Sigma Alpha Iota

26 Summer 2026 • sai-national.org Episcopal School and Episcopal School of Acadiana. His choirs have been invited to sing at the Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, and for the inauguration of E. Joseph Savoie, president emeritus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In addition to his Chorale duties, he is a member of Asbury United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and directs the Asbury Kids' Choir. In 2023, Roden was Artist-in-Residence at ArtRez in Newman, Georgia, where he created new choral compositions. His compositions have been performed in Tupelo, Mississippi at the Link Centre. Roden was invited to work with young musicians at the Gamma School of the Arts in Kotlas, Russia, and participated in the John Ness Beck Choral Composers' Workshop in Cambridge, England. In addition to his musical pursuits, Roden is also an accomplished visual artist, showing his paintings in various venues. Roden earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from David Lipscomb College. Dr. Anthony Sanders Dr. Anthony Sanders was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Gamma Upsilon Chapter at Morehead State University in May. Dr. Sanders currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music (Trumpet) at Morehead State University. He teaches Applied Trumpet, Trumpet Ensemble, and Trumpet Performance Class while also directing the Concert Band and teaching the trumpet portion of Brass Methods. In addition to the instrumental-based courses, he teaches aural skills in both courses of Music Reading III and IV. Dr. Sanders also serves as a collaborative pianist for students, faculty, and guest performers. Beyond the university, Dr. Sanders is an active performer in both classical and jazz genres. He serves as Principal Trumpet with the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra and the Baird Brass Quintet, and performs with the Lexington Brass Band on repiano cornet. He formerly served the music departments at Winona State University in Minnesota, Luther College in Decorah, IA, and Mitchell Community College in Statesville, NC. He has performed in The King's Brass ensemble since 2022, which tours nationally during the summer, December, and January. He has also served numerous churches through music ministry both as a weekly worship leader and as a freelance substitute. Dr. Sanders earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from North Dakota State University, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Concordia College. Margaret Thorstein Margaret Thorstein was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Grand Rapids Alumnae Chapter in April. Thorstein grew up in a musical family. Her father was a band director, and her mother is a piano teacher. As a high school student, Thorstein joined the Grand Rapids Piano Teachers Forum, took the MMTA State certification, and taught her mother's extra students. In addition to piano, Thorstein also learned the oboe, attending the Blue Lake Fine Arts camp on the instrument, and was a member of the band and jazz band on tenor saxophone. Thorstein worked as a nurse for fifteen years, then opened her own Piano Studio after her retirement. She continues to maintain membership in MMTA, where she now has Emeritus status, and plays oboe and English horn with the Coopersville Community Band. Thorstein's mother, Helen Emerson, is a longtime Friend of the Arts with the Grand Rapids Alumnae Chapter. Elisha Wells Elisha Wells was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Kappa Psi Chapter at California State University, Fresno. Wells is the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Fresno City College, and serves as Music Director of the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra. She is a horn player with the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra and is Principal Horn in the Sequoia Symphony and Wind Symphony of Clovis. During the summers, Wells often conducts bands or orchestras at music camps such as Cazadero Music Camp, La Honda Music Camp, and the Fresno County Summer Arts Academy. She is Past President of CMEA Central Section (Merced/Mariposa to Kern County) and Past President of Friends of the Arts at FCC. She is a member of the Local 12 Musicians Union, NAfME, CMEA, CBDA, CBDNA, and the International Horn Society. Previously, Wells was Horn Instructor and Lecturer at Sacramento State, Stanislaus State, Delta College, College of Sequoias– Visalia and Hanford, and Choir Director and Pianist at University Presbyterian Church. She also performed in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Blast! as a horn soloist and dancer. Wells has performed throughout California and Nevada, Walt Disney World in Florida, Australia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic as a featured horn soloist. She regularly adjudicates All-State and Regional Honor Band Horn auditions, and is a noted Artist and Endorser of Robinson's Remedies-Lip Renew. Wells earned a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Horn Performance from California State University, Fresno. She is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting at the University of Nevada. Distinguished Members Wells Wells Sanders Sanders Thorstein Thorstein

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