Sigma Alpha Iota

SIGMA A S PIES, INC P . 4 SIGMA A S P orsche Purke t t P Delta Chi, Universit y of South Florid a , L ambd a D, Region VI orsche Purkett was born in Charlotte, NC, on Sept. 14, 1989, weighing 1 pound and 12 ounces. She moved to Tampa in 1994 and has been playing the violin since she was 7 years old. She is currently a student at the University of South Florida where she is a double major in American Sign Language interpreting and violin performance. She has studied under Julliard graduate Carolyn Stuart for 4 years. She is also a member of the University of South Florida Symphony Orchestra as a violinist and plays viola in chamber music. Growing up as a musician in Florida, she was a member of the Tampa Bay Youth Symphony throughout her high school years, performing with them at the prestigious Carnegie Hall. For her musicianship she received the Robert Price Music Scholarship. She also graduated 9th in her high school graduating class. She currently teaches violin, viola, and piano at Bigel Music in New Tampa. When she's not teaching or signing for the deaf, she is changing lives as a fitness coach for Team Beachbody. She lives to serve.  After she graduates, she plans to go to a conservatory for violin performance/ pedagogy while becoming a nationally certified interpreter for the deaf. She hopes to have her own violin studio and play professionally in an orchestra. VOICE Jessi ca Bush J Iota Chi, Ball State Universit y, Beta B, Region V essica will be a senior this fall at Ball State University in Muncie, IN, where she has been active in the Iota Chi chapter since her fall 2010 initiation. She plans to graduate in spring 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education: Vocal & General and a minor in Spanish. She is also in the Honors College, and has been on the Dean's List for all semesters attended thus far. Jessica was the Recording Secretary for Iota Chi the past school year, and will serve as the Music Chair for the 2012-2013 school year. She is a member of Ball State's NAfME collegiate chapter, serving on the executive board as Choral Representative last year, and will serve as President-Elect for the coming year. She is also the Music Education Student Representative for the School of Music Undergraduate Council. Jessica, a soprano, has most recently sung with Ball State's Chamber Choir, as well as the Concert Choir, Women's Chorus, and University Choral Union. She studied voice previously with former National President Virginia Johnson, Dr. Karri York, and currently studies with Yoko Shimazaki-Kilburn. She has received numerous performance-based awards and honors, including the 2012 Muncie Alumnae Chapter Scholarship and a first place rating in her NATS division in 2011. In the summer of 2010, she studied music abroad in Salzburg, Austria. Additionally, in the spring of 2012, she was a "buddy" in Ball State's Prism Project – an enriching arts program for younger students with special challenges that culminates in a final performance for the community. After graduation, Jessica is excited to teach general music and/or choir in a K-12 setting, attend graduate school for vocal performance, join an alumnae chapter, and start a family. For now, she keeps herself busy with teaching private voice lessons, performing in the community, composing, interning with the Fort Wayne Children's Choir (of which she was a member for nine years under Fred Meads), and playing violin, guitar, and piano. Aside from her busy professional life, Jessica enjoys attending Mass and leading music as a cantor, playing card games, and cross-stitching. She is a past Recording Secretary for Iota Chi. Woodwinds and Brass Ale xandra Burris A L ambd a Upsilon, Miami Universit y, Ohio, Sigma B, Region VII lexandra Burris is pursuing a Zoology major at Miami University (Ohio) with a Minor in Clarinet Performance. At Miami, she works in a freshwater ecology research lab, helping children read at a local elementary school, and is a member of the University Honors Program. She is also involved with a project to develop a new service learning program at Miami in environmental education. For the past three summers, she have worked as an interpretive guide at The Wilds, a nearly 10,000-acre conservation park in southeastern Ohio that resembles a genuine African safari. She plans to pursue a Master's in Environmental Education to eventually work at a zoo, aquarium, or other similar venue. In addition to her dedication to the environment and conservation, she also continues to be involved with her second passion: music. She is a member of the Miami University Clarinet Studio and a student leader in the Miami University Marching Band. In 2011 she was initiated as a charter member of the Lambda Upsilon chapter of SAI and is proud to serve as the president of Lambda Epsilon for the 2012-2013 school year. sai-national.org FALL 2012 PAN PIPES 15 74 SIGM 19 P P 74 SIGM 19 RO IOTA IOTA HA LP 4 STRINGS PH A I O T PIES, INC P . 7 2009-2012 AL TH , INC. 19 9 • TRIE N N IAL UN DERGRADUATE PER F ORMA NC E AWARDS • A PH N T HR O LA P HI S IE 7 phil anthropies awards 2012 L A NT H PHI , INC. 19 HA LP PH A I O T RO AL A A A ES IE N T HR O LA P HI

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