Sigma Alpha Iota

Winter 2019 28 PAN PIPES DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS Marsha Becker Marsha Becker was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Nu Delta Chapter at Towson University in December. Marsha Becker, a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, an actor, and playwright, teaches at Towson University in both the Music and eatre Departments. As a component of her graduate studies at New York University, she wrote Whispers, a solo- performance theatre piece based upon transcribed interviews with battered women and other primary source materials. She has performed Whispers and conducted Master Classes on numerous university and college campuses, in NYC theatre venues including --HERE, e Public, Dixon Place eatre, and e Women's Project. e piece has toured domestic violence centers, hospitals and substance abuse centers, police training facilities, and prisons. She is an advocate for the rights of women and children, and served for more than ten years on the Board of Directors for House of Ruth Maryland, a Maryland-based domestic violence center; she now sits on their Advisory Board. Her New York University honors include the 2001 New York University's Present's Award for her efforts to educate others about domestic violence and Alumni Speaker's Event, Artists as Glocal Citizens; Oral Histories for Social Justice, Fall, 2017. Becker was recognized by the Towson University Disabilities Support Service for Effectiveness in Teaching and Accommodating Students with Disabilities, 2007. Locally, she is a Member of the advisory committee of the Baltimore Musicales, a not-for- profit arts organization dedicated to preserving the art of the song recital. She earned her a Bachelor's in eatre Arts with a focus in acting from Towson University and her Master's of Arts from New York University's Gallatin's School of Individualized Study with a focus on Writing and Performing Social Action eatre. Dr. Archie G. Birkner IV Dr. Birkner was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Delta Gamma Chapter at the University of Florida. He serves the University of Florida as Assistant Professor of Music and Assistant Director of Bands, where he directs the University Concert Bands, the New Music Ensemble, Gator Pep Bands, and is Associate Director of the Pride of the Sunshine Marching Band. Dr. Birkner, along with fellow Friend of the Arts Professor John J. Watkins Jr., talked with committees and donors to secure funding for the Gator Band's first practice facility; this facility will allow the band to practice more efficiently with a turf field, a covered pavilion, and storage units. Prior to his appointment at the University of Florida, Dr. Birkner taught in Texas public schools in e Woodlands, Tomball, and La Porte. He received his Bachelor of Music Education with Performer's Certificate, Master of Music in Percussion Performance, and Ph.D. in Music Education/Instrumental Conducting from the University of Florida. Dr. Birkner has conducted ensembles across the United States, Europe, and South America. He is the Assistant Conductor of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, where he also serves as Principal Timpanist. He remains active as a guest conductor, performer, and clinician throughout the southeastern United States. Additionally, Dr. Birkner serves as Program Director for the Vienna Summer Music Festival's Conducting Institute and Chamber Music Program held in Vienna, Austria. He holds professional memberships with the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the College Band Directors National Association, the Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. In addition, Dr. Birkner holds honorary memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. Matthew Butler Matthew Butler was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Epsilon Chi Chapter at Mississippi State University in October. Butler is in his third year on the Voice Faculty at Mississippi State University he has also been a vocal instructor for the Community Music School at MSU since 2017. He holds a Bachelor's in Vocal Music Education from the University of Mississippi, as well as a Master's in Choral Conducting from Georgia State University. His doctoral studies include an emphasis on conducting and choral music education. Butler has completed all coursework towards a Ph.D. in Music Education and currently is working on comprehensive projects and dissertation focus. Butler's vocal performances include tenor soloist in Dubois' Seven Last Words of Christ and Handel's Messiah with the Harrison (Ark.) Community Chorus, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna with the Ole Miss Concert Singers, and Bach's St. John Passion with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the University Singers at University of Memphis. Butler has performed as a tenor and baritone soloist for the Ole Miss Concert Singers and the Georgia State University Singers in the United States, France, and England. Soloist roles with the Georgia State University Singers include performances in Atlanta, Swansea (Wales), London, and Richmond (England). Primary and secondary teaching experiences include over ten years of public and private school positions (K-12) in Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas. Choral conducting performances from his career include tours with the Georgia State University Men's Chorus (Atlanta), Rutter's Gloria with the Georgia State University Singers & Orchestra, and Chorus Master for the University of Memphis Opera in Mozart's Magic Flute. Blaine Cunningham Blaine Cunningham was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Iowa City Alumnae Chapter in October. He is on the faculty of the Orchestra Iowa School and Kirkwood Community College and has been an instructor at Lakeland College Summer Music Camps for the past six years. He is a founding member of the Iowa Brass Collective and member of the Mountain Voices Quartet. In addition to his active performance schedule with Orchestra Iowa, Cunningha m is the orchestra librarian and personnel manager. He has performed with the Tallgrass Brass Band, South Dakota Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, Sheboygan Symphony, Oshkosh Symphony, and the Northwest Arkansas Symphony. He has performed as a featured soloist with the Northwest Arkansas Symphony, Texas Woman's University Wind Ensemble, University of Iowa Chamber Orchestra, University of Iowa Concert Band, and the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band. Blaine is a Miraphone Artist and member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Becker Birkner Butler Cunningham

• Cover