First-year students explore "The World of Duke Ellington"

[Editor's Note: Sophomore Laura Pasley, an English major from Georgetown, Ky., wrote this feature.]

RELEASED: January 10, 2008

DANVILLE, KY—The much-anticipated CentreTerm is here-- the College's distinctive, three-week January term-- and once again students are heading to classes that set the standard for creativity and engagement.

Fifteen first-year students are getting an earful this CentreTerm as they embark on a class titled "The World of Duke Ellington," taught by Vince DiMartino, Matton Professor of Music and world-renowned trumpet player.

Students will not only study Duke Ellington, who, as DiMartino explains, was a lifelong learner and is acknowledged as one of America's greatest composer-musicians," but will also delve into the social atmosphere surrounding Ellington during the time he composed and performed his music.

"I hope to have students understand the pieces through reading about the people, listening to the music and attending a big jazz concert of my big band on January 21 here at Centre," DiMartino says.

This is the second time that DiMartino has offered this class, which "teaches a bit about the creative process and helps develop an ability to understand what to listen for in music and how to assess the relative value in what you hear."

Carl Evans '11 says that the class is different from others that he has had in the past because it's "more specific and involved." Of DiMartino, Evans says, "I'm certain that he will somewhat alter, in a positive way, the lives of all the students he teaches."

In fact, Evans, a freshman from Alberta, Canada, says the main reason he came to Centre was to study under the expertise and guidance of DiMartino.

- end -

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.