Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Fall 2023 9 Grace Notes It is with great sadness that I report the death of my friend, colleague, mentor, and duo-piano partner for almost 40 years, Dr. Gloria Swisher. I first met Gloria when we roomed together at the 1972 SAI Convention in Atlanta. National Headquarters scheduled Province Officers to room together. I was PO of Mu, which included Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Gloria was PO of Nu including Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. In 1975 when Mike and I moved to Seattle, so he could work on another degree in Acoustics, I applied for a teaching job at public and private schools and colleges. When I was interviewing at Shoreline Community College (SCC), the interviewees kept mentioning someone named Gloria. The opening was taking her place while she was on leave. I asked if they were referring to Gloria Swisher and they said yes. I told them I knew her from rooming with her in 1972. I think I probably got the job because I KNEW Gloria Swisher! Gloria loved her students at Shoreline Community College, and they loved her. When driving to SCC in the morning, she would follow the bus route and if she saw any students waiting for the bus, she would pick them up and take them to school – saving them their bus fare. She taught 1 st and 2 nd year Music Theory and at the end of the school year she would host a "Survivor's Party" at her home for the students who made it through both years. There was food, soft drinks, and games. The students looked forward to that. One year she hired someone to drive a calliope to the party and perform. In 1965, Gloria joined The Ladies Musical Club (LMC) of Seattle, a nonprofit organization in Washington State whose mission is to foster classical music in the community through education, performance, and awards. Gloria gave many programs and many performances, both solo and duo-piano for LMC. She was also on the Seattle Opera Board and served as chair of the advisory committee for the University of Washington School of Music for two decades. It was 1980-1981 when we performed our first duo-piano recital at Shoreline Community College. Our last was in 2019-2010 when I retired. So, for 30 years we rehearsed almost weekly and performed in the greater Seattle area at many different venues that had two pianos. We also had many duets in our repertoire so we could also perform on one piano. — Nancy Matesky, Seattle Alumnae Chapter Nancy Matesky and Gloria Swisher Nancy Matesky and Gloria Swisher seen in 1987 and at their seen in 1987 and at their last public two-piano recital last public two-piano recital at Shoreline Community College at Shoreline Community College in 2010. in 2010.

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