Sigma Alpha Iota

8 Spring 2023 • sai-national.org Brenda Smith, Distinguished Member Committee Dr. Brenda Smith, DMA, is a lyric soprano, teaches studio voice, singer's diction, and vocal pedagogy at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. She is widely recognized for her contributions to the concept of lifelong singing through proper voice care. In 2022, Dr. Smith and her husband, Ronald Burrichter, co-authored Class Voice: Fundamental Skills for Lifelong Singing, a textbook for training voice in group settings. Brenda Smith is the author of Diction in Context: Singing in English, Italian, German and French (Plural, 2020) and So You Want to Sing for a Lifetime: A Guide to Performer, a publication sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018). Dr. Smith and Dr. Robert T. Sataloff have collaborated on a variety of projects to promote vocal health through choral singing. They are the co-authors of two textbooks, Choral Pedagogy, 3 rd ed. and Choral Pedagogy and the Older Singer that unite voice science, vocal pedagogy with choral conducting. (Plural, 2013/2012). Brenda Smith serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Voice and is a Consulting Editor for Plural Publishing. In recognition of demonstrated excellence in teaching and her interest in voice science, Dr. Smith received the Van Lawrence Fellowship in 2000, presented by the Voice Foundation and the NATS. Before joining the University of Florida faculty, she taught at Westminster Choir College, Dickinson College and Rowan University. SAI Biography: Initiated 1970 into Beta Epsilon chapter at the University of Evansville, I served as Province Officer for Lambda B, Director of the Music Education Outreach Grant, before joining the Distinguished Member Committee, first as a member and then as Director. I am an active member of the Gainesville Alumnae Chapter, serving currently as Vice President for Membership. My honors include Sword of Honor, Rose of Honor and Rose of Dedication. SAI Philanries, Inc. Donna Smith, Alumnae Association We are pleased to announce the appointment of Donna Smith as the new Alumnae Association Director. Donna was initiated by the Delta Zeta Chapter at Troy University in Troy, AL, where she served as Sergeant at Arms and Treasurer. She earned both her Bachelor and Master of Instrumental Music Education degrees from Troy University. Following graduation, she affiliated with the newly chartered Huntsville Alumnae Chapter. Donna served the Fraternity as Rho B Province Officer for seven years and went the extra mile to also cover Rho A Province for a year while a new volunteer was appointed. For her dedication and service to the Fraternity, Donna was the recipient of the Sword of Honor. Donna is in her 11th year of teaching and her 3rd year as Band Director at Sipsey Valley High and Middle School in Buhl, AL. A clarinetist herself, she also teaches private clarinet and drum major lessons. In her spare time, Donna enjoys kayaking and spending time with her family. She is married to Kenny, and they have a son named Cooper. eir family also includes a beautiful Siberian Husky named Palin, an orange cat named Rex and a hound named Jill. ey enjoy the outdoors and sports together as a family. Donna is honored to serve in the position of Alumnae Association Director. She hopes to strengthen the bonds of sisterhood among our alumnae as well as provide new avenues and opportunities for unaffiliated alumnae and newly graduated collegiate members to connect with the Alumnae Association. Ginger Patterson, Chapter Bylaws Ginger R. Patterson was initiated by eta Chapter at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree. While in school, she served two terms as chapter president, and one year as recording secretary. Aer graduation, Ginger affiliated with the Topeka Alumnae Chapter, serving in several offices and chairmanships including editor, collegiate advisor, and two years as president. During her time as alumnae president, she led the chapter to increase membership, increase fund-raising for scholarships, and to win the National Alumnae Chapter Achievement Award at the 2006 National Convention. Ginger served two terms as eta A Province Officer and three terms as Region 2 Regional Officer. She served on the LCPM Review Committee for six years. Ginger was awarded the Sword of Honor, the Ruby Sword of Honor, two College Honor Awards, the Rose of Honor, the Rose of Dedication, and the Wreath of Achievement. She plays bassoon, performing with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, the Topeka Woodwind Quintet, Marshall's Civic Band, Heart of America Band, and Jackson County Community Band. She both performs with and manages the North Topeka Community Band and the SAI All-American Band Concert Band. Ginger is retired. Her working career included serving as the executive secretary for the Kansas Department of Agriculture and working as an administrative legal assistant. She and her husband, trumpeter, retired 35th Division Army National Guard band director, and SAI Friend of the Arts member Steve, have two children: SAI member Anastasia Flachsbarth, and musician, piano technician, and composer Timothy Patterson. In between rehearsals and performances, Ginger and Steve enjoy traveling in their RV and playing with their four grandchildren. SAI's Fraternity Directors We continue our post-convention efforts to introduce the leadership of Sigma Alpha Iota by highlighting the six Fraternity Directors. The SAI Fraternity Directors are responsible for overseeing a particular aspect of Fraternity life and are appointed by the National President, with the approval of the National Executive Board.

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