in Monroe,
documentary called “The Creed” showcasing
NC.
their experience will air sometime in 2023.
gardens
Catherine
of
Biltmore
Morgan
Estate.
graduated
from
UNC
Chapel Hill in May 2021 with dual degrees in Advertising/Public Communications. studies
at
She
Campbell
Relations
and
will
her
continue
University’s
Norman
Adrian Wiggins School of Law in August. Patrick Robertson graduated from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach this May with a BS degree in Business Administration. He is very passionate about the future of space travel and hopes to find his
first
job
in
the
aviation/aerospace
industry soon. Ashton Smith, after graduating from UC Berkeley last spring, has spent the year working as an environmental planner for AECOM
in
Honolulu,
Hawaii.
Her
next
adventure will take her to West Africa as she becomes a Peace Corps volunteer and moves to Senegal this September to support the group’s urban agriculture efforts there.
12
PAGE 13
In Memoriam
Carla Dowler
May 12, 1949 - December 4, 2021 Carla was our original Director of Lower School at Epiphany. Her grace and kindness left a lasting impression on her students and teachers. Our gardens next to the elementary levels building are named in her honor. We are grateful for the time Carla called Epiphany home.
ENHAN THE JO
A e h t g n i w o r G
This year will be remembered as a turning poin eased, we saw smiles emerge. We heard new voices i intense concentration that one has when putting fin sounds of tuning as students were once again allowe In addition to the renewed joy that came from s new staff and grow (rather dramatically) our course School, dance at the Middle School, and musical the throughout the year, which concluded with amazing Thank you to everyone who helped us along the items, joined our Friends of the Arts (FOTA) club, or in one year without your support. Now, turn the pag 14
NCING OURNEY y
Arts at Epiphan
nt for the arts at Epiphany. As masking restrictions in song and in character. We were able to see the nishing touches on a painting. We heard the familiar ed to practice their instruments and perform together. starting our programs up again, we were able to hire offerings — adding new creative electives at the Lower eatre at the Upper School. The momentum only gained g shows and concerts showing off our hard work. e way — whether you volunteered your time, donated r came to our shows. We couldn’t have done so much ge to start your journey through our exciting year! 15
Art and Music at t “Let’s start at the very beginning... a very good place to start.” There is no shortage of joy and excitement for the arts at the Lower School. The students truly love expressing themselves and their individuality through painting, singing, playing instruments, and acting. It’s such a wonderful break from the books! This year, Epiphany was fortunate to have found two equally excited art teachers to join our music teacher, Miguel Delima. Liss Corona and Julie Larick perfectly complement each other, and they’ve given their students a year of exciting new projects. As they settle into their roles at Epiphany and continue growing their lesson plans, our next steps will be redesigning the art room with new cabinetry and better drying racks, tables, and chairs. We’re hoping the new room will be inspirational to all.
Left to right: Miguel Delima, Liss Corona, and Julie Larick
16
Starting at the very beginning — students learned about the color wheel.
the Lower School Working together to create a
Masterpiece
17
Students learned about the life and global legacy of prolific artist Jean-Michel Basquiat as they celebrated the work of black artists.
This artwork was inspired by Basquiat. The painting above was chosen to illustrate the front of the May ArtWalk map that goes out to all visitors. It was created by secondgrader Sawganyaw Htee. 18
THE SCREAM
The
Edvard Munch, 1893 19
Students in Ms. Larick’s class learned that creating art is a good way to help us deal with our emotions. It’s also a great way to express our feelings to others. 20
Thank you to our 2021-22 FOTA members: Lori and Dwight Carlblom Nancy and Kevin Coughlin Gary and Ashley Baxter Curry Chet and Mary Ann Hejna Ed and Mary Ann Koffenberger Maryanne Moore Dare and George Oliver
Dr. and Mrs. Mark Sinning Steininger Family Elayne Steinman Gabriel and Helen Stix Jason and Kendal Strickland Euvaldo and Mayra Villaboim Greg and Linda Williams John and Carrie Williams
We were so excited to start our Friends of the Arts booster club this year! Our teachers have big dreams, and 100% of the funds we are raising will go directly to all of the art teachers on both campuses. With the money we’ve raised this year, we are adding stage lights, over-theear mics, and new mic stands for Founders Hall on the Lower School campus. We hope to install cabinetry and buy appropriately-sized drying racks and better tables and chairs for the Lower School art room. On the Trent Campus, we are hoping to give our choral music classroom and visual arts classroom additional shelving for their supplies and materials. We also hope to make some much-needed adjustments to our PAC stage so that our performing arts students can be seen and heard better. Many great things are happening! Improvements will begin over the summer, and more updates will be available in the Fall. Thank you for supporting us!
To learn more about Epiphany’s Friends of the Arts booster club, click here. 21
Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a celebration of life. It originated in Mexico by the Aztecs, and it is now celebrated all over the world — including here at Epiphany. This celebration takes place around the first week of November, usually the 2nd or 3rd. A staple in the Día de Los Muertos is the Ofrenda. An Ofrenda is an altar decorated by colorful sugar skulls, candles, papel picado, cempasúchil flowers, Mexican food, pan dulce, and pictures of our loved ones who are no longer with us.
22
New at the Lower School:
Electives!
For the first time, we were able to offer electives at the Lower School this year. Our students had so much fun learning about their options and then trying some new things! Electives included drama, art, pottery, mural painting, coding, engineering, global studies, North Carolina history, volleyball, tinkering, cooking, and band (among others). We even have our own Lower School yearbook committee! Top photo: Our drama club performed The Princess and the Pea in January. Above, students in the art club enjoy fresh air and outdoor inspiration as they color and paint. Right: Sra. Plata’s cooking students enjoyed making crêpes. 23
with Sr. Delima
24
Almost every aspect of teaching has been affected by the pandemic over the last few years — maybe none more so than music. Singers were silenced. Most instruments were put away. Music teachers had to adapt and find new ways to teach. Fortunately, our Lower School students were placed in the experienced (and calm) care of Sr. Delima, who has been teaching at Epiphany for six years. He brought out ukuleles, percussive instruments, and eventually recorders when it was pretty enough outside. Slowly the world has found its voice again, and our students couldn’t be happier! They are ending the school year with creative musicals and concerts. We appreciate you, Sr. Delima!
