Sigma Alpha Iota

62 Fall 2023 • sai-national.org the Grand Rapids Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Lansing Symphony, and Flint Symphony. Dr. Nichol is a Yamaha Performing Artist and a Vandoren Performing Artist. Sampson Abiodun Oturu Sampson Abiodun Oturu was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Clarksville Alumnae Chapter in June. Sampson Oturu was a member business and accounting faculty and is Professor Emeritus at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sam is very supportive of both the arts community in the greater Clarksville and Nashville area, as well as the endeavors of the local SAI chapter. Whether it was in attending events, being a gracious host, or mentoring and supporting students and artists in their endeavors, he has always been present and engaged. He was a long time financial sponsor of the Clarksville Community Concert Association and present at most of their concerts, events, and business meetings. He understood the value of our sisterhood and was highly involved in bringing Denyce Graves in concert to Clarksville and being a gracious host during the challenge of covid. It was at that time his wife Gail was awarded the Ring of Excellence and he was instrumental in making that a success, flying in family and friends from around the country, from England, and from Nigeria. The Clarksville Alumnae Chapter's annual service project, SAM through Service (Sisters Advancing Music… Support – Education – Representation – Veterans – Inclusivity – Community – Enrichment), was lovingly named after Sam because of his supportive role the chapter. His wife, Dr. Gail Robinson-Oturu, is an SAI member and recipient of the National Alumnae Leadership Award and Ring of Excellence. Russell J. Richard Russell J. Richard was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Lafayette Alumnae Chapter in May. Mr. Richard is a business administrator in Lafayette, LA. He holds a BSBA in Accounting from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and has completed graduate banking studies at the Bank Administration Institute-Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Included in his administrative experience is Controller for Schilling Distributing Company, LLC; Administrator for Perret-Doise/ Longman-Russo Law Firm; and Exec VP for the Bank of Lafayette. Russell is a loyal supporter of local music and theatre groups and their concerts and productions. He sang in St. Mary Church's (Lafayette, LA) Choir for over 30 years and has been a member of their Handbell Choir for almost 20 years. He currently sings with the Hospice of Acadiana's Serenity Singers, a small chamber choir which his SAI wife Kay and he founded to minister to Hospice of Acadiana's patients. Kay and Russell annually appear as Mrs. Claus and her elf, Elmo, for the SAI Christmas Kids Alive program. Joshua Stephen Smith Joshua Stephen Smith was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Alpha Iota Chapter at the University of Oklahoma in April. Mr. Smith is a conductor and pianist based in Southwest Oklahoma. He enjoys a multi-faceted and vibrant career as a music director, collaborator, teacher, and conductor to various ensembles, including elementary choirs, church musicians, and orchestras for musical theater and ballet. Smith currently studies conducting as a doctoral student and graduate assistant at the University of Oklahoma. He builds on the rich mentorship he found as a master's student at Messiah University. He received an interdisciplinary foundation from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma studying piano and conducting and earning a BA in Music. John Woodin John Woodin was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter in July. Mr. Woodin has enjoyed a distinguished career in music and music education, punctuated by numerous recognitions and awards. He was the first music teacher in the state of Iowa to receive a Master's of Educational Administration. He served as a K-12 and 7-12 music teacher for 16 years before taking on a larger role as Fine Arts Director for the Dubuque, Iowa schools until his retirement. His deep and abiding love of music is evident in his work as a conductor, performer, and composer. Woodin has served as choir director for several churches in the northeast Iowa area, and has acted in and directed numerous theater events in Dubuque and Galena, IL. He served as the chancel and family choir director and soloist in 1992 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, and beginning in 1994, he also served as the music director at the Grand Opera House. Woodin performed as a soloist with the symphony in the 1996 Labor Day Pops Concert and the 1997 performance of Tosca. He was featured in the 2007 "One Enchanted Evening--An All-Star Salute to Broadway" presented by the Northeast Iowa School of Music. He and his wife Nancy (a Cincinnati Alumnae chapter member) run a website cataloging their compositions. Distinguished Members Oturu Oturu Richard Richard Smith Smith Woodin Woodin Member Laureate A collegiate initiated member of the Fraternity who has achieved international distinction in the music profession. She may be a performer, composer, teacher, author, musicologist, or philanthropist. Honorary Member A woman who has achieved international distinction in the music profession who is not an initiated member of Sigma Alpha Iota. She may be a performer, composer, teacher, author, musicologist, or philanthropist. National Arts Associate A person who is nationally recognized for distinguished contribution to the arts. Friend of the Arts A person who is supportive of and actively involved in the arts at a local or regional level. Chapters may nominate a person for initiation as a Distinguished Member. Distinguished Memberships of four types are offered by the Fraternity:

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