Piedmont University

The Piedmont University Singers, orchestra, and soloists presented the world premiere of a semi-staged oratorio based on the life of Lillian E. Smith composed by Mary Carol Warwick for the university's 125th anniversary. The oratorio is based on the life and pioneering work of civil rights activist Lillian E. Smith. Smith was a writer who penned the best-selling novel "Strange Fruit," about an interracial relationship that takes place in Georgia in the 1920s. She was also active in the Civil Rights Movement and a friend of Martin Luther King Jr. Smith studied at Piedmont University, which is home to the Lillian E. Smith Center, an educational facility and artists' retreat in Clayton, Georgia.

Piedmont University Cantabile, a seven-voice a cappella ensemble, performed on March 29 at the Conservatory of Music in Demorest.

Piedmont University hosted its Great Composers Concert Series on Feb. 24 in the Chapel on the Demorest campus. Piedmont's choirs, orchestra, and soloists presented the latest installment of the Great Composers Concert Series, Austrian Masters, during which they performed Josef Haydn's Symphony No. 2, Mozart's Symphony No. 29, and Franz Schubert's Mass in G. Dr. C. Wallace Hinson, director of Piedmont's Conservatory of Music and associate dean of the School of Fine Arts, conducted the performance. "The audience heard works that are at the core of the classical music repertoire. All three works on the program were written when the composers were relatively young," Hinson said. "The audience could 'see' into the mind of the youthful composers and perhaps make a connection to their more mature - and possibly better known - works."

The Piedmont Singers performed at the Demorest campus on Jan. 25 and for the Georgia Music Educators Association on Jan. 29. The Piedmont University Singers performed pieces covering a half-century of choral music history during a free concert on Jan. 25 at the Chapel on Piedmont University's Demorest campus. The Singers then gave the same performance on Jan. 29 in Athens for the Georgia Music Educators Association.

Piedmont University again presented its beloved holiday event, Lessons and Carols, to live audiences during two performances in November. Lessons and Carols celebrated its 33rd year in 2021. The 2020 performance was presented as a video recording because of the COVID pandemic. As the performance returned to a live format, face coverings and social distancing were required.

Piedmont University's Wind Ensemble performed a free concert on Nov. 20, 2021, at the Chapel on the Demorest campus. Wind Ensemble Director Anand Sukumaran said the evening will take attendees on a "journey" through different places, times, and experiences.

Piedmont University's Instrumental Chamber Ensembles performed the works of Haydn, Brahms, and other compositions handpicked to showcase their talents during a concert n Nov. 18 at the Chapel located on the Demorest campus.

The Piedmont University Singers gave their first public performance in nearly two years on Nov. 11 at the Chapel on the Demorest campus.

Heather Strachan led the 30-member Piedmont Conservatory Strings orchestra in performing works by six living composers, including Eric Whitacre and Karl Jenkins, in a concert on Nov. 2, 2021. Three students took part. Strachan is the director of the Piedmont Conservatory Strings, Artist-in-Residence at the Piedmont University Conservatory of Music, and a founding member of the Piedmont Camerata.

Piedmont University's elite student singing ensemble, Cantabile, performed a repertoire ranging from Estonian folk songs to pop hits during its Oct. 28, 2021, concert at the Demorest campus.

A group of Piedmont University students won an award in the Broadcast Education Association's (BEA) international digital media and broadcast competition and traveled to Las Vegas to accept the honor.

The 4th Annual Piedmont Symposium showcased the undergraduate research and creative inquiry projects of 389 students on April 6. The day-long event provides research opportunities for students. Their findings were presented across the Demorest and Athens campuses through oral and poster presentations.

Piedmont University congratulates all of the students named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2021 semester. Dean's List honorees achieve a 3.50-3.99 GPA.

Piedmont University congratulates the nearly 220 students who were named Dean's Scholars for the FAll 2021 semester. Students named a Dean's Scholar finished the semester with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Nearly 300 students graduated from Piedmont University this fall. "To our graduates, congratulations on your tremendous success, and congratulations to your families, friends, and loved ones who supported you along the journey to your degree. We are so very proud to now call you Piedmont alumni," said Piedmont President Dr. James F. Mellichamp.

The Piedmont University Singers gave their first public performance in nearly two years on Nov. 11 at the Chapel on the Demorest campus.

A program of music showcased the collaboration between Dianasue Walton's woodwind studio and Dr. Jeri-Mae Astolfi's piano studio and featured SEVEN? Piedmont University students. The Piedmont Chamber Ensembles Concert was held on Nov. 18 in the Chapel at the university.

Piedmont University's Theatre Department presented Walk Two Moons, a story of abandonment, grief, and identity, in November. Several students were among the cast and crew.

More than 200 students graduated from Piedmont University this summer. "On behalf of everyone at Piedmont University, I extend my sincerest congratulations to the graduates and their families," said President James F. Mellichamp. "You are to be commended for your persistence and commitment to your education, even in the face of a global pandemic. We are proud to now call you Piedmont alumni." All told, 26 undergraduate and 183 graduate students received their degrees from Piedmont.

Piedmont University congratulates all of the students named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2021 semester. Dean's List honorees achieve a 3.50-3.99 GPA.

Peace, love, and happiness will take the stage this October as the Piedmont University Theatre Department presents Hair, the rock musical that debuted more than 50 years ago. Hair explores themes related to the peace movement of the 1960s that emerged in opposition to the Vietnam War.

Piedmont University congratulates the nearly 250 students who were named Dean's Scholars for the Spring 2021 semester. Students named as a Dean's Scholar finished the semester with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Spring commencement services were held May 14 for the first-ever graduating class of Piedmont University. Piedmont officially changed its name from Piedmont College to Piedmont University in April. About 16 percent of the more than 400 undergraduate and graduate students earned cum laude, magna cume laude, and summa cum laude honors.

Piedmont 's softball team left no doubts about who the best team in the USA South West Division was in 2021 as the Lady Lions dominated the Huntingdon Hawks on May 1 in Demorest to advance to the conference championship series.

The Student Organization and Leader Award honored students, organizations, and advisors at a ceremony to recognize the achievements of Piedmont University student organizations, students, and advisors on April 22.

The Piedmont men's track and field team delivered a convincing performance and took home the USA South Championship as the two-day conference meet concluded on April 29 at Berea College in Kentucky.

The Piedmont women's track and field team left no doubt April 29, dominating the field to capture their second-straight USA South Athletic Conference Championship at Berea College in Kentucky.

Led by senior goalie Zach Czulada earning Defensive Player of the Year, Piedmont men's lacrosse dominated the USA South end-of-year awards, placing eight on the All-Conference list.

More than 350 students participated in the third annual Piedmont University Symposium on April 14. The high-profile event embodies the Piedmont Promise "practical" pillar by providing research opportunities for students.

The Piedmont women's soccer team dominated for a second consecutive game, rolling to a 7-0 road win at Berea in Kentucky on March 6.