25
2021-22 Lower Sc We were so thrilled to bring back the Lower School talent show this year! We had a couple of students who were very nervous at first, so we talked about how to turn a negative feeling into a positive one. Did you know that our body shows the same signs and symptoms from nervousness as it does excitement? In both situations, you might feel like you have an upset tummy, or you might have clammy hands, or you might feel your heart racing. These things happen when you’re both excited AND nervous — so instead of thinking of this feeling as a bad one, we should make it a positive feeling as we are clearly excited to have the opportunity to perform on stage! The kids really liked how this changed their way of thinking about their performances. We saw their confidence grow and their joy and excitement grow, too. By the end of two full weeks of rehearsals, these kids were READY! When it was finally time to put on the show, we enjoyed beautiful songs, instrumentalists, gymnastics routines, a Taekwondo demonstration, and even a magic show!
It took a lot talent sho of work for our st ud w had 25 st from beginning t ents to learn how o end, an udents p articipate d they did to properly put o na in the sh a wonde ow. We a re so pro rful job! We ud of the m!
26
chool Talent Show
27
28
We were lucky enough to have FOUR entertaining Masters of Ceremonies. You can see them in the picture on the left: (from left) Ben Tschupp, Kennedy Hiner, Paxton Phelps, and Chloe DeCamp. The emcees kept the jokes coming as we transitioned between acts. They welcomed our audience and wished them well at the end of the show. Some of them even did double duty as they performed in the show, too!
If you’d like to see highlights from the talent show, please click here. Thanks again to Dr. French, Mrs. Oliver, and Sr. Delima for helping with the production of this show. We’re already looking forward to next year! 29
De ce m be r1 0, 20 21
Art
One of our (many) goals this yea performers out into the community. a bigger stage on which to perform, school is all about and the variety of We felt like the best way to displa be to find a spot on Downtown New In December 2021, we spent several pieces of art from grades K-12. The d Building, thanks to the generosity of of visitors stopped by to enjoy the sh 2022 ArtWalk, so our second semeste well. Thanks to Liss, Julie, Jodi, Arlin our students.
Click here to coverage of o
30
Walk
ar was to bring Epiphany’s artists and . Not only does it give our little Falcons it also shows our community what our f programs we now offer. ay work from our visual artists would Bern’s ArtWalk, which is held monthly. days matting, framing, and labeling display was presented in the O.Marks of Steve and Sabrina Bengel. Hundreds how. We were also featured on the May er art students could participate as n, and Dare for making this happen for
Ma y1 3, 20 22
see local news our art show!
31
32
33
Choral Performances and Organizers of New Bern’s popular Beary Merry Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony invited our instrumental and choral music students to perform just before the Christmas lights were turned on for the holiday season! It was an honor to sing for all who gathered in Union Point Park.
Mrs. Rosney brought some of her singers to the Lower School to sing Christmas carols with the students. 34
Beary Merry Tree Lighting
35
Our Choral Music program has flourished under Mrs. Rosney’s direction this year. We have hosted several choral concerts at the school and in the community. Far right, members of Epiphany’s staff and faculty joined our choral students for our Lessons & Carols service. Left, students warm up together in the choir room before a performance.
Below: All of the Fall choral music students performed at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in October. Click here to watch the highlights from that performance.
36
37
Epiphany helped set the s John Mayo (class of ’13) credits his teachers, friends, and family for his successes Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? A: I was born on March 1, 1995, in Charlotte, but grew up and lived my whole childhood in New Bern until I left for college. I was born a month early with a congenital heart defect. After having heart surgery at two days John Mayo playing Charlie Brown in “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” directed by Candy old, I’ve been able to live a pretty extraordinary life con- Mummert at Epiphany in 2012. Left to right: Andie D’Angelo, Matthew Holden, John Mayo, sidering what the doctors had Lucas Dembart, Jackson Seymour, Mary Kate Amerson. originally forecast. I attended The Epiphany School of Global Studies in attended UNC-Greensboro instead, beyear. I graduated with a BA in Theatre the seventh grade in 2007 and graduated cause of its much larger and more robust and a minor in Dance from UNCG in in the class of 2013. I got accepted into theatre and performing arts program. I 2017. six out of the seven colleges to which originally decided to major in Theatre EdSince graduating from college I’ve I applied and initially decided to go to ucation but changed my focus to Acting/ performed in a few professional theatre Elon University. I changed my mind and Theatre Performance after my freshman productions, but I have mostly focused on TV/film/commercials. Right after college, I was in a production of Footloose at Temple Theatre, a professional theatre in Sanford, NC. After that, I went to India for the TIFLI International Theatre Festival to remount a production in which I was the lead my senior year of college. We were flown to Delhi, India, for a week to perform our production of Wolf Child. After that trip, I moved to Atlanta to pursue my acting career fulltime. I decided on Atlanta over cities like NYC and LA, because those markets seemed to be already oversaturated with actors. Atlanta was a budding industry with Ides of March pirate skit by Latin Class (2016) — John Mayo played Caesar (with a large amount of work, but Matthew Holden, Maggie Stewart, and Abagail Lorentzen.) 38
less people knew about it. As of 2019, Atlanta has had more TV/film productions than NYC and LA, and it’s growing even larger with newer studios popping up all over the city.
Click here to see John’s demo reel.
