Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Summer 2022 29 third place winner of the Boulder Philharmonic Young Artist Competition, and finalist in the Lamont Concerto Competition gave Razey the opportunity to perform new and standard solo repertoire. Razey was the second prize winner at the International Clarinet Association's Orchestra Audition Competition, where The Clarinet depicted her performance of "the opening of Daphnis with an ease rarely heard." She is a D'Addario Artist and plays exclusively on D'Addario reeds. DR. MARC SOSNOWCHIK Dr. Marc Sosnowchik was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Delta Chi Chapter at the University of South Florida in April. Dr. Sosnowchik has served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Florida (USF) since 2018. His current teaching responsibilities include conducting the Symphonic Band, teaching courses in conducting and music education, directing the Herd of Thunder Marching Band, and overseeing all aspects of Athletic Bands at USF. Prior to coming to USF Dr. Sosnowchik served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Oklahoma State University. In addition to his many teaching responsibilities, he maintains an active schedule as a clinician, conductor, adjudicator, and arranger. He conducts honor bands throughout the United States, and in the summer teaches on the faculty of the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project/World Adult Wind Orchestra Project as part of the Mid-Europe Festival in Schladming, Austria. He is also the Associate Conductor of the Florida Wind Band. Dr. Sosnowchik earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Alabama, and both his Master's and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees in Conducting from e University of Texas at Austin. Before teaching at the university level, Dr. Sosnowchik taught at Louis Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia Hills, AL. During that time, he also served as conductor of the Tuscaloosa Winds and was a staff member for Music for All/Bands of America festivals and symposia. SCOTTY WALKER Scotty Walker was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Lafayette Alumnae Chapter in May. Mr. Walker, who has just completed his twenty ninth year of teaching instrumental music at Lafayette High School, is known as an outstanding music educator throughout Louisiana and the United States. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Mr. Walker has received the "Excellence in Education" award given by the Acadian Arts Council, was a featured director in "50 Directors Who Make a Difference" sponsored by School Band and Orchestra Magazine, and was presented the Louisiana Outstanding Bandmaster Award in 2002 and 2009 by the Phi Beta Mu honorary music fraternity. In 2011, Mr. Walker was inducted into Bandworld's "Legion of Honor," sponsored by the John Philip Sousa Foundation and was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association in 2017. Most recently he was named the Lafayette Education Foundation's 2022 High School Teacher of the Year. His professional affiliations include the Louisiana Association of Educators, the National Association for Music Education, the Southwest Louisiana Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu, and Sigma Alpha Iota. During his tenure at Lafayette High School, Mr. Walker's Wind Ensemble has performed on some of the most prestigious concert stages in the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2008, the marching band was selected as a finalist at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, the first time in attendance. In 2011 the Marching Band was named Class AAA National Champion. He has received the National Band Association's "Citation of Excellence" award for performing in the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, the All South Conductors Conference, and for their performance in the 2014 CBDNA southern division conference in Jacksonville, FL. In 2015 the band received the Blue Ribbon National High School Award for Excellence sponsored by the National Band Association. e band was selected to march in the 2018 Macy's anksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Dr. Taylor Assad Dr. Taylor Assad was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the eta eta Chapter at Nicholls State University in May. Dr. Assad is an active member of the professional saxophone community and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Croatia, France, Scotland, New York, Chicago, and numerous other cities across the United States. She is currently an assistant professor at Nicholls State University. She received her Doctorate of Musical Arts from Louisiana State University in 2019, a Masters of Music from the University of Florida, and a Bachelors of Music Education and Bachelors of Music from e Louisiana State University. Students of Dr. Assad's private studio have routinely made the Louisiana All-State Symphonic, Concert, and Jazz Bands. As an educator, Dr. Assad has given clinics and masterclasses for students and music educators across Louisiana and in the Gainesville, FL areas. She was a guest clinician at the 2019 Louisiana Music Educators Association Conference and also at Eastern New Mexico University. As a jazz musician and doubler, Dr. Assad performed with industry greats such as the Four Tops, Johnny Mathis, Kristin Chenoweth, and the Harry James Jazz Orchestra. She Distinguished Members FRIEND OF THE ARTS a man or woman who is supportive of and actively involved in the arts at a local or regional level Assad Assad

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