Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Winter 2022 27 enjoys having a vibrant life as both a flutist and composer, and enjoys the enrichment that these activities bring to each other. She has a DMA in flute performance and an MM in composition and theory from the University of Washington, an MA in theory and pedagogy from Central Washington University, and a BA in performance from Indiana University, Bloomington. AMY CATRON Amy Catron was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Decatur Alumnae Chapter in October. Amy Catron, cello instructor and String Coordinator at Millikin University, has toured as a soloist and in chamber and orchestral settings in the United States, Europe, China, and Japan. She has appeared as a soloist with Sinfonia da Camera, Baroque Artists of Champaign- Urbana, Charlotte Symphony in Florida, Illinois Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Olivet Nazarene Symphony, Illini Symphony, Millikin Wind Ensemble, and Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist and chamber musician, she tackles repertoire ranging from the Renaissance Era to contemporaneity. Her interest in early music led to appearances as a viola da gamba player and a collaboration with Illinois's BACH Orchestra. Catron is an avid promoter of new music, performing and premiering many works by living composers. Her CD, Particles and Prayer, won a Global Music Award Silver medal in March 2019. Catron performed the world premiere of Carlos Carillo's O Casi el Alma for Cello and Orchstra, dedicated and commissioned in collaboration with Sinfonia da Camera, in February 2015, at the Krannert Center in Urbana, Illinois. She has given world premieres and recorded Robert Chumbley's Particle I for solo cello and Particle II for cello and wind ensemble. In April 2019, she was featured soloist with the Millikin- Decatur Symphony Orchestra, performing Osvaldo Golijov's Azul. An active orchestra musician, Catron is currently principal cellist with Sinfonia da Camera and Millikin-Decatur Orchestra and associate principal with Illinois Symphony and Illinois Chamber Orchestras. Before moving to the Midwest, she was a member of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra (Florida) and performed with the Akron and Canton Symphonies (Ohio) and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra (Virginia). In demand as a jury member and clinician, Catron has taught and performed widely at music festivals, including InterHarmony International Music Festival (Italy), Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Illinois Wesleyan Chamber and Cello Camps, Bands of America, Illinois Summer Youth Music Programs, and the International Chamber Music Festival in Bulgaria, where she was Artistic Director for 2015. She has also been a collaborative faculty member at Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State Universities. She reviews new publications in the National American String Teachers Association quarterly journal. Catron studied at Eastman School of Music, University of Akron, and is currently pursuing a DMA in Music Education from Boston University. She is active in the Suzuki Association of America, American Federation of Musicians, and Music Teachers National Association. Her principal teachers were Michael Haber and Pamela Frame. She has advanced her studies at music festivals and in masterclass sessions with Paul Katz, Yehuda Hanini, Cater Brey, and the Cleveland and Kronos Quartets. Catron currently resides in Decatur, Illinois. DR. CHRISTOPHER CHAPMAN Dr. Christopher Chapman was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Eta Xi Chapter in October. Dr. Chapman is the Director of Bands for the Central Michigan University School of Music, where he conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and coordinates the wind band conducting area. His ensembles have gained notoriety and praise from composers and audiences alike and have been featured in performance sites from Carnegie Hall to concert halls in the United States as well as Japan, China and Taiwan. Recent commercial recording projects include: e Five Changes; Currents; Scenic Meditations; and David Maslanka's Mass was produced by Mark Records. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Chapman holds degrees in music from e Ohio State University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Washington. Dr. Chapman has appeared as a conductor, clinician and lecturer throughout the United States. He has also been a contributing author in A Composer's Insight: oughts, Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band, a series of books on contemporary wind band composers for Meredith Music Publications, a subsidiary of the Hal Leonard Corporation, and Teaching Music through Performance by GIA Publications. Dr. Chapman's wind band compositions and arrangements are published by Timberline Publications. He has served as a clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Canada. In 2015, Dr. Chapman was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He has been the Northwest Division president, the College Band Directors National Association and Northwest Divisional Chair of the National Band Association. An inductee into the Phi Beta Mu honorary Bandmasters Fraternity, he is also an honorary member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, where he has served as the Co-Governor of the Western District, and an honorary member of the Tau Beta Sigma honorary band sorority. Other organizations include the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, National Association for Music Educators, and Michigan Music Educators Association. Dr. Chapman has also served as the Musical Director of the Oregon Brass Society, a British-style brass band in Springfield, Oregon, the Portland Wind Symphony, a semi- professional adult band in Portland, Oregon, and the Clock Tower Wind Orchestra, a professional concert band. Distinguished Members

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