Headshot by Patrick Marcgiliano, Atlanta, GA
stage for actor John Mayo
Q: When did you know you were destined for the stage? A: The first show I ever auditioned for was Beauty and the Beast at New Bern Civic Theatre, but unfortunately I didn’t get cast. Like many other facets of my life, I couldn’t let it go until I had a real shot at it. I had the itch from that moment on to get on stage and act, especially because I had a background in singing with all-county and all-state choruses before coming to Epiphany. My first actual theatre production was Godspell at Epiphany. I was in eighth grade (’08’09), and I had the time of my life! I realized I had a shot at being a fulltime working actor during the summer between my junior and senior years. I worked on a few projects with a casting director in Wilmington, and she reached “I’ve learned over time that there is no one else like you so do what you do best, beout to me when a stand-in cause no one can offer exactly the same thing you do. We’re all different and unique. We all was needed for the lead have our own paths for our journey.” — John Mayo actor in a CBS show called The Inspectors. The project was filming in Charleston so I moved I earned my first speaking role on that Q: Did you perform in any Epiphany there for the summer to work on the show, which meant I became eligible to productions? project. I worked fulltime on that show join the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). That A: I was actually in the first ever theatre and picked up another job working on summer experience really cemented that production that Epiphany put up in 2009. an HBO show called Vice Principals that I could grind and find work to be an The musical was called Godspell, and it was also filming in the Charleston area. actor fulltime. — cont. on page 40 39
— cont. from page 39 was directed by Mrs. Fitz. The show has had multiple iterations on Broadway. It’s a modern, uplifting musical based on the teachings of Jesus among his disciples, and it also tells of the eventual betrayal by Judas. Thinking about that show at Epiphany definitely brings back good memories of performing on the original Henderson campus stage in Founders Hall. The Trent campus didn’t open up until 2013 (my senior year), so that’s where all productions I was a part of were held. I also tried my hand at Greek theatre while at Epiphany. I played the role of Prince Haimon, the mythological son of Creon and Eurydice, in the play Antigone, written by Sophocles. It was unlike anything I had ever done on stage. I didn’t know much about Grecian/Shakespearean stories and text at that time of my life, so it was quite challenging. I had a great time doing something so out of character. I enjoyed the opportunity to dive deep into a tragedy of that depth. My first leading role in a theatre production was when I was a junior at Epiphany. I played Charlie Brown in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. It was directed by Candy Mummert, and it was perfectly cast with some wonderfully talented students in the other lead roles. It taught me a lot about always being prepared and how to rely on others when we think we have too much to handle ourselves. This is definitely one of my favorite memories performing at Epiphany. I also performed in the show choir we had for a year or two. That was a very popular performing arts fad at the time because of the hit show Glee. Our final showcase performance was at Kings Dominion during the yearly performing arts competition they held. That was one of my first times traveling to perform,
John Mayo portraying John Blymer in Episode 6 of “True Terror” on The History Channel. (2020)
and it really showed me that there are many acting opportunities up and down the East coast and beyond. Q: What plays were you in while in New Bern outside of school? What was most memorable? A: While growing up in New Bern, I performed mostly at New Bern Civic Theatre and with the Rivertowne Repertory Players. I performed in The Wizard of Oz and 9 to 5 at New Bern Civic Theatre; Hairspray at Craven Early College; and Cabaret, Gypsy, and Alice in Wonderland at Rivertowne. Each show was different, some I was in the ensemble, others I had dance solos,
John Mayo as the role of Debate Team Member in Season 1 of “The Inspectors” on CBS (2016) 40
featured roles, monologues, or even lengthy dialogue. Each of these productions taught me different invaluable skills as I look back on them. My confidence also grew over time with each show, which is so important for youth of any age. Q: What is your dream role? A: I would love to work on something in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I would either want to play Wiccan or Quasar, both have cosmic like abilities and would great additions to the MCU roster. Two of my dream roles in musicals would be Gabe in Next to Normal and Jake in the Burnt Part Boys. Both are young men who deal with loss; Gabe with his mom who deals with mental instability and Jake with his father who passed away working in a coal mine. Very different stories and styles of music, but both deal with how to move forward with their lives after great loss. Some of my favorite stage plays I’d love to be a part of one day would include Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, The Prodigal Son by John Patrick Shanley, and Perfect Arrangement by Topher Payne. I also would love to be cast in a period English production along the lines of Downton Abbey or Peaky Blinders. Many casting directors have told me to be on the lookout for those types of shows. Q: Where do you see yourself in 50 years? A: In 50 years, I would be 77 years old, so I probably see myself retired. I will hopefully have a family and kids by then. I’d like to live a fairly quiet life at that point. I might try to get into producing certain projects that catch my eye. I will also enjoy traveling as much as possible during my retirement.
