Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Summer 2026 25 Kevin McGill Kevin McGill was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Gamma Omicron Chapter at Bowling Green State University in March. McGill is a pianist, organist, and educator specializing in collaborative piano and choral performance. He serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Piano and Choral Accompanist at Bowling Green State University, where he accompanies choral ensembles, supports voice studios, and collaborates in student performances. McGill is also pianist for the Toledo Masterworks Chorale and an active freelance collaborative pianist. He taught himself to play piano at the age of 12, and by the age of 14 was playing the organ for church services in his hometown of Richmond, Indiana. He has served as Director of Music Ministry and organist at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Bowling Green, Ohio, for over twenty years, where he oversees music programming. His performance experience includes touring Europe with choral ensembles, reflecting his ongoing contributions to both sacred and academic music communities. McGill earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Evansville. Dr. Megan Maddaleno Dr. Megan Maddaleno was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Tampa Alumnae Chapter in May. Dr. Maddaleno specializes in orchestral conducting, orchestral literature, string pedagogy, and music education. Her research includes classical music connections to contemporary genres such as funk, hip hop, and electronic dance music, music functionality within mass media, and music temporality. A passionate educator, Dr. Maddaleno previously served as the director of orchestral activities at The University of Wisconsin– Platteville, where she conducted collaborative events with local ballet troupes, faculty and guest soloists, and a department partnership performance of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass. Prior to her graduate studied, she was the musical assistant for the Missouri Symphony Society Conservatory, and also collaborated with the Missouri Composer's Project and Columbia Civic Orchestra to conduct premieres of local composers. In recent years, she has acted as cover conductor for the Missouri Symphony and Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, of which she has covered concerts for the past two seasons. Dr. Maddaleno was appointed a Fellowship Residency with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra for their 2022–2023 season, directed by the highly esteemed Diane Wittry. In addition to her symphonic work, Dr. Maddaleno equally enjoys conducting staged productions. She conducted Verdi's La Traviata at Coralville Center for the Performing Arts in 2023; the 2022 University of Iowa Dance Gala at Hancher Auditorium; Gwon's String at Mabie Theatre in 2022, and her operatic conducting debut with the University of Iowa Opera Departments' Three Decembers by contemporary American composer Jake Heggie in 2021. She is a recipient of the Yamaha Fellowship for Eastman Leadership Academy and an UI Summer Music Research Grant for her involvement in conducting workshops. Dr. Maddaleno earned a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Webster University. Dr. Kara Metzger Dr. Kara Metzger was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Epsilon Omicron Chapter at University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in March. Dr. Metzger is a dynamic conductor, educator, and low brass specialist whose career spans university, secondary school, and drum corps leadership. She currently serves as Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, where she directs the University Band, Blugold Athletic Band, and the Blugold Marching Band, which has over four hundred members. Prior to her time at UWEC, she served as Director of Bands at Central Methodist University, teaching marching, concert, and jazz band as well as applied trombone and music education courses. She also held faculty positions at the University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota–Duluth, and Grinnell College. During her graduate studies, Dr. Metzger was a teaching assistant within both schools' band departments. Since 2016, Dr. Metzger has worked at the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in various positions, including Brass and Visual Caption Head, Brass Manager, Drill Writer, and Baritone Technician. She also accepted a position as Brass Arranger for the Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps in 2025. Dr. Metzger earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from the University of Iowa, a Master of Music Education from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Music Education and a certificate in adaptive music from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. Russell (Rusty) Roden Russell (Rusty) Roden was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Lafayette Alumnae Chapter in February. Roden is the Artistic Director/Conductor of the Chorale Acadienne, a premier choral group in Louisiana, of which he has been a member for twenty-five seasons. Roden is retired from the classroom, having taught music, choir, and drama at Ascension Distinguished Members McGill McGill Maddaleno Maddaleno Metzger Metzger Roden Roden

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