Sigma Alpha Iota

P A N P I P E S Summer 2021 23 23 the Pilgrim Ensemble in Korea, and has given concerts in Korea, China, ailand, Taiwan, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United States. Dr. Park has performed in many concert halls in the United States, including Isaac Stern Auditorium, the Embassy of Korea, and the Crystal Cathedral. She also served as the pianist for Tim Zimmerman and the King's Brass and has performed more than 100 concerts per year throughout the United States. Dr. Park was named an honorary ambassador for the Korean organization Food for the Hungry International. She served as cultural arts honorary ambassador to the Seoul Metro as one of the members of the Pilgrim Ensemble. She won the Minister of Education Award in South Korea, taking first prize at the 17th National Student Music Competition. She also received the James McKinney Outstanding Performer Award, the Wayne (Polly) McNeely Piano Award, and the Cathinka Venth Scholarship from the European Club. She has also performed as a soloist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, upon winning the Piano Texas International Academy & Festival Concerto Competition in 2011. Dr. Park released her piano solo album e Love and My Songs with her own arrangements in 2014. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), and the Asian Society of Arts. D R . R I K A U C H I DA Dr. Rika Uchida was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Pi Chapter at Drake University in April. Dr. Uchida is an Associate Professor of Piano and eory at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She received her M.A. in Music eory and D.M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of Oregon. Prior to her appointment to Drake University in 2005, Dr. Uchida taught at the College of Wooster in Ohio from 2000 to 2001 and at the University of Oregon, where she taught as a teaching assistant for seven years. As a pianist, she performed Rachmaninoff 's ird Concerto as a winner of the Concerto Competition at the University of Oregon, for which she received the Outstanding Performance Award. Her master's thesis, Tonal Ambiguity in Debussy's Piano Music, traced the evolution of Debussy's new compositional techniques; her D.M.A. lecture-document, e New Language of Debussy's Douze Etudes, presented the structural analysis of selected Douze Etudes and performance interpretation. Dr. Uchida performed a series of lecture-recitals: Music of Claude Debussy – from "Romantic to Modern Sound" and presented piano master classes at a number of universities, both in the United States and abroad. As a faculty exchange, she visited Minzu University, Beijing, China, to present a performance, lecture, master class and guest studio teaching in 2011 and 2012. Dr. Uchida also enjoys performing chamber music and collaborates with her colleagues at Drake University, specializing in music for two pianos and presenting recitals nationwide. Alongside her work in the international music community, Dr. Uchida is also a very active participant in the music department of Drake University, teaching music courses and giving lectures, master classes, and performances in both solo piano and chamber ensemble. Denise Favela Apodaca Denise Favela Apodaca was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Mu Tau Chapter at Colorado State University in April. Denise Apodaca is currently Director of Student Success at the Graduate School, Piano Proficiency Coordinator and Affiliate Faculty in Women's Studies at Colorado State University and has been honored with the College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Teaching Award and the Best Teacher of Colorado State University Award. She has been on the teaching faculties of e Chicago Academy for the Arts, Sherwood Conservatory of Music, DePaul University, Pasadena City College, Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and Front Range Community College. She founded and directed the Chicago Young Instrumentalist Program, served on the Leadership Council, was director of Early Childhood Programs, director of Class Piano, chair of Group Instruction, and chair of the Piano Department at Sherwood Conservatory of Music. Apodaca has performed throughout the United States as a soloist and chamber musician. She has been an adjudicator for several area music teachers associations and has given several workshops on piano technology, piano pedagogy, piano performance, and early childhood music. Apodaca received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a minor in Spanish. She later received her Master of Music in Piano Performance and a second Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Northwestern University. Diane Chong Diane Chong was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the eta Beta Chapter at Jacksonville State University in April. Ms. Chong is an amazing professor who strives to give opportunities to anyone at Jacksonville State University who may be interested in learning more about strings. With her strings lessons for music students on campus, she has helped Jacksonville State University students find love for a new instrument, whether it be violin, viola, cello, or double bass. Ms. Chong is a sought-aer violinist and teacher in the region. Originating from South Korea, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance from Sook Myung Women's University in Seoul. She has held the position of First Violinist in the Seoul Symphony Orchestra and the Christian Broadcast Orchestra. She currently is the First Violinist and Assistant Concertmaster for the Gadsden Apodaca Apodaca Chong Chong FRIEND OF THE ARTS a man or woman who is supportive of and actively involved in the arts at a local or regional level D R . R A C H E L PA R K D R . R I K A U C H I DA DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS

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