Campus announces spring speaker lineup

Penn State Brandywine will host its annual Spring Speaker Series beginning in January 2014 with a lineup that includes a Beatles enthusiast, a local Revolutionary War aficionado, a film buff and a local jazz band.

The first event, "A Fortnight in Chester County: The Philadelphia Campaign of 1777" with Penn State alumnus and owner/president of Western Heritage Mapping Sean Moir, will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m. in the Main Building, room 113. Moir will describe the Revolutionary War troop movements in Chester and Delaware counties, known as the "Philadelphia Campaign." His presentation establishes the context of the campaign within the American Revolution and uses unique animated maps to help tie these events to local sites.

Penn State Laureate Kenneth Womack will share "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles" on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 11:30 a.m. in the Main Building, room 113. In this multimedia, interactive presentation, Womack, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of English and integrative arts at Penn State Altoona, will trace the band's emerging songwriting practices, recording artistry and musicianship from the early, primitive recordings through the aesthetic heights of Abbey Road at the twilight of the Beatles' career. Dr. Womack illustrates the group's artistic growth through a wide range of musical and filmic illustrations.

As award season gets underway, Andrew Douglas of the Bryn Mawr Film Institute will present "All About Oscar" on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. in the Main Building auditorium, room 101. The American motion picture industry will honor itself for the eighty-sixth time during its annual Academy Awards ceremony in March so it's only fitting that Douglas will discuss the history of the Oscars, show clips of some of this year's nominees and help guests understand what the different categories represent, how the process works and the impact the awards have had on American culture.

Local jazz enthusiasts may already be familiar with Glenn E. Williams and the Jazz Trio, the house band at the Va La Vineyards in Avondale, which will perform on Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m. in the Main Building Auditorium, room 101. The band plays both original jazz compositions as well as standards. Williams has been a music teacher at Delaware County Community College for more than 10 years and remains extremely involved with the local music scene. The band, which consists of trumpet, keyboards, and drums, will perform and discuss its new album "Harps Revenge" with all songs written by Williams.

All events are free and open to the public, but space is limited so please RSVP to [email protected] or by calling 610-892-1484. Visit the Speaker Series website for more information about these and other upcoming speakers at the campus.