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Earle preparing for return to Carnegie Hall

This article originally appeared in the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

Earle preparing for return to Carnegie Hall

In a few weeks, professional pianist Diane Earle will be heading back to the Big Apple for another performance engagement.

The musician, Owensboro Symphony pianist and professor emeritus of music at Kentucky Wesleyan College, will be in the New York City spotlight as part of the world premiere performance of Lloyd Larson’s new choral cantata “Amazing Grace: From Blind to Free” at 7 p.m. July 12 on the Perelman Stage, inside the Stern Auditorium, at Carnegie Hall.

For Earle, who estimates playing the venue around “a dozen” times, 2025 marks her 20-year anniversary since making her debut at the concert hall back in 2005.

“(It’s) amazing …,” she said. “It has gone by very quickly. I’ve had major life events in the 20 years — I’ve lost both parents and retired from my Kentucky Wesleyan job, but I feel like the same person.

“(I feel) very blessed to still be playing the piano,” Earle said.

According to a joint press release from True North Presents and Jubilate Music Group, the presenting entities of the premiere, “Amazing Grace: From Blind to Free” will detail the “compelling and extraordinary story” of English evangelical Anglican cleric and slavery abolitionist John Newton, who previously served as the captain of slave ships and an investor in the slave trade.

Surviving a life-threatening storm at sea eventually led Newton to write the popular Christian hymn “Amazing Grace” in 1772, which went on to be published seven years later. From then on, Newton crusaded for the abolishment of slavery, according to the release.

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Kentucky Wesleyan College Announces Guaranteed Admission for Daviess and Hancock County Students for Fall 2026

Kentucky Wesleyan College is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking Guaranteed Admission initiative for qualified students from Daviess and Hancock counties in Kentucky, beginning with the fall 2026 enrollment cycle. This step reaffirms the College’s enduring commitment to serving its neighbors and opening new doors of opportunity for local students.

“This initiative reflects the Kentucky Wesleyan’s commitment to our community,” said Dr. James Cousins, president of Kentucky Wesleyan College. “It’s more than a promise, it’s a pathway to the same transformative educational experience the College has provided to generations of graduates from Daviess and Hancock counties.”

Students who meet academic eligibility requirements will be automatically granted admission, removing barriers and creating a clear, supportive transition from high school to college. Once on campus, students will experience the power of The Wesleyan Way—an educational philosophy grounded in honor, support, integrity and Christ-like love.

“Local alumni know for a fact that choosing Kentucky Wesleyan means choosing a College that’s close enough to home to stay grounded, yet far-reaching enough to launch you wherever you want to go,” notes Matthew Ruark ’09, assistant vice president of Enrollment Management. (more…)

Kentucky Wesleyan College Honors Class of 2025 at 157th Commencement

Kentucky Wesleyan College celebrated its 157th Commencement on Saturday morning at Owensboro Christian Church, recognizing the academic achievements and resilience of the Class of 2025.

The ceremony marked the conclusion of undergraduate studies for more than 150 students, including first-generation college graduates, international students, and students completing online degree programs. More than 40 percent of the class earned additional academic or leadership distinctions.

KWC President Dr. James Cousins opened the event by welcoming graduates, families, faculty, staff, trustees and guests. His remarks acknowledged the significance of the moment and the years of determination behind each student’s success.

“You persisted without the inherited playbook that others take for granted,” Cousins said, recognizing the many students who navigated college as the first in their families to do so. “Your success speaks to your character as much as your coursework.”

He praised the students’ ability to push forward through academic, personal and financial challenges, noting that the journey to a degree was often made one essay, one quiz or one commute at a time.

Nearly half of the graduates were the first in their families to complete a college degree. Many balanced coursework with jobs, caregiving or other personal responsibilities. He described their journey as a series of daily efforts—essays, commutes, assignments—that built momentum over time and ultimately brought them to commencement.

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Kentucky Wesleyan College celebrates inauguration of new president

The inauguration of Dr. James P. Cousins, the 36th president of Kentucky Wesleyan College, took place Friday, April 25, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Settle Memorial United Methodist Church at 201 East Fourth Street in Owensboro. Dr. Cousins became president on July 1, 2024.

Click here to re-watch the ceremony.

“This inauguration marks an extraordinary milestone in our history,” said Chair of the Board of Trustees Fred Wright ’80. “We invite the community to join us as we celebrate the strengths of our past and honor Dr. Cousins’ able leadership as we move forward to an even brighter future.”

Dr. Cousins served as the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Kentucky Wesleyan College since 2021 and has a distinguished career in higher education, including faculty and administrative leadership positions.

Related news: KWC to hold Cousins’ inauguration Friday

Related news: Cousins inaugurated as KWC’s 36th president

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