A series of Tuesday events in March to highlight Women’s History Month will be held at Western Carolina University, featuring a three-part PBS documentary, choral concert, panel discussion and literary celebration.
A collaboration between WCU’s School of Music and English Department, all three campus events are free and open to the public.
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating March as Women’s History Month in recognition of women’s contributions to the nation. A corresponding event is International Women’s Day, this year on Friday, March 8.
March 5
“Women Composers: A Choral Celebration” begins at 7:30 p.m. in the performance hall of the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, followed by a screening of part one of the PBS documentary “Makers: Women Who Make America” at 8:30 p.m.
The concert, performed by WCU’s Concert Choir and University Chorus, will feature works by Rosephanye Powell, Carol Hall, Alice Parker, Susan LaBarr and Carly Simon, among others. Of note, the choir will perform a song by Haywood County composer Margaret Stringfield that was published in 1939. Stringfield, who died in 1958, taught music in Waynesville for 20 years.
March 19
Part two of the PBS documentary will be shown at 4:30 p.m. in Classroom 130 of the Bardo Center. “Women Writers: A Literary Celebration,” an “open mic night” featuring the writings of women authors and poets, will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Star Atrium of the center.
March 26
The conclusion of “Makers: Women Who Make America” will be shown at 4 p.m. in the recital hall of the Coulter Building, followed by a 5:30 p.m. panel discussion of women faculty on “Sharing Our Stories.”
For more information, contact Allison Thorp, director of choral activities, at athorp@wcu.edu or 828-227-3259.