Sigma Alpha Iota

28 Summer 2022 • sai-national.org AARON ALTER Aaron Alter was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the San Diego County Alumnae Chapter in May. Mr. Alter is an award-winning composer living in Carlsbad, CA. His new music, which he calls his "New Beginning" is an exploration of a new style and energy that defies categorization. Aaron's new music was first performed in 2015, with the performance of Homage to Josquin for two flutes, piano, electric bass and drum set by The New Mexico Performing Arts Society in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Homage to Josquin received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 American Prize competition for Chamber Music Composition. He graduated with his Bachelor of Music in eory and Composition from Northwestern University in 1972 and received a Master of Fine Arts in Music from Princeton University in 1977. He regularly contributes compositions to the repertoire of flutist Iwona Glinka, pianist Susan Merdinger, the Cracow Duo, the ExQuartet, the pianist Vania Pimentel, e New Mexico Performing Arts Society, and Composers Concordance in New York. His music has been featured on award-winning albums by both Glinka and Merdinger. Additionally, Alter has been recently recognized with the silver medal at the 2020 Global Music Awards and has collected multiple awards, honorable mentions, and finalist levels in the American Prize competition in Composition over the past six years. He is a member of the SAI Composers Bureau and also serves as an Executive Board Member of the Carlsbad Friend of the Arts. To learn more about him, visit: aaronalter.com DR. NATALIE DRAPER Dr. Natalie Draper was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Sigma Iota Chapter at Syracuse University in April. Dr. Draper is an assistant professor of theory and composition at the Setnor School of Music. Many Sigma Iota sisters have worked with Dr. Draper in core music theory classes, Contemporary Music Ensemble, and her recent American Classical Music 1890-1945 class, in which she taught about well-known and marginalized composers from that period. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Draper was at Shenandoah Conservatory from 2017-2018, where she taught both instrumentation and composition as an adjunct assistant professor. Draper earned a D.M.A. in composition in 2017 from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, an M.M. in composition in 2009 from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, and a B.A. in music in 2007 (magna cum laude) from Carleton College. Dr. Draper is also an accomplished composer. Praised for her "individual and strong voice" (Colin Clarke, Fanfare Magazine), she explores character and evocative sound- worlds in her music. Upcoming premieres include e Bells (Beth Willer & the NEXT Ensemble at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, MD) and A Study in Breathing: Allein zu dir (Dianna Morgan, Christopher Frtizsche, and Anne Laver as part of Sonoma Bach's concert season in Sonoma, CA). Recent projects have included a solo organ work for the Italian Baroque organ at University of Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery (Pattern Dances for Meantone Organ), a piano trio (Fragile Music), and three works for choir (ree Lenten Motets). Her music has been included on recordings by Akropolis Reed Quintet, soprano Danielle Buonaiuto, and Symphony Number One. She has been featured in articles in Vox Humana, I Care If You Listen, and Van Magazine. Draper has held residencies and fellowships at the Ucross Foundation, the Tanglewood Music Center, the I-Park Foundation, Yaddo, and St. David's Episcopal Church in Baltimore, MD. DR. AILEEN RAZEY Dr. Aileen Razey was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Mu Zeta Chapter at Kutztown University in April. Dr. Razey is an associate professor at Kutztown University, where she teaches applied clarinet lessons and clarinet choir, along with introductory music and music business courses. Out of the classroom, she acts as the department's Outreach Coordinator, an advisor for Kutztown's NAfME-C chapter, and the membership advisor for the Mu Zeta chapter of SAI. Dr. Razey has held positions as Assistant Professor, Clarinet, Sabbatical Replacement at Ithaca College, Clarinet Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas, and Graduate Teaching Assistant in Clarinet and Musicology at the University of Denver. She taught a private studio of over forty students in grades 6-12 in Dallas-Fort Worth, many of whom placed top in district, region, and state ensembles. At the Aspen Music Festival and School, Dr. Razey taught clarinet and chamber music for the Passes and Lessons Program. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance from the University of North Texas with a related field in music education, a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from the University of Denver, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College. First prize winner at the Henri Selmer Summer Clarinet Academy Solo Competition, finalist at the International Clarinet Association Young Artist Competition, NATIONAL ARTS ASSOCIATE a man or woman who is nationally recognized for distinguished contribution to the arts Distinguished Members

• Cover