Sigma Alpha Iota

P A N P I P E S Summer 2021 5 MUSIC NOTES Longtime Members of the Buffalo Alumnae Chapter The Buffalo Alumnae Chapter of Buffalo, NY has three members — Jeanette Schonfeld, Carolyn Whaley, and Jacklin Stopp — that have been in SAI for 81, 72 and 70 years, respectively. To honor them and their years in SAI, we interviewed them about their experiences. ank you to SAI members Deb Jasinski, Mary Britton, and Jane Cary for conducting the interviews. Jeanette Schonfeld received a degree in music education from the Eastman School of Music. Aer her graduation, she taught violin to students in Rochester. During this time, she met Seymour Schonfeld, who was on leave from the US Army; they married in 1944. Aer 20 years as an Army family, they returned to Buffalo and she earned a master's degree in music education from the University at Buffalo. She affiliated with the Buffalo Alumnae Chapter in 1959 as our 40th member to join in our 7th year. She also taught elementary music in the West Seneca Central School District and played her violin with community orchestras. She was active in the Buffalo Alumnae Chapter, hosting many meetings and luncheons in her home. She served as Corresponding Secretary for the chapter in 2003-2005. She is a mother of three and grandmother of four. Jeanette is our chapter's oldest member, having celebrated her 100th birthday in January of 2021. Carolyn Whaley received her degree in music education from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and continued private studies in flute at Eastman aer graduation. She then earned a master's degree from the University of Buffalo. Always interested in educating children, she taught in the Amherst, NY School District. As a flutist, she started a woodwind quintet that gave recitals and performed in nursing homes and for local music organizations. Carolyn enjoyed singing and sang for many years with the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo choir and for a short time in the Central Park Church choir. She was a long- term member of the Master Chorale of Western New York. She joined Wednesday Morning Musicale of Buffalo in 1973 and has since been recognized as an honorary member. Carolyn maintained a private studio, teaching flute for a few years and piano for many. Active in the Buffalo Alumnae Chapter of SAI, she served as president from 1965-1967 and 1975-1977. Carolyn has two sons, Clark and Todd, and four grandchildren between the ages of 5 and 8. Jacklin Stopp is an educator, having taught at State University of NY at Geneseo, Wisconsin State University at Oshkosh, and the University at Buffalo. She is also a musicologist and scholar of 19th-century American music, devoting much of her energy on researching the life and music of 19th-century musician A. N. Johnson. In addition to being a contributor to e New Grove Dictionary of American Music, and e New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, she has published many articles in scholarly journals. Her extensive collection of primarily 19th-century American music includes pedagogical musical materials, sacred and secular songs, cantata scores, librettos, hymnals, and music-related books. But most impressive is her collection of over a thousand 19th-century tune books. Much of her collection is now housed at the University of Maryland Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library of 19th-Century American Music When and where did you join SAI? Jeanette: December 1940 at Sigma eta. Carolyn: 1949 at Sigma eta. Jacklin: April 1951 at Iota Epsilon. Why did you join SAI? Carolyn: Many of my friends were joining SAI so it seemed like a good thing to do. Jacklin: I studied Music Education at Julliard with Rose Marie Grengzer, who was a member of SAI [a Member Laureate]. She talked a lot about SAI, but Juilliard did not offer SAI. So, when I went to Indiana University for graduate studies, I could finally join SAI. I was thrilled. How was SAI helpful to you during your collegiate days? Carolyn: (Carolyn couldn't remember per se, but did recollect performing with SAI members at Kilbourn Hall on the Eastman campus.) Jacklin: Although I was only at IU for one year and did not have much time to be very active, SAI was very helpful. ey took me in and we became friends. MEMBERS MEMBERS continued on page 10 continued on page 10 Above, Jeanette Schonfeld playing violin Above, Jeanette Schonfeld playing violin with son on piano. At right. Jacklin Stopp. with son on piano. At right. Jacklin Stopp.

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