Sigma Alpha Iota

30 Winter 2023 • sai-national.org conductor, and/or presenter throughout the United States at festivals, universities, state and international music conventions, including the Percussive Arts Society (PASIC), California Music Educators Association, and California Band Directors Association. As a performer, Dr. Darling is the principal timpanist/ percussionist with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra (Nevada City, CA), and principal timpanist with the Sacramento Choral Society Orchestra. He also actively performs with the Fresno Philharmonic, Sacramento Philharmonic, and Modesto Symphony. For years he performed regularly with the Arizona MusicFest Orchestra and the former Sacramento Symphony, and has also performed with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Reno Philharmonic, Phoenix Symphony, Tucson Symphony, and California Symphony. In addition, Dr. Darling has performed as a percussionist for the Fresno stops of national Broadway tours of Wicked (2011, 2014, 2019) and The Producers. An avid supporter of new music for percussion, Dr. Darling has been involved with the premiere of dozens of solo and chamber works. Premiered works written solely or in- part for Dr. Darling include: Prayer for Peace for marimba solo by Dr. Benjamin Boone (2011); Neurotica (2008) for solo flute and three percussion by Dr. Kenneth Froelich; Accidental Migration for solo marimba and percussion ensemble by Dr. Froelich; Nyumbani (2008), a commissioned three movement work for solo marimba by Mark Vance; and Braided River Nights (2006) for flute and marimba by Howard Hersh, recorded on Albany Records. As a teacher and professor, Dr. Darling was presented the CBDA Don Schmeer Friend of Music Award in 2019, received a Fresno State Outstanding Adviser Award in 2012, and was named College Educator of the Year by both FMCMEA and the Central Section of CMEA in 2007. He has hosted the Annual Central California Day of Percussion since 1992, which has seen a long list of world renowned drummers and percussionists including Kevin Bobo, Michael Burritt, Thomas Burritt, Ndugu Chancler, Anthony Cirone, Peter Erskine, Pete Escovedo, David Garibaldi, Jeff Hamilton, Emil Richards, David Samuels, John Santos, Julie Spencer, Michael Spiro, Leigh Howard Stevens, John Tafoya, and Nancy Zeltsman. Dr. Darling is also active locally as a guest lecturer on subjects related to popular music. He is co- author on the digital text Listen to the Music, a college level text published by Great River Learning that is a comprehensive overview of the important styles in the development of Jazz and Rock & Roll music from their inception through today. Dr. Darling has held the position of President of the California Chapter of Percussive Arts Society (CA-PAS) since 2009. In 2013, he oversaw the return of the Annual CA-PAS Competitive Percussion Festival, which is hosted at Fresno State in early May. He has also served as a Percussion Manager and Coordinator with CASMEC since 2015, and held the position of Percussion Representative with FMCMEA 2013-2020. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in percussion performance from the University of Arizona, a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Sacramento. Dr. Darling endorses Grover Pro Percussion, Innovative Percussion Mallets & Sticks, Sabian Cymbals, and Yamaha. Jonas Laughlin Jonas Laughlin was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Kappa Tau Chapter at Capital University in November. Mr. Laughlin is an accomplished countertenor and pianist, having held lead roles in operas in both the US and England, and in concert series throughout the States. He completed a Young Artist residency with Britten-Pears in England, and placed second in the West Palm Beach Opera Competition's Junior Division. In addition to performing as a vocalist, Mr. Laughlin served as an accompanist and vocal coach to students and professional singers alike while at The Ohio State University working on his DMA. He received his MM in Opera Performance from the Boston Conservatory and a BA in Music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Kappa Tau chapter has had the pleasure of working with Mr. Laughlin for two years during his time as the Administrative Assistant for Capital University's Conservatory of Music. His duties have included: administrative and payroll tasks, Manager of the Conservatory's annual Christmas Festival, creation of a virtual box office, management of student work staff, liaison for visiting performers, creation of varying departmental handbooks, and oversight of the adult music lesson program, Winds & Percussion Camp, and the Complete Band Director Workshop. His dedication to musical excellence and compassion have touched the hearts of every student he has met. Lindsey B. Sarjeant Lindsey B. Sarjeant was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Theta Nu Chapter at Florida A & M University in November. Professor Sarjeant currently serves as the Music Department Chairman and Director of Jazz Studies at Florida A&M University (FAMU). Mr. Sarjeant is the acclaimed arranger and composer for the Marching '100', as well as a trumpeter and pianist with the faculty jazz ensemble. The school has honored his continuing legacy with the Lindsey B. Sarjeant Scholarship, awarded to an outstanding musician who is a member of the Jazz Studies program. His arrangements for the marching band have garnered him national and international acclaim, serving as the pen behind some of the Marching '100's most famous performances, one being with Prince during his Super Bowl halftime performance in 2007. He is also one of the most sought-after and imitated arrangers for HBCU Marching Bands, making him an important fixture in the culture for over three decades. He received his BS in Music Education from FAMU and in 2006 was inducted into the FAMU Athletics Hall of Fame in recognition of his many contributions and support. Laughlin Laughlin Distinguished Members Sarjeant Sarjeant

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