Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES Summer 2019 9 SAIS IN THE NEWS Mrs. Angelica Brooks was recently named the 2019 Prince George's County Public Schools Teacher of the Year! Angelica is an SAI Patroness with Training, initiated by the Washington, D.C. Alumnae Chapter in 2016 and serves as their Vice President Membership With a passion for making music and developing voices for choral work, Mrs. Brooks' experience denotes vocal excellence and artistry. Mrs. Brooks completed her undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance at Bowie State University. From there she received her Masters of Music in Vocal Pedagogy at The Catholic University of America. While attaining her Masters, Angelica joined the Prince George's Public School System as a Vocal/Genera Music Specialist. For over ten years she has worked to build various choral programs to achieve immense success. Her choirs have earned Superior Ratings at several festivals and competitions, creating a stellar reputation as one of the best in the State of Maryland. She is currently the Choral Director at Bowie High School. Mrs. Brooks has six choirs in the program and she also teaches AP Music Theory. Mrs. Brooks takes pride in serving her professional community as a mentor teacher, curriculum writer, and professional development presenter for arts education. Her experience includes serving as Director for the PGCPS Elementary Honors Chorus for 3 years, a guest lecturer at Frostburg University in Music Education, and festival adjudicator for the Montgomery County Public Schools Choral Festivals. B arbara McAlister, an initiate of the Alpha Zeta Chapter, was awarded Oklahoma's Governor's Award on April 16th, 2019 at the Oklahoma City State Capitol building. She shared the honor with Jo Rowan, a ballet teacher who began Oklahoma City University's famous dance program in 1981. The Governor's Award recognizes longtime leadership and significant contributions to the arts. Since 1975, the Governor's Arts Awards have recognized hundreds of individuals and organizations whose efforts have impacted the arts in their communities or throughout the state. Through her prolific and enduring career, Barbara McAlister reflects the finest example of what an Oklahoma artist can be. McAlister represented Oklahoma internationally as a distinguished opera singer for many decades. She returned home where she has invested significant time as a fine arts instructor and voice teacher for the Cherokee Nation. She pioneered a scholarship program that, through the support of her tribe, provides voice lessons at no cost for Cherokee citizens of all ages in northeast Oklahoma. Many of McAlister's students reside in areas where professional music lessons are otherwise unavailable. With McAlister's guidance, many students have successfully auditioned for professional operas and obtained scholarships to highly regarded programs at Oklahoma-based universities. In addition, she created programs for local and international performers, master classes, and facilitated numerous fund-raisers. McAlister, an alumna of Oklahoma City University, spent her early career in musical theatre, before she won the prestigious Lauren Zachary Opera Award, which launched her international operatic career. She ultimately sang over 50 roles throughout Europe, the United States, and Hong Kong. Barbara was acknowledged by the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council for having received the Governor Arts Award with a shawl made by Cherokee National Treasure Dorothy Ice. She also received the key to the City of Muskogee from Mayor Janey Boydston on June 3rd, 2019. Alpha Zeta Receives Oklahoma Governors's Award SAI Named Teacher of the Year Tribal Council Speaker Joe Byrd, left, and Deputy Speaker of the Tribal Council Victoria Vazquez , right, presented Barbara McAlister with a shawl during a special recognition at May 's Tribal Council meeting. Angelica Brooks (center) was honored by the the Prince George's Public School System in Maryland. Summer 2019 9 PAN PIPES

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