Elias Quartet
This is a guest post from the Secrest Artists Series:
The year 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. To celebrate, the Secrest Artists Series is presenting a six-concert odyssey into the complete String Quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven, performed by the vibrant young Elias String Quartet. We begin with three concerts on Feb. 26, 27, and 29. The series will be completed by three concerts in October 2020 as part of our 2020-21 season.
All of the concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center.
The complete string quartets of Beethoven (Part 1) will be performed Feb. 27-29.
The Elias String Quartet have performed the complete cycle of Beethoven quartets for BBC Radio 3 as well as at 11 major venues in the United Kingdom. Their recently-recorded Beethoven cycle for the “Wigmore Hall Live” record label has received wide acclaim from the classical-music press and listeners alike.
Join us for a pre-concert talk prior to each evening’s performance. Talks will be led by Beethoven expert David B. Levy, professor of music, and begin at 6:40 p.m. in Scales Fine Arts Center, Room M208, across from Brendle Recital Hall.
Wake Forest University and Medical School faculty, staff and retirees receive free admission for themselves and one guest to each Secrest Artists Series performance. Wake Forest students and School of Medicine students receive free admission for themselves. Tickets for the community are $5-$36, with special pricing for attendance at all three concerts.
Reserved seating is now being offered. To ensure admittance, please make reservations here or by calling 336.758.5757. Walk-up seating is still offered, but not guaranteed.
Categories: Events, Guest Post, Inside WFU
President Hatch
At Founders’ Day Convocation on Feb. 20, President Nathan O. Hatch offered an apology for how Wake Forest benefitted from the labor and sale of enslaved people in the 19th Century.
“It is important and overdue that, on behalf of Wake Forest University, I unequivocally apologize for participating in and benefitting from the institution of slavery,” the president told those gathered in Wait Chapel for convocation.
Following Hatch’s remarks, Dean of the School of Divinity Jonathan L. Walton delivered a keynote address focused on both remembering history and taking responsibility for the present.
“We must acknowledge that our history at Wake Forest is both beautiful and terrible. Nobel and tragic. Honorable and despicable,” Walton said.
Also, during convocation, two extraordinary alumni—Dr. Larry Hopkins and Lou Bissette—were presented the Medallion of Merit, the highest honor given by the University.
Read more:
Wake Forest apologizes for benefitting from enslaved people
Founders’ Day program honors Medallion Merit winners
Categories: Events, University Announcement
The following message was emailed to staff on Feb. 21 by Wake Forest Communications and External Relations:
Dear WFU Staff,
The Staff Advisory Council (SAC) is soliciting nominations for new members!
The SAC, formed in 2006 by President Hatch, is an advisory body tasked with strengthening communication between the Staff and Administration at Wake Forest University. For more information on the role of the SAC, please visit the SAC website.
Your voice is important! Nominate one of your colleagues today! Click here to submit your nomination.
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser: https://forms.gle/hapnghnkbDnMTgYh7
Detailed nomination and election rules are located in the SAC By-Laws, located here.
For more information visit sac.wfu.edu, reply to this email or contact a member of the SAC Membership Committee:
Sandy Lail, lailsr@nullwfu.edu, x3846
Michelle Fender, fendermr@nullwfu.edu, x3245
Suzanne Hawks, hawkssm@nullwfu.edu
Leigh Myers, myersl@nullwfu.edu, x2578
Ellie Shannon, shannoer@nullwfu.edu, x6504
Sarah Zakaria, zakaris@nullwfu.edu, x6276
Sincerely,
Staff Advisory Council Membership Committee
Categories: Guest Post, Inside WFU
The following message was emailed by President Hatch to students, faculty and staff on Feb. 20:
Dear Wake Forest community,
As you know, Wake Forest University continues efforts to examine its history and reconcile its implications for our present and our future. During Founders’ Day Convocation later this afternoon, I will acknowledge the University’s participation in the institution of slavery and offer an apology for how Wake Forest benefitted from the labor and sale of enslaved people. This moment will be another step in our efforts to confront our past.
In 2017, Wake Forest joined the Universities Studying Slavery Consortium to learn alongside other institutions of higher education how best to address historical and contemporary issues dealing with race and inequality among our communities. Last May, in a moving moment of remembrance, faculty, staff and students read the names of enslaved individuals sold to benefit the University endowment in 1860. In July, I established the President’s Commission on Race, Equity and Community and affirmed the continuing efforts of the Slavery, Race and Memory Project. These working groups are part of a larger institutional effort to illuminate our history, address our present and reaffirm our commitments for the future. As a society, we continue to wrestle with racism and white supremacy. As an educational community, we must challenge these dual plagues head on.
Founders’ Day Convocation provides an opportunity to acknowledge our past and recognize individuals who model what we aspire to be. The infrastructure established by the Slavery, Race and Memory Project will empower us to take the action necessary for an apology to have meaning. In the next few months, Wake Forest will publish the first volume in a series of collected works that capture the scope of activity taking place. Project findings and eventual recommendations will help guide the actions we take to address past and present inequities in our community.
I look forward to seeing you at 4 p.m. in Wait Chapel for this important event. If you cannot attend in person, live streaming is available.
Sincerely,
Nathan O. Hatch
President
Categories: Inside WFU, University Announcement
This guest post was written and shared by news intern Caroline Wilson (’21):
Wake Forest University will host TEDxWakeForestU, an independently organized event licensed by TED, on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Wait Chapel. 
‘Revision,’ the theme of Wake Forest’s TEDx event this year, poses the opportunity for our speakers to reflect on their past decisions and how they have impacted their future. The event is free for students, faculty and staff with a valid WFU ID. Tickets are $10 for the general public. Register here.
2020 Speakers
For more information, visit TEDxWakeForestU, like the Facebook page and follow @TEDxWakeForestU and #TEDxWakeForestU on Twitter and Instagram.
Categories: Events, Guest Post, Inside WFU
