Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Winter 2022 29 FRIEND OF THE ARTS a man or woman who is supportive of and actively involved in the arts at a local or regional level DR. PAUL TORKELSON Dr. Paul Torkelson was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Reno Alumnae Chapter in December. Dr. Torkelson is currently Associate Professor of Music and Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Choral Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he directs the Symphonic Choir, the Nevada Chamber Singers, and teaches choral conducting. In the fall of 2019, he was appointed Associate Chair for the department and has served in that capacity for three years. Dr. Torkelson earned his BME from Wartburg College and holds a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Kansas State University and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Prior to coming to the University of Nevada, Reno, he was director of Choral Studies at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa for twenty- five years. He retired from his position as Zahn Chair of Choral Music at Wartburg College in 2008, and was promoted to Zahn Professor Emeritus. While at Wartburg College, his choir performed at both national and regional ACDA conventions and performances at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, the Kennedy Center, Orchestra Hall Chicago, and Orchestra Hall Minneapolis. For three years he was Principal Conductor in Residence for MidAmerica Productions in New York City. He recently conducted a performance of e Sunrise Mass by Ola Gjeilo at Carnegie Hall on the MidAmerica Concert Series. is performance marked his fourth concert with this esteemed organization at Carnegie Hall. In July of 2019 he traveled with members of UNR Symphonic Choir to Athens, Greece for the Festival of the Aegean, where they performed Mozart's Requiem and Dan Forest's Jubilate Deo. He has conducted over 30 All-State Choral festivals throughout the United States and has been invited to conduct the Idaho All-State Choral Festival in February of 2022. GREGORY C. ZELEK Gregory C. Zelek was initiated as a National Arts Associate in November by the Madison, WI, Alumnae Chapter. Zelek is the Principal Organist of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and the Elaine and Nicolas Mischler Curator of the Overture Concert Organ, where he oversees all of the MSO's organ programming. In addition to concertizing throughout the United States, Greg regularly performs with orchestras as both a soloist and professional ensemble member, including the MET Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Florida Orchestra, New World Symphony, Ridgewood Symphony, Miami Symphony, and Madison Symphony. Highlights of the upcoming 2021-22 season include performances of Poulenc's Organ Concerto and Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony with the Madison Symphony, a return appearance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, a concert with the Canadian Brass at St. John's University, a concert with countertenor Reginald Mobely at Overture Hall, and solo concerts across the country. Greg will be the inaugural Artist-in- Residence and performer for the 2021-22 season of a new organ series for the Jacksonville Symphony that will showcase their Bryan Concert Organ in three distinct concerts. Greg will also be recording a CD on the Overture Concert Organ to be released in the Fall of 2022. In 2016, Greg was chosen by e Diapason magazine as one of the top "20 Under 30" organists, a feature which selects the most successful young artists in the field. He was the First Prize winner in the 2012 Rodgers North American Classical Organ Competition, 2012 West Chester University Organ Competition, and 2010 East Carolina University Organ Competition, as well as the Audience Prize winner of the 2016 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition. A recipient of the inaugural Kovner Fellowship, Greg received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, as well as an Artist Diploma, from the Juilliard School as a student of Paul Jacobs. Christine Blanner Christine Blanner was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Pi Chapter at Drake University in December. Professor Blanner, soprano, is a voice professor at Drake University. She received her B.M. in Vocal Performance from Drake University and her M.M. in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. During her tenure, she has taught studio voice, vocal literature, and English and French diction. Students from her voice studio have gone on to sing in major opera theaters around the world. In addition to these courses, Professor Blanner also teaches a January Term course called "Acting rough Arias", which affords vocalists the unique opportunity to learn about acting in an operatic context. She has performed many roles all over the country and has sung in recitals and concerts throughout Europe in Italy, Switzerland, and France. Blanner's roles include Ruth in Sparks Fly Upward, Polly Peacham in reepenny Opera, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Mme. Heartmelt in e Impressario, Bastienne in Bastien und Bastienne, Clara in Signor Deluso, Juliet in e Little Sweep, Angelina in Trial by Jury and Second Woman in Dido and Aeneas. Her Oratorio credits include Second Soprano Soloist in Mozart's C Minor Mass with Drake University and Soprano Soloist in Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass with the Westminster Fine Arts Series. In 2008 Ms. Blanner performed a recital of American art songs and arias at the Salon de Bourguignon during the Fête de la Musique in Distinguished Members Blanner Blanner

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