Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Fall 2024 45 Neuenschwander Neuenschwander of the sing along section for a nursing home DVD outreach project. Fort Wayne Alumnae Chapter often holds events at First Presbyterian Church because of his willingness to help with events. Mr. Neuenschwander is a member of the Fort Wayne, Indiana chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from Salem College, Winston-Salem, NC and a Master of Music in Organ Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, NC. He has presented organ recitals in Fort Wayne; Berne; Findley, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; and Winston-Salem. He has received honors from the American Guild of Organists Fort Wayne, Indiana Chapter. Jill Anna Ponasik Jill Anna Ponasik was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter in May. Ponasik is a vocal performer and is in her fieenth year as Producing Artistic Director of Milwaukee Opera eatre (MOT). e MOT works with community partners in dance, theater, and music to generate new works and create innovative productions of existing works to transform contemporary lyric theater. eir emphasis is on artists who live and work in the Milwaukee area. Her work has been presented in parks, parking lots, ballrooms, breweries, churches, classrooms, gardens, lobbies, recital halls, bookstores, masonic temples, and theater. She has received awards from the Metropolitan National Council Auditions, the Schubert Club of St. Paul, the Milwaukee Civic Music Association, and the NATS chapters of Wisconsin and Minnesota. She has created Voice Lab, which allows singers to share what they are working on and receive feedback from peers; Script and Score, an educational initiative helping sixth grade students create an original opera based on their classroom curriculum; and Supreme Creativity Studio, where she collaborates with a public school music teacher to teach songwriting and collaborative skills to fih graders. She holds degrees from the University of Minnesota and the Rice University, Shepherd School of Music. Paul Schlossman Paul Schlossman was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Buffalo Alumnae Chapter in May. Mr. Schlossman holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music and a Master of Science in Computer Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Schlossman's principal teacher was Ronald Richards, former principal oboist with the Buffalo Philharmonic. Schlossman was oboist and solo English hornist with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra from 1975–78. He toured Europe three times with the Jerusalem Organ Trio (Soprano, Oboe, and Organ) for concerts and radio recordings in France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Norway. From 1992 to 2005 he was principal oboe of the Erie Chamber Orchestra, and was guest soloist with Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra of Buffalo in their annual "Viva Vivaldi!" festival for thirty-five consecutive seasons. He has also played with Western New York Chamber Orchestra, Erie County Chamber Winds, the Buffalo Philharmonic, and the Erie, PA Philharmonic. He has been principal oboist with the Clarence, New York Summer Orchestra since 1998. Schlossman maintains an extensive music library and is wonderful at finding and performing obscure music, especially that of women composers. Jamison Stevens Jamison Stevens was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Sigma Eta Chapter at the University of Redlands in March. Mr. Stevens is a conductor and composer from Redlands, California. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Redlands. There, he also received, with honors, a Bachelor's of Music in Music Composition. In addition to his responsibilities as a graduate and teaching assistant, he is the Artistic Director of the University of Redlands Youth Choir and assistant conductor of the Chapel Singers and University Choir. He is a student of Nicholle Andrews, and has studied with Co Boi Nguyen and Donald Brinegar. Jamison is also the director of music at Community Presbyterian Church in Redlands. As a conductor, Jamison has directed major choral ensembles at the University of Redlands in numerous concerts, recitals, and services. He has participated in international conducting workshops and has worked with esteemed conductors including John Baboukis, Kalena Bovell, Hyejung Jun, Graeme Langager, Jace Kaholokula Saplan, and Murry Sidlin. As a composer, Jamison's music has been heard in recitals and church services across the country. His compositions have been premiered for such occasions as the inauguration of President Krista L. Newkirk at the University of Redlands, as well as for the 72nd and 74th Annual Feast of Lights. Paula Foley Tillen Paula Foley Tillen was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter in May. Tillen has been a professional musician in the Milwaukee area since 1980. She is much in demand as musical director, pianist, vocal coach, and accompanist. She has acted as music director for area theater companies from junior high to professional levels, and has been active in ComedySportz since 1985. Notable recent credits include All in Productions' "Hedwig and the Angry Itch," Milwaukee Opera Theatre's "Zie Magic Flute," and The Milwaukee Repertory Theater's "West Side Story." She has served as lead teacher at Pink Umbrella Theatre, Brookfield Center for the Arts, and First Stage Theater Academy. She is the director of music at Southminster Presbyterian Church. She was a founding member of Milwaukee Choral Artists, the only professional women's vocal ensemble in the Midwest, and was composer-in-residence from 1998–2013. Her arrangements and compositions are found in the catalogs of Treble Clef Music Press, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Alliance Music Publications, and Hal Leonard Publishing, as well as online at sheetmsuicplus.com. She is a graduate of Carroll College (now University). Stevens Stevens Ponasik Ponasik Distinguished Members Schlossman Schlossman Tillen Tillen

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