RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - On this episode of the WGNS Action Line, host Scott Walker spotlights a trio of meaningful conversations happening across the Middle Tennessee State University campus. In Segment One, Dr. Jennifer Snodgrass and Angela Tipps from the MTSU School of Music preview the Nov. 30 “Messiah Sing-Along,” a community event inviting the public to join in Handel’s timeless Christmas masterpiece inside Hinton Hall. Segment Two features archivist Andrew McMahan from the Albert Gore Research Center, who discusses a powerful new World War II exhibit, “When the Cannons of War No Longer Roared,” showcasing letters, photos, and personal artifacts that tell the story of the war’s final year and its impact on Tennessee families. In Segment Three, MTSU doctoral student Hillorie McLarty shares the creative and emotional mission behind “Tacos and Trauma,” a free weekly workshop blending writing, mindfulness, music, and—of course—tacos to support wellness and healing on campus. It’s an episode filled with art, history, reflection, and community connection. Scroll down for full details on each segment and the guests...
SEGMENT ONE: GUESTS: Dr. Jennifer Snodgrass, director of the MTSU School of Music, and Angela Tipps, master instructor in the School of Music
TOPIC: Nov. 30 “Messiah Sing-Along” at MTSU
The Middle Tennessee Choral Society and MTSU School of Music are co-sponsoring a “Messiah Sing-Along” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, in Hinton Hall inside the Wright Music Building, 1439 Faulkinberry Drive, on the MTSU campus.
Anyone is welcome to bring their own score (or borrow one for the day) and come sing the Christmas portion of the “Messiah” plus the "Hallelujah" chorus.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for K-12 students, and free for MTSU students/faculty/staff with an ID. Here's a link to purchase tickets; the proceeds support a small orchestra.
A traditional Christmas holiday favorite, George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” was first performed in Dublin on April 13, 1742. Handel, a German-British musician who introduced Londoners to Italian opera in the early 18th century, composed the English-language “Messiah” oratorio in 1741. His patron, Charles Jennens, used scripture from the King James Bible and the Anglican Communion’s Book of Common Prayer to create the text for the three-part libretto’s popular recitatives, arias and choruses.
SEGMENT TWO: GUEST: Andrew McMahan, archivist at the Albert Gore Research Center at MTSU
TOPIC: Ongoing exhibit, “When the Cannons of War No Longer Roared: The Final Year of the Second World War,” marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II
Middle Tennessee State University’s Albert Gore Research Center is marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a new exhibit that looks at the conflict’s worldwide reach and its effect on families in Middle Tennessee.
The exhibit, “When the Cannons of War No Longer Roared: The Final Year of the Second World War,” features letters, photos, and personal items donated by veterans and their families. Displays show what life was like for those on the home front and for soldiers serving in Europe and the Pacific.
Archivist Andrew McMahan, who organized the exhibit, said he hopes visitors walk away with both a sense of the war’s scale and the sacrifices it demanded.
“I would like people to get some understanding of the massive scale of the conflict,” McMahan said. “Additionally, I wanted people to get some small glimpse of the cost of war to soldiers and civilians alike. Many of the photographs show the blasted landscapes of battlefields around the world, some of which are the remains of homes, businesses, or even whole cities.”
The exhibit will be on display through the fall semester in the Gore Center, located in Room 128G of Andrew L. Todd Hall. It is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Off-campus visitors should obtain a temporary permit from the Parking and Transportation Services office at 205 City View Drive or pay by plate by visiting this webpage, https://bit.ly/mtvisitorparking. Visitor permits are $2 per day.
SEGMENT THREE: GUEST: Hillorie McLarty, MTSU doctoral student in English
TOPIC: “Tacos and Trauma,” a free educational workshop at James E. Walker Library
Every week throughout the semester, a small group of Middle Tennessee State University students gathers in a room on the third floor of James E. Walker Library for a quiet hour of writing, reflection, craft-making — and yummy tacos.
The free educational workshop, “Tacos and Trauma,” was created by MTSU graduate student Hillorie McLarty, who wanted to combine creativity, mindfulness and conversation around mental wellness. Sessions continue through the third week of November from 1-2 p.m. each Friday in Room 387 of Walker Library and are open to anyone on campus.
During each session, McLarty invites participants to listen to songs tied to that week’s theme — such as family, relationships, or resilience. Then the group does a 10-minute free write. Participants are encouraged to write freely, without worrying about grammar, structure, or even sharing their work aloud.
“This isn’t about producing Hemingway,” explained McLarty, who also works in the Margaret H. Ordoubadian University Writing Center at MTSU. “It’s about helping people who think they can’t write — or don’t want to — realize that they can.”
Participants enjoy free tacos while they work. After the writing portion, the group members are encouraged to decorate quilt squares that will eventually be assembled by a fabric artist.
For McLarty, the workshop combines years of academic study and personal experience. A breast cancer survivor and lifelong writer, she has spent much of her graduate work studying trauma-informed writing and how storytelling and reflection can help people process difficult experiences.