In 10 years, I hope to see myself furthering my career and traveling for projects. One type of role I’ve always been interested in is being a spokesperson for a company/product and to consistently be in their national commercials. I hope to get some voiceover work, too, whether that be in an animated series, for audiobooks, or in commercials. Additionally, I hope to write scripts for stage productions and movies when I’m not acting, whether that be for smaller scale indie productions or larger studio blockbusters. Q: Ideal co-star or director? A: Two of the directors I would love to work with are Wes Anderson and Clint Eastwood. I love the style of Wes Anderson’s films. A few of my favorites are Isle of Dogs and Grand Budapest Hotel. The style of humor, muted colors, and rhythm of his films are what draws me to his projects. — cont. on page 42 Above: Jesse Eisenberg and John Mayo, who was his stand-in and body double in Zombieland 2: Double Tap (2019). Left: Finn Wolfhard with body double John Mayo at the Stranger Things Season 3 wrap party (2018). 41
— cont. from page 41 I also admire Clint Eastwood. My dad and I grew up watching his old western films together. It would mean a lot to me — and fulfill some childhood dreams — to work with him because of that connection. Co-star wise, I would love to work with James McAvoy or Paul Rudd, because I want to mirror their success in my own acting journey. I am really impressed by the variety of movies in which they’ve been cast — from comedy to sci-fi, horror, and everything in-between. I want to experience it all, just like they are doing in their careers. I really want to work with Helena Bonham Carter at some point. She’s a favorite actress of mine, and she’s been in so many iconic movies like Harry Potter and Sweeney Todd. I would love for Sally Fields to play my mother in a TV show or movie at some point in my career. Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received about your career? A: Some of the best advice I ever received was to always be confident in yourself and your choices. Early in my career I would shoot several takes of auditions and spend a lot of time dissecting them as I looked for the perfect shot. After several years of working, I have discovered that sometimes you just need to be as prepared as possible and do the work, then let it go and move on to the next audition. I’ve learned over time that there is no one else like you so do what you do best, because no one can offer exactly the same thing you do. We’re all different and unique. We all have our own paths for our journey. One of the last things I will impart is that you should always be supportive of your peers and contemporaries. Don’t get jealous if they get cast in an amazing role, book a huge project, get a raise, or are given a promotion. Be supportive and help uplift them, because once we know how to do that, it helps teach them how to best support and uplift us in the future. Even though my industry seems rather large, it can be very small. I’ve only been working in TV/film for four years, but I consistently see people I’ve worked with on other sets. It’s always important to remember names, nurture relationships, and leave a positive lasting impression with others. Q: Do you have additional jobs while working as an actor? A: My normal job (when I’m not acting on screen myself) is to 42
Above: Janis Mayo (Mother), Hiram Mayo (Father), and John Mayo over the holidays. Left: John’s nephew Noah Legg is a first grader at Epiphany. be a stand-in/body double for other actors on TV and film sets. A stand-in is a person who stands or sits in place of a specific actor so they can get into wardrobe, have makeup touched up or take a small break. This allows time for the director, camera operators, and lighting crew to set up the shots without the actual actors. Having a stand-in for the actor helps the lighting crew find the correct spots to light, and it helps the camera operators know which way to turn or move with their cameras. Once the actors come back, we tell them if anything in the scene has changed and to be aware of marks or movements that have shifted. I slowly got into the TV/film industry by first doing background work and then working as a stand-in/double. It’s great working directly with the creatives, and it’s a great way to form bonds for future projects with others in the industry. One more important thing John wants to add: I’d like to say that none of this would have ever been possible without the full support of my family — especially my parents. They were apprehensive when I first wanted to pursue a career in the arts but warmed up to the idea over time. As an example, my mom once drove me to a callback all the way up in Asheville with just an evening’s notice when I was younger. Support like that has propelled me forward. It’s given me the ability to shape my own career. n
Middle and Upper School Instrumental Music
Mr. Tart’s instrumental music class is always a hit with the kids. This year, students learned songs by Van Halen, Bob Marley, The Beatles, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brittany Spears, Imagine Dragons, Fleetwood Mac, and more! Mr. Tart also spends a large amount of his time as Epiphany’s Mr. Fix-it, and he runs all the lights, sound, slideshows, and mics during performances. In the Spring, he teaches a popular digital recording class. 43
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Room to Grow: Epiphan
We owe our school neighbors and the owners of Down East Dance a tremendous thank you for the use of their beautiful dance studio. Wendy and Lloyd Daw have not hesitated to give us access to their classroom during our school day. Thank you for entrusting us with your studio. Our students are so happy to have this opportunity. 46
ny’s New Dance Program
The stars aligned this year — we were able to start our longawaited dance program! Mrs. Roussel is a dance teacher at Down East Dance, which is a short walk from the Trent campus. Each day she loads up her wagon with supplies and walks her dancers over to the studio. They are learning so much. Click here to see what they’ve learned so far (in their own words)! 47
Showtime!
In a robust year of celebrating our many artistic disciplines, one of the most exciting highlights was staging the first Epiphany dance program. We can’t wait to see where our dancers will take us as they continue to grow throughout their time at Epiphany.
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Middle School and Up
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pper School Visual Arts The visual arts classes started the year with the Peace Crane project in partnership with the Craven Arts Council. All visual arts students folded and painted designs on large origami peace cranes. Their cranes are on display at the Bank of the Arts awaiting a permanent outdoor installation downtown. Another fun project in the Fall was the Upper School high-contrast portraits, which is a multi-step process that involves making stencils, spray painting, photography, grid enlargement, and painting. Other memorable projects over the year were: graphite portraits, Cherokee double-walled baskets, wax cord macramé bracelets, wheel-thrown pottery, Japanese stab book binding books, marbling paper, stamped leather wristbands, Matisse-inspired collages, Degas-inspired pastel ballerinas, Chinese New Year paintings (acrylic and watercolor), Chinese brush and ink paintings, and collograph printmaking.
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Student artwork displayed in gallery In March, the Craven Arts Council in downtown New Bern presented work by private and homeschooled students in Craven County. Art pieces by students from Epiphany were displayed in the
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Director’s Gallery for the entire month. Art has been shown to have an integral beneficial effect on youth education in subjects from math and science to literary analysis. Bank of the Arts was pleased
to reinforce these ideas by offering the students a chance to exhibit their works in a gallery setting. n
Aviation Art Contest winners This year’s NC Department of Transportation Aviation Art Contest theme was “Design Your Perfect Aircraft.” Every great aviation idea starts in the imagination of a person who wants to see something new in the sky. All children who live in or attend school in North Carolina were invited to grab their favorite art supplies and share their vision of the perfect aircraft. Many of our visual arts students placed in the competition (see list below). Ninth-grader Willow Rakowski-Champion earned a Finalist title with her acrylic paint on posterboard entry. (left)
Willow Rakowski-Champion, Acrylic paint on poster board (Finalist)
Willow Rakowski-Champion Makayla Barksdale Colleen Davenport Lilly Glenn Esther Ku Jasmine Livingston Ellora Pumphrey Pawry Shell Catarina Villaboim Diana Algharaibeh Karen Bee Allison Bergmueller Troy Coward Miles Jessup Sophie Oliver Aren Taylor Paw Thah
Finalist Semifinalist Semifinalist Semifinalist Semifinalist Semifinalist Semifinalist Semifinalist Semifinalist Quarterfinalist Quarterfinalist Quarterfinalist Quarterfinalist Quarterfinalist Quarterfinalist Quarterfinalist Quarterfinalist
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A former Falcon dreams of a future in
animation
Catherine Oliver (class of ’19) talks about pink elephants, the appeal of 2D animation, and how much she appreciates Mrs. DeCamp. Q: What inspired you to go into animation? A: Animation has always caught my attention more than any other storytelling medium. It has limitless potential to tell any story you want, and it combines all my interests of drawing, writing, sound design, and voice acting. When I was a kid, I watched a lot of old Disney movies and the occasional episode of Spongebob on TV. I saw a few examples of cartoons that might have been *too* scary for me as a kid (remember the Pink Elephants scene in Dumbo?), but they intrigued me more than scared me off. A professor asked the class to redraw They’re one of the reasons why favorite cartoon scenes...this one I started drawing in general. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I “intrigued” Catherine the most. also want to traumatize children, but I do want to inspire others the way vintage Disney cartoons and other animated media inspired me. In my eyes, the biggest accomplishment an animator can make is to inspire other artists to start drawing for themselves.
