Florida A & M University

Florida A & M University, Florida A&M University Broward Alumni presents “The Internationally acclaimed Florida A&M University Concert Choir”. For nearly 60 years the choir has maintained a standard of choral excellence.

The university choir, under the direction of Mark Butler, performs a diverse repertoire that spans the genres of classical, jazz, contemporary, spiritual, gospel, and other multi-cultural styles.

The choir’s goal is to promote and cultivate the understanding of choral music and performance as an imperative medium of artistic value and musical expression.

The concert choir is the recipient of the Willie E. Jackson choral Achievement Award (SEAAC Choral Festival) and was nominated for “Organization of the Year” FAMU Spring 2010.

The concert choir recently gave a command performance with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and Broadway Singer and Actor, Sal Viviano.

In the past the choir has performed major concerts at both the American Choral Directors Association and Music Educators Conventions. They have presented performance tours in the East & West coasts of the United States as well as places abroad such as: Valencia Spain, Alaska, and Ethiopia Africa. FAMU’s Concert Choir has also performed with major artists such as GRAMMY award winner Phil Driscoll, Richard Small-wood and the amazing Three Mo’ Tenors.

Butler recently served as guest conductor of the AASCA Music Festival in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Under his directions, his choirs have won 16 first place National Music Festivals and Sweepstake Awards. He received the Composer’s A-ward in recognition of his Compositions at the 12th Annual Southeastern African American College and University Choral Symposium Festival in Nassau, Bahamas.

As a published composer, his compositions have quickly grown to popular fame and are in performance demands at National and International Music Festivals and events such as the American Choral Director’s Association, as well as live performances on PBS television and radio.

James Madison University

James Madison University, A woman who used a personal tragedy as motivation to change your life, I received a routine notice of public safety that is required by the Clery amendment, a law that emerged from the tragedy.

Lehigh University freshman Jeanne Clery was murdered on campus in 1986. After his tragic death, Howard and Connie Clery, Jeanne’s parents, it was decided to change college. He defended the “Jeanne Clery Act, which requires universities to make timely public announcements about campus crimes and warn students of the impending dangers. The bill was enacted in 1990.

The juxtaposition of the history of the Clery Elizabeth made me think of the tragedy and change – how tragedy always changes people and how such a change, sometimes exceeding them all. Speaking of his own triumph, Elizabeth said: “I put the power of my sadness in the creation of some kind of new life.” The Clerys did the same.

Currently, the campus of JMU – and the campus of each university and the American College of others – is safer because Jeanne Clery’s parents took the tragedy and used it to change the world. The tragedy is a part of life. What we do in the aftermath of the tragedy makes all the difference.

Today, on the anniversary of September 11 somber, a day that always shapes our nation, often reminds me that out of tragedy comes good. All of us, as Elizabeth Burns, can become stronger, and all, as the Clerys have the opportunity to let the sadness motivation to improve the world – to create a new life with the energy of sadness.