UA Graduate Interning at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A University of Alabama graduate is one of only 20 individuals selected nationwide to serve as an intern at the famed John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Wesley R. Taylor, a December 2004 graduate, was a music administration major in the School of Music, part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences. He is working with the center’s jazz department chair in marketing, research and grant writing, guest hospitality and account management. The Adamsville native began the five-month paid internship this month. He was selected from more than 70 applicants for the prestigious internship program.

The Kennedy Center, overlooking the Potomac River in Washington D.C., presents more than 3,000 annual performances. Internships there are considered some of the most sought-after experiences for graduating arts majors.

Taylor previously interned with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra as an administrative assistant to the executive director.

His volunteer experience includes serving as a symphony diplomatic volunteer and liaison and as a Theatre Tuscaloosa technical crew member and as the UA department of musical theatre orchestra manager.

Taylor has served as the UA Million Dollar Band logistics/operations staff coordinator and mellophone section leader, as well as playing in the UA’s athletic pep and symphonic bands. Taylor’s honorary memberships include Gamma Beta Phi, the national society to recognize and encourage education excellence, and Kappa Delta Epsilon, the national educational student society. While at UA, he was selected as one of 100 University Presidential Scholarship recipients.

The College of Arts and Sciences is the University’s largest division and the largest public liberal arts college in the state with 6,600 students and 360 faculty. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All-American Team.