Catherine is a third-year animation student at Savannah College of Art and Design. 56
Q: What is your favorite cartoon? A: My favorite cartoon is a Cartoon Network miniseries called Over the Garden
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Wall. It’s a few years old at this point and only had ten episodes, but it’s the perfect example of a project I would want to make myself someday. The show was headed by Patrick McHale, a big name in the TV animation landscape who worked on many cartoons such as Adventure Time and others before he was able to start on his own passion project. The miniseries is a perfect mix of spooky and beautiful, still being suited for all audiences while having some seriously dark undertones. I’m just so inspired by how free McHale was to work on a story that breaks the conventional made-for-tv format that a lot of cartoons fit nowadays. The story, characters, music, and visuals are so unique and totally caught my imagination when I first watched it. I can honestly say that Over the Garden Wall, and McHale as well, are some of my biggest inspirations when it comes to the art form of animation. My goal is to have the passion and inspiration it takes to make something as iconic and unique as that myself someday. Q: Explain your ideal job. A: My ideal job would be working as a character animator/ cleanup artist on animated films. Since most cinematic animation nowadays is 3D, I’ll probably have to set my sights on independent animation or TV. I would ideally be working on adult animation instead of cartoons for kids, but there is still a stereotype in the industry that all animation is for kids. This is untrue, and the rise of more independent adult animation through streaming services like Netflix and platforms like YouTube have proven that more “adult” animated shows are viable nowadays. I realize that I will have to take jobs I don’t like until I’m able to make a name for myself in the industry, but I’d want to be on board for a project that I really like and can put hard work and passion into. Q: Why do you prefer 2D to other types of animaClick here to see tion? A: I have a lot of respect for people who can spend hours working on 3D animation, but I don’t enjoy doing it myself. The process is so compartmentalized that a 3D animator will only ever do animation for a film - no character design, modeling, texturing, rigging, story, or anything else. There’s little to no actual drawing involved in that job and it can be boiled down to typing and clicking at a computer screen for the rest of your life. I prefer the look of 2D animated films because I like the visuals and know personally how much work it takes to bring that kind of project
to completion. It’s what I grew up with for the most part, and it’s a shame that 3D is really the only viable animation medium for movies on the big screen right now. I’m hoping to help bring traditional 2D animation back to the mainstream when I begin to work in the industry. Q: Who would you love to work with most (dead or alive)? A: Alex Hirsch is the first name that comes to mind. He is a (currently living) showrunner, meaning that he is the director of a few animated projects both finished and still in production. He’s the creative force behind Gravity Falls, an animated show that is one of my biggest inspirations for wanting to be a showrunner myself one day. He’s also a voice actor, which is a side job I’d love to have along with my career. Hirsch just seems to be a fun, creative, and all-around interesting character that would be a blast to work with based on how he directs his shows and interacts with the fans of his work. Q. Who/what at Epiphany inspired you to go after your dreams instead of taking the traditional college route? A. Michele DeCamp Catherine’s reel. was my college advisor during my senior year, and she’s the faculty member I credit the most for helping me make what would ultimately be the best decision for my schooling and career. I remember when she sat my mom and me down and explained the difference between an arts school and a traditional college that happened to have a few isolated art courses. There was never any question that I would not have an artistic career, the only question was what kind of art I wanted to learn. Mrs. De-
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— cont. from page 57 Camp did the research about prospective art schools and brought those kinds of details to my attention so I could best choose which ones I wanted to apply to. And aside from the logistics of it all, she made it clear to me that having a career in animation was an attainable goal. Up until that point, I had had no classes in digital design or computer art programs, and what I had heard from other schools made me worry that I wouldn’t ever find a job in the animation field I wanted to step into. But Mrs. DeCamp told me, truthfully, that all of that was possible. It was the first step in really trying to achieve my own personal artistic goals. Q: What is going to an arts college like? Do you think it might be different from what traditional college students face? Easier/harder and why? A: Choosing to attend an art college is the best decision I could have made. The entire student body is art-driven (aside from the equestrian students, but I’m not entirely convinced those aren’t a myth at this point). This means that switching majors to an interest adjacent to the one you initially chose is virtually painless. If I had decided to study fine arts at a traditional college, tried it for a few semesters, and then decided I wanted to switch to animation, those credits wouldn’t transfer. The traditional college would likely not have an animation major, so I would have to stick with the course I didn’t like, choose a non-artistic major, or transfer schools entirely. I wholeheartedly recommend SCAD and similar art schools for any students who know they want to pursue
“I remember my professor looking at my character, with his empty eyes and wide smile, then looking back to me and saying, “You’re not going to animate any normal people, are you?” I mean, why would I?...2D character animation is a lot of work and it’s never truly finished, but it’s a rewarding kind of hard work. It’s surreal to spend hours making tiny adjustments in an animation and then watch it move in real time after pressing play, or having someone else animate a character you designed. The job I chose isn’t easy, but the reward of seeing it play out is more than enough.” — Catherine Oliver some kind of artistic career, especially if they’re not sure which field they want to go into. As for difficulty — art students are going to have a much heavier homework load than students in a traditional college setting since your coursework is always going to be creative. Most of the work is going to be done outside of class, so you have to really be sure that a creative career is one you want before you commit to an arts college like SCAD.
