Can you believe school buses are already rumbling down Concord Road?  And did you notice the white signboards at Davidson College, directing new students to their new dorms?

Paul and Judy Leonard recreate their wedding by cutting into a cake made to resemble the original triple-decker.

For nostalgic Wildcat alums enjoying the sight of the kids back on campus, we have a 50th wedding anniversary for one of your own: the Leonards.  Find out the coincidence today in where Paul and Judy Leonard first lived as a married couple back in 1959.

And for a new school year, we have an update on a new season of Masterworks School of the Arts, which will be offering two new show choir productions, is preparing to launch a Winterguard program and more.

50TH ANNIVERSARY FOR THE LEONARDS

The children of Paul and Judy Leonard of South Thompson Street hosted a 50th wedding anniversary celebration July 31 at the Mooresville Citizens Center.

Paul and Judy, who were high school sweethearts, married in 1959 at the Presbyterian church in Hapeville, Georgia.

Paul and Judy Leonard sat at the center of their family for an anniversary photo. From left in the back, are: Amy Leonard, Jon Leonard, Betsy Davis, Andy Leonard, Rob Meyer, Rachel Meyer, grandson Matthew Leonard and Kelly Leonard. Grandchildren seated closest to Paul and Judy are: Scott Leonard, Sam Davis-Leonard and Katy Leonard. In front are, l-r, Michael Meyers, Ian Davis-Leonard and Lilly Meyers. Missing from the photo are daughter-in-law Elizabeth and grandson Paul.

At that time, Paul was a student at Davidson College, and the couple’s first abode was an apartment above what’s known as the Erwin home on Thompson Street.  The Leonards went off to Chicago, Charlotte and Lake Norman, but in 2003 they wanted to downsize and so came back to the village.  Their current residence is on that same Thompson street, but 150 feet southward.

Paul, class of 1962, is now a member of the college’s Board of Trustees.  Judy took classes at Davidson, but that was in the days when it was a men’s school, so her college degree is from Queens University in Charlotte.  Both Paul and Judy have been deeply involved in Habitat for Humanity, and Paul has served in executive roles for the organization.  Paul’s long career in the homebuilding industry and his efforts to organize fair housing programs and build affordable housing, both in the non-profit and for-profit worlds, were recognized in April at the 38th Annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner of the Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice.  (See our April 19 story, “Social justice coalition honors Paul Leonard.”)

The Leonards have four children and eight grandchildren.  Oldest daughter Amy, also a Davidson College graduate, is a social worker in Seattle, Wash.  Oldest son, Jon, lives in Davidson and is a deputy marshal with the Charlotte Fire Department.  Andy is a major with the Char-Meck Police and lives in Huntersville, while Rachel is director of finance and land development for the local Habitat chapter and lives in Mooresville.

Congrats to the Leonards on 50 years of marriage!

MASTERWORKS UPDATE

Registration is underway for a new season of the arts at Masterworks, Davidson’s own school of music, art and dance, located at 442 South Main Street.

Masterworks School of the Arts opened in 2002 when Dave and Sue Uibel were looking for a career change that would give them more family time.

Earlier that year, Dave visited North Carolina while serving as a music pastor for a church in Ohio.  He found an interest in piano lessons that he turned into a thriving music business, taking on the name suggested by a friend.

“Masterworks – it suggests complete and well done,” Dave explained.  “We think that’s us and we’ve never tired of that name.”

Dave Uibel, director and founder of Masterworks School of the Arts, stands at the front door with his daughter, Julie, who is the school's Assistant Director.

The school started out with a faculty of six focused on music lessons for about 60 students and has expanded into a staff of 27 instructors serving 400-some families in piano, band and orchestral instruments, voice, choir, dance and art. In September of 2007, the Uibels opened a second campus in Mooresville, where they live.

The business is a family affair, with Dave and Sue overseeing the business, and two of the their three children on staff: daughter Julie Uibel is the school’s assistant director, and daughter Shelley Carpenter teaches voice, piano, violin and the junior show choir.  Son Evan Uibel, who has frequently helped out in various roles at Masterworks, is off at college studying to be a pastor.

Dave said the focus of Masterworks has always been on developing skills.

“This is not a place to learn a few songs and kill time,” he said. “That’s no good in the long run.  What we try to do, in every area, is teach skills.  We have an underlying skill-development grid and we use recitals and performances to offer our students a place to use those skills.”

Upcoming show choir productions for the community this season include “Suessical” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”  Plans are also underway to form a Winterguard, an indoor color guard activity, program for Davidson and to start a new Chamber Singers group.

Find out all about upcoming classes by checking out the Masterworks website.

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Have news for Brenda? Write to her at hbarger@bellsouth.net.