Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Summer 2022 31 Harding Harding Parkinson Parkinson Samford Samford Thomas Thomas College of Technology Executive Board. He is currently the principle of e Edge, a firm that provides facilitating, consulting, and coaching to organization leaders maximizing their individual capacities and effectiveness. He has experience teaching elementary, middle, high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels of music, and he has been a part of several non- profits throughout Indiana. Dr. Eutsler earned an Ed.D. in Christian Education from the Newburgh Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Trinity College, a Master of Science in Education from Purdue University with concentrations in Administration and Curriculum, and a Bachelor of Science in Area Music Education from Indiana State University. He received the Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) from St. Paul Christian University in 2018. Christine Carere Harding Christine Carere Harding was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the eta Chi Chapter at the University of South Carolina in April. Mrs. Harding is an Elementary School general music teacher for the Richland School District 2, Center for Inquiry, in Columbia, SC. She received her Bachelor's degree from the Berklee College of Music in Music Production and Engineering and her Masters in Music Education from Valdosta State University. She has a passion for spreading music to all, and has done this in many different careers in the music world: as the band and orchestra division manager for M&M Music, a retail music store in Valdosta, GA; as Executive Director of the Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera, a regional opera company in Fargo, ND; and as the business manager of Georgia State University's School of Music & Rialto eater in Atlanta, GA. She was Teacher of the Year in 2013. A freelance oboist and private teacher for 48 years, Mrs. Harding is a Orff-Schulwerk Level I certified teacher and is active with University of South Carolina School of Music events as a spouse. She is the wife of Dr. Tayloe Harding, Dean of the University of South Carolina, who is also an SAI Friend of the Arts. Christine Carere Harding participates in a myriad of musical activities, for herself and her family: as Music Coach for high school drama programs, as a Member of NAfME since 2010, as the Sound System Designer for a 200 seat auditorium, and as a Recording Engineer/Instructor at Studio One, Creative Sound Concepts, Allgood Studios & Web IV studios in Atlanta. Robin Parkinson Robin Parkinson was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Buffalo Alumnae Chapter in April. Robin Parkinson received her Master of Music Degree from The Juilliard School in bassoon performance and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from Tufts University, as well as a Bachelor of Music from New England Conservatory. Robin Parkinson has served as the Education Coordinator of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra since 2009. Under her direction, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has reached an all-time high of over 50,000 public, private, and homeschooled students served throughout Western New York. Specially programmed Youth Concerts have been designed by Parkinson and the Education Committee to be age appropriate and to work with school curricula. She also worked to create the Diversity Council, a group of citizens and musicians dedicated to utilizing the power that music has to be a unifier across generations, cultures, genders, and socioeconomic classes. Robin is an active advocate for music and arts education in Western New York. She gave the keynote speech for the 2011 New York State PTA Convention in Niagara Falls called, "Becoming an Effective Advocate for Arts Education." In May 2012 she received the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts Foundation's first Friend of the Arts Award. Most recently in 2015, her work on the BPO's West Side Connection was recognized with a Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award. Brent Samford Brent Samford was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Dallas Alumnae Chapter in April. Mr. Samford dedicated his education career to music for 30 years. Before retiring in 2017, he taught in the Dallas Independent School District (ISD), the Blooming Grove ISD, and the Mesquite ISD. Mr. Samford earned a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Arlington, as well as a Master of Music from the University of North Texas. Currently, he performs in a traditional Irish music group, sings in church choir, and performs as cantor. Mr. Samford supports SAI in several ways. He has joined his wife Jane in husband/wife duos for SAI musicales and retirement home performances, hosts meetings in their home, and is a crucial help with our chapter fundraisers. His Irish music group performed for the 75th anniversary of the Dallas Alumnae Chapter. E. James Thomas E. James omas was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the East Texas Alumnae Chapter in May. Mr. omas is in his fih year of teaching, currently serving as the Seventh Grade Band Director for Carthage Independent School District in Carthage, TX, and assists with Sixth Grade and High School bands. In 2021 and 2022, his band earned the UIL Junior High Sweepstakes Award. In addition to his work as a band director, omas is the principal clarinetist for the East Texas Symphonic Band and performs with the Longview Symphony, the Letourneau Masterworks Symphony Orchestra, and the Temple Beth-El Tyler Klezmer Ensemble. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Fraternity for Band Members, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Association of Texas Small School Bands, and the Texas Bandmasters Association. Mr. omas has received personal awards as an All-State musician and an Outstanding Musician award at Texas State Solo and Ensemble competition. He graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler. Distinguished Members

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