Q: Are you happy with your choice of SCAD? Would you encourage artists at Epiphany to give it a try? A: Yes! SCAD was the best choice of university for me personally since I was able to find my ideal career amongst a student body of other artists. The faculty is so supportive of each individual student and what they want to accomplish in their career, while keeping in mind what the industry is like nowadays. You really learn how to be a professional artist while strengthening both your artistic and branding skills. I encourage any Epiphany students who are interested in an artistic career to check out SCAD and have it high on their lists. No matter what your interest is, SCAD has a major for it. Q: Any fears of finding work in your field in the future since it’s so specific? Are you learning about the industry? A: During a few weeks at Ringling over the summer a few years ago, I was told that 2D animation is dead. I was not going to find a job, and I should save myself some pain by starting to learn the 3D alternative so that I could be good enough to get into the college when it came time to apply. Ringling was quantifiably wrong. Just because 2D animation does not have a presence on the big screen does not mean it isn’t a viable art
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form. TV shows, advertisements, internet shows, and small-screen productions are still being animated traditionally, especially in the world of independent and freelance projects. I am taking an animation business course this semester, and one of the things that the professor is hammering into us is that there are jobs in animation, you just have to be the one to find them. Taking that class is alleviating some personal fears I have of not finding work after college only because Disney/Pixar is by-and-large the only name in cinematic animation right now. You can’t take someone else’s word about those kinds of things. You have to find where the work is and not stop until you have the job you want. Q: Favorite professor and why? A: My favorite professor so far is Lee Crowe, a cleanup artist and character/effects animator. She worked on films such as the Little Mermaid, Cats Don’t Dance, Spirit, and other movies from my childhood. It’s always so surreal to meet someone who made a piece of art you’re really attached to, and it’s happened so many times at this point. Professor Crowe has so many stories and knows so many people in the industry, and she has to be one of the most interesting artists I have ever met. She’ll casually mention things like the fact that she personally knows the creator and director of a movie that traumatized me as a kid (Brave Little Toaster), or tell the class how her first animation job was working for a studio that was actually a cover for a money-laundering scheme. She has so much to share with her students both in a technical aspect and in experience, and I hope I have one of her classes again in the future.
animator, so I have to put some more work into mine.
but the reward of seeing it play out is more than enough.
Q: Project you’ve had the most fun with? A: My favorite projects so far have been in my character animation classes. I was able to design my own character to animate, so I went with a spookier design for a few of mine. I remember my professor looking at my character, with his empty eyes and wide smile, then looking back to me and saying, “You’re not going to animate any normal people, are you?” I mean, why would I? I’m going to have to take a lot of jobs where I have to animate normal people in my career, so why not have fun while I can? 2D character animation is a lot of work and it’s never truly finished, but it’s a rewarding kind of hard work. It’s surreal to spend hours making tiny adjustments in an animation and then watch it move in real time after pressing play, or having someone else animate a character you designed. The job I chose isn’t easy,
Q: Do you have time for any other hobbies and if not, why? A: For the most part, art homework takes up most of my free time. During the week, anyway. The weekends are my own if I use my time wisely enough, and SCAD has extracurricular activities like clubs, sports, and musical performances. I was able to play the bass in a musical production during my freshman year since I’m one of the only students to have an upright bass on campus. And even if my schedule is packed, it’s rarely bad enough to where I can’t just go outside for a little bit. Savannah is such a nice place to be out and about, and I feel like I still haven’t explored it all despite being here for a few years. It’s all about time management, and there won’t always be time for hobbies. But I wouldn’t count them out entirely, and there is a club for whatever your interest might be. n
The different phases of creating characters and bringing them to life:
Q: Hardest project and why? A: Storyboarding has never been fun for me. That’s when you sit down and draw out what the animation is going to look like from beginning to end in the form of small thumbnail sketches. It’s the planning phase of any TV show or movie, with the purpose being to figure out the staging and composition of the animation. I don’t have a very good eye for storyboarding, and the ideation phase of any project is the most difficult part of it for me. I’m much more suited for designing the characters that will be in the storyboards or using them as the basis for the actual animation I will be making. The hardest projects I’ve had so far have been storyboarding, especially since the professor expected 50-60 drawings for each assignment. Those were some very, very long nights. Storyboarding is a useful skill to have and market as an
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Middle School & Upper School Talent Show Traditionally, the premier performance of the year is the Talent Show, and this winter we were able to bring it back! Students showcased a variety of acts — instrumental music, dancing, singing, song-writing, and staff fighting. The audience was also entertained by senior Hutch Smith, who took on the important duties of Master of Ceremonies.
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Epiphany in the house! Epiphany is well-represented by staff, students, and parents as they take the community theatre stage by storm.
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New faces & new spaces Hiring a new drama teacher meant making way for new ideas about storage space, a place to teach, and room for students to both work and relax. The first month of school, Mrs. Roussel, Mr. Tart, and Mrs. Oliver sorted props and costumes, cleaned out lockers and cabinets, organized tools and supplies, built shelving, labeled bins, and created new spaces for costume hooks and quick changes. Click here for the big reveal.
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Musical
The Pirates of Penzance, Jr. may be one of the most ambitious projects we’ve ever tackled in the arts department. Everyone pulled together to make this show a success. Art students painted set pieces, dancers helped choreograph numbers, and students helped block and direct scenes. The class was taught by Mrs. Roussel and Mrs. Rosney. The end product was a swashbuckling success! We’re so proud of our cast, crew, and fearless cap’ns. 66
Theatre
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Set Construction: A study of boxes...many boxes
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Setting Sail
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The End
Backstage Shenanigans
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That’s a Wrap
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Our drama program started under a new leader in the Fall. Mrs. Roussel was responsible for directing two plays — one for the Middle School and one for the Upper School. Our students helped create costumes, sets, lighting plans, and staging.
