Ebo Gets United Nations Invite, McBrien’s Painting Gets iTowns Cover, and Nunez Lands with the Whale

Nelson Ebo, an Angolan native majoring in opera at The Hartt School, was invited by the United Nations to perform at Human Rights Day 2010, which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on Dec. 10. The news was featured in a story on Broadway World.com and in an Associated Press story that was picked up by a few media outlets including the Hartford Courant and USA Today. According to the Broadway World story, organizers, who had heard Ebo sing in the past and were impressed with his talent, thought his compelling personal story perfectly illustrated the main theme of this year's event, which will focus on and recognize “human rights defenders who act to end discrimination.” His fascination with opera began by chance when he heard a CD of opera luminaries and then taught himself to sing like them. Word of his talent spread as he began to sing in restaurants to supplement the family income. He made enough to pay for his primary education and to help ensure that his family had access to health care and better nutrition. To read the Broadway World story, click here, and to read the Associated Press story, click here.

Elizabeth McBrien, a 2010 graduate of the Hartford Art School, had her painting “Dans Paris” featured on the cover of the Sunday, Nov. 28 issue of iTowns in the Hartford Courant. In the brief write-up about her, McBrien said that “I found, through my studies, that painting the human figure presented both the inspiration and challenges that I enjoyed most as an art student. My focus continues to be figure painting , but I love the rewards of seeking out and exploring different media and subject matter in my art. You can see the painting “Dans Paris” by clicking here or you can visit McBrien’s web site.

“Two years ago, Juan Nunez was working his way toward a degree in business management at the University of Hartford while holding down two jobs in Blue Back Square in West Hartford, including as a manager at It’s A Grind coffee house. While he was on duty one day, a familiar face walked in, and the always personable Nunez immediately struck up a conversation with Howard Baldwin,” noted a story posted on Tuesday, Nov. 30 to ShorelinePlus.com. Today, Nunez is working as community relations manager for Whalers Sports and Entertainment after he graduated from the University in May. Nunez, who was born and raised in the south end of Hartford, was at U of H for three years and then took a three-year break to raise a son, Kelvin, and work two jobs. Once Kelvin was old enough to attend kindergarten, it freed up some time for Nunez to return to U of H and in two years, Nunez had his degree and a career path. To read the full story, click here

.