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Emotional Baggage Performed by the Middle School Drama Class
It was a bit ironic that students who were really tired of wearing masks through a pandemic were asked to create their own decorative masks for their play. Emotional Baggage is a very creative piece that calls for students to wear masks because it focuses on non-verbal storytelling through movement.
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Because there was no dialogue, students had to work hard to physically portray the emotion they were representing. The play was choreographed to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
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Performed by the Upper School Drama Class
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Double, Double is a comedy/ drama about a high school student who can’t sleep because she’s obsessing about awkward interactions from the past. When characters from their drama club’s production of Macbeth try to sabotage their situation, many strange things start happening. By the time the play reaches its conclusion, all had to face their fears in this tale of loyalty, anxiety, Cheez-its, and doom.
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Behind the scenes t in eres r t n i nt ou ude nes of elped t s yh uch sce o m nd the ar. The stume s d ha , co la r ehi s ye have work b ons thi t design o popu e r W ngs s e ti i duc mics, s It was ss to ou h o t r p . how erous ound, uction ch cla e s num lights, constr heatre t d with ion, an ded a t ar. t d a cre we’ve a next ye that ings for r offe
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Thank you,
PTO!
We cannot express how grateful we are to have received nearly every request we sent to the PTO. We were encouraged to submit applications for grants for our various classrooms needs. The PTO purchased new “bookwhackers” and wooden instruments for Miguel’s classes. Jodi’s students received new potter’s aprons and stools. The Lower School art teachers received these fabulous mobile accordion traveling display boards (left), which will make taking all of our art to the Artwalk twice a year so much easier. Our drama department was given two sewing machines. Now our students can make their own costumes.
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NC Thespi
Five of our ITS members qualified to compete in March. Two students chose to participate virtua other three students up to Greensboro to compet performed solos, and Zabby Memering competed
In addition to the competitions and workshops, students could compete in tech challenges. Zabby Memering was surprised at the end of the festival when they called her to the stage for winning the Sound Hookup Tech Challenge (left). Right, students gave out decorated clothespins if they saw performers do an exceptionally good job (or saw them being kind to others). 84
ian Festival
in the North Carolina Thespian Festival at UNCG ally, and Mrs. Rosney and Mrs. Oliver took the te in person. Cadence Hight and Emily Haber in Scenic Design.
One of our ITS members, Cadence Hight, earned a Superior rating on her solo performance of Screw Loose, which means she qualifies for the national competition in Indiana this summer. This is the second year Cadence has earned a Superior rating.
S U P E R I O R 85
Arts faculty and staff enj
It’s very telling that our arts faculty and staff spend most of their free time enjoying more of w
Triple threat Mrs. Roussel lives on the stage! It’s almost impossible to find a play or production that Kandice Roussel hasn’t been a part of over the last year. She can be found in almost every nook and cranny of Rivertowne Theatre. She helps with set design, costumes, casting, choreography, props, makeup, and blocking. She’s also always got a place ON the stage — her bright smile, amazing voice, and beautiful dance abilities earn her a spot in nearly every production. And when all the shows are over, you can find Kandice in her seat on the Rivertowne Board. She’s a workhorse. She’s a talent. She’s incredibly smart and has a vast array of creative skills.
She’s a beast with a drill and Cinderella with her sewing machines. She bedazzles costumes and teaches at the same time! Kandice is also a dance teacher at Down East Dance. It’s hard to believe she still has time after all of this, but we are grateful she made space in her life for our students — as our drama, dance and musical theatre teacher. Next year she’ll be teaching health and wellness classes, too. We love to go see Kandice in her many shows. Below, we took some students to see her in Sister Act. We also saw her in The Wedding Singer and alongside our students in Oliver.
Photo by Rivertowne Players 86
joy extracurriculars, too!
what they teach in the classroom! Look at all the ways they share their gifts with our community.
Sr. Delima and Mrs. Oliver perform in a string band
Photo by Chad Winstead Photography
Miguel Delima rocks out with The Bonafides, a band from right here in New Bern. Fine Arts Coordinator Dare Oliver sings for the band, and ninth-grader Mason Oliver is the bass player. The group performs all over Eastern North Carolina — for everything from private parties to community events like Mumfest and the Seafood Festival. You can see more about them at www.bonafidesband.com. Want to hear Sr. Delima tear up a drum solo on When the Saints Go Marching In? Click here.
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Seeking Jodi Tomboulian has been a mainstay of the Visual Arts department for 15 years. She’s currently teaching grades 6-12. When she isn’t helping her students learn to paint, create jewelry, craft baskets, throw pots, or take pictures, Jodi enjoys creating her own art. She especially enjoys painting in her studio and taking photos of her grandchildren. In the past, Jodi has been an active member of the Twin Rivers Art Association, and she plans to rejoin soon. She is a member of InSEA (International Society of Education through Art), NAEA (National Art Education Association), NCAEA (North Carolina Art Education Association), Golden Key International, and Kappa Delta Pi. Even though we don’t remember a time Jodi wasn’t teaching at Epiphany, she has presented papers and led workshops at other schools and organizations over the years. The most recent ones (since 2016) include the NAEA National Convention in Chicago (Technology: The Driving Force Globalizing Art Education) and two international presentations — InSEA World Conference in Daegu, South Korea (Creating a Visual Arts Classroom Centered around Peace), and Poster Session SAEK (Society for Art Education of Korea) International Conference in Seoul, South Korea (Music and Art: Impact and Influence of Diverse Music Genres on Student Art). Jodi was also recently a student herself — completing a Masters of Art Education degree at East Carolina University.
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through art
“I have a passion for seeking peace through art personally and with my students.” — Jodi Tomboulian
See more of Jodi’s wide array of personal projects at Epiphanyart.weebly.com
Keeping His Rock Star Status Instrumental music teacher Arlin Tart joins Epiphany science teacher Bryan DeCamp onstage
Arlin is too cool for school! He’s a teacher by day, but keeps busy juggling bands — FOUR of them! — when he’s not at Epiphany. He’s a band leader and a hired musician for these bands, and you’ll find him performing from the coast to the Triangle. The projects in which Arlin plays cover many genres of music — bluegrass, country, blues, jazz, soul, funk, and different styles of rock. Arlin also plays solo shows for weddings, private parties, and restaurants. Arlin often takes the stage with Epiphany teacher Bryan DeCamp as part of The New Abnormal Band (left). The two also work together with friend David at their recording studio — Elements of Sound. Arlin brings his sound expertise to Epiphany’s digital recording class, which is a favorite among our students. 89
Choral Music teacher practices what she preaches
Mrs. Rosney and Fine Arts Coordinator Dare Oliver perform in an a cappella group. Mabel Rosney and Dare Oliver perform regularly with an a cappella group called The Silver Lining Singers. They have performed on several house tours in downtown New Bern, Mumfest, Beary Merry Christmas, and the Artwalk Concert Series at Christ Church. Mabel enjoys performing and learning the complex arrangements, because she says it helps her be a better teacher. See more at www.silverliningsingers.com. Mabel is also the music director at Broad Street Christian Church. She said J.T. Ellenberger helped her realize early on that church choir is not the same as the choirs of students she has directed; they do not sing in church for the sake of an audience, but rather as an offering. So as long as they are singing for the right reasons, then everything would work out just fine. Taking on this role with Broad Street Christian Church in August of 2020 not only helped keep music in Mabel’s life during a time she missed it most — it has also helped her let go of her perfectionist habits and focus more on the joys that music can bring.
Fun Fact!
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Click here to hear the Silver Lining Singers perform the Star Spangled Banner at the Epiphany Gala.
The picture at the top is of a recording session run by Epiphany science teacher Bryan DeCamp and his recording studio, Elements of Sound.
Liss says her priority is making sure her children, Anastasia, Sebastian, and Sagan, grow into kind and caring adults.
Sra. Liss!
Liss Corona stays VERY busy when she’s not in the art room at Epiphany. She spends most of her time with her three small children, Anastasia (age 4), Sebastian (age 3), and Sagan (age 2). She said helping them grow into kind and caring adults is her first priority. In her free time, she performs alongside her sister in a Mexican Folklorico dance troupe. She also works in her partner’s mushroom farm and lab, cultivating mushrooms and selling them at our local New Bern Farmers Market and to local restaurants. This summer, she hopes to resume learning and mastering fiber arts, specifically rug making. 91
When the teacher becomes the feature: Lower School art teacher Julie Larick honored for portraiture
Lower School art teacher Julie Larick’s work speaks for itself. Her beautiful paintings have earned her many awards throughout her long career as an artist and medical illustrator. Her neighbors have wandered into her paintings from time to time, which made her a wonderful match to be a featured artist for Craven Arts Council & Gallery’s exhibit, Face to Face: Seeing Community in the Main Gallery at the Bank of the Arts. The exhibition, which was on display in March, featured portraits done by Julie and three others. In a statement on the exhibition, the artists say, “Now more than ever, this exhibition demonstrates the power of people. The people who are the very core of what makes this community such an incredible place to call home. They are community members, partners, and providers demonstrating the power of the individual to make a difference. Our doctors, nurses, first responders, fire fighters come to mind but so do those who stock our grocery shelves, cook our food, deliver our mail, and keep our businesses open. This community is a resilient community because of each and every one of you.” Click here to read a wonderful in-depth interview with Julie by Jon Burger, Executive Director of Craven Arts Council & Gallery.
See more of Julie’s beautiful paintings at www.jlarickart.com. 92
Art Honor Societies
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Community Servic Karaoke Nights
Following a year-long Covid hiatus, the arts returned to Epiphany in the 2021-2022 school year. With in-person rehearsals and performances making their comeback, we wanted to keep the momentum going in every way possible. The Tri-M Music Honor Society sponsored two fundraisers this year, and while we raised financial support, our main goal was to increase the visibility of our arts programs. Buddy the Elf once said, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear,” and we did our very best to spread some cheer as we approached midterm exams in December. Students purchased “Santa-grams” for their friends and teachers, selecting their favorite holiday songs to be sung by members of Tri-M and ITS, delivered with a candy cane and plenty of spirit. Another fun way to spread cheer — inviting our Lower School students over to the Trent Campus for karaoke nights. We held two karaoke events this year. Our older students loved singing along!
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Delivering “Santa-grams”
ce and Fundraisers
Lip-sync Battles In March, Tri-M Music Honor Society sponsored a lip-sync battle on the Trent campus to celebrate Music in Our Schools Month. Students and teachers put together teams of up to six
people to perform onstage to their favorite songs. This year’s winners included Madelyn Coble, Sr. Hearne, Tucker Newton, Emma Wang, and Mr. Wang.
Want to see Mr. Wang give love a bad name? Click here!
New Bern Civic Theatre Renovations
Many of our students helped with the extensive renovations of New Bern Civic Theatre. Left: Every seat was pulled up and moved onto the stage so the floor could be refinished. Above: Students work on renovating the display in the front window. 95
We’re looking forward to doing it all again next year! Stay tuned as we continue to add to opportunities for our students. Click here to see highlights from our Spring performance season on the Trent Campus and here for the Henderson Campus.
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EPIPHANY CLASS OF 2022 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 We look forward to celebrating you in the Fall issue of The Path!
Board of Trustees Dan Murphy- Chair Cathy Sparks Missy Blackerby Audrey Cushman Isa Gratacos Ken Gray McKenzie Hall John Hawkins Kate Horney Joe Osenni Phil Pritulsky
On the Cover: It's the Tiger's Year by: D. Miles Jessup, 9th Grade
The Path The Epiphany School of Global Studies Magazine Published twice each year
Editors: Molly Ostmann Associate Director of Admissions and Advancement
Dare Oliver Coordinator of Fine Arts
Contributors: Lizzie Steinman '26 Emma Moody '22 John Mayo '13 Catherine Oliver '19