Sigma Alpha Iota

distinguished members friend of the arts a man or woman who is supportive of and actively involved in the arts at a local or regional level Melissa Birch Melissa Birch was initiated by the LaGrange Alumnae Group in April. Birch is a website administrator for William V. MacGill and Co. She is also the President of West Chicago Sister Cities and the Publicity Director of the West Chicago Garden Club. Her support of the alumnae group includes her creation of the chapters website, as well as her dedication to promote the chapter in the community. Dr. Robert Rankin Brooks Dr. Robert Rankin Brooks was initiated by the Gamma Phi Chapter in April. Dr. Brooks is dean of the School of Music and Fine Arts at Hardin-Simmons University, encompassing the School of Music, Department of Art, and Department of Theatre. He is a graduate of Baylor University in Waco, TX, where he earned the Bachelors' Degrees in Vocal Pedagogy and and Choral Music Education. He completed his graduate studies at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, receiving the Master's of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Church Music. Dr. Brooks has served as director of graduate studies and department head of church music at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX. He has served as dean of fine arts and associate dean of the Gary Cook Graduate School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University. Also, he has served as associate director of educational outreach and director of educational outreach at The Juilliard School in New York City. His performance experience includes performance in musical theater, opera, theater and church music. He is a member of Actors' Equity Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Dr. Cora Cooper Dr. Cora Cooper, Professor of Music at Kansas State University, was initiated by the Kappa Upsilon chapter in May. Dr. Cooper teaches violin, viola, chamber music and string techniques. She holds graduate degrees in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music and Florida State University. She coedited Six Duettos for Two Violins by Maddalena Lombadrini-Sirmen with Karen Clarke and served on the violin committee for the 1997 and 2009 editions of the American String Teachers Association String Syllabus and contributed to Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra. Research on music by women composers led to multiple performances at the Festival of Women Composers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and lectures in the United States and England. As a performer, Cooper recorded for NAXOS American Classics and has professional symphony experience playing with the Vermont, Austin and Tallahassee Symphonies, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, and numerous regional orchestras in the Southeast. She also serves as faculty advisor to the KSU student chapter of ASTA, bringing in guest artists each year for masterclasses and concerts. Dr. Jeffrey M. Cornelius Dr. Jeffrey M. Cornelius was initiated as a Friend of the Arts in March by the Delta Mu Chapter at Temple University. Dr. Cornelius spent forty years at Temple University serving as Dean and Assistant Dean to the Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance and more recently as a Professor of Choral Arts. Before his career at Temple, Dr. Cornelius served as a music instructor at La Salle University and as an adjunct music instructor at Mercer County Community College. Dr. Cornelius loved the Temple Community and was constantly giving of his time, his talents, and his means. Dr. Steuard Jensen Dr. Steuard Jensen was initiated by the Theta Eta Chapter in August. Science has long interested Steuard Jensen, today, the assistant professor of physics at Alma College describes himself as a "science nerd." He completed his bachelor's degree at Harvey Mudd College and earned his doctorate in physics at the University of Chicago. When he's not teaching, Jensen spends his time helping his baby daughter explore the universe closer to home. He's also a classical music enthusiast and a J.R.R. Tolkien and Lord of the Rings scholar. Dr. Jensen had been an avid supporter of SAI for many years and officially became an advisor for the Theta Eta chapter this past year. Justin Morrill Justin Morrill was initiated by the Tacoma Alumnae Chapter in September. Justin graduated from the University of Washington with a major in General Studies and a minor in Piano. While there, he performed as a guest artist many times, Morrill including with the Ralston Male Chorus. At Northwestern University, he pursued graduate studies to become Methodist clergy and continued his piano studies. As a member of the Wesley Foundation's mixed choral group, they took second place in a campus competition. He served on the boards of the Tacoma Girls Choir and the Northwest Sinfonietta. He is currently the director of the Community Health Services in Tacoma. Dr. Peter Neubert Dr. Peter Neubert was initiated by the Gamma Phi Chapter in April. Violist Peter Neubert has enjoyed a diverse career as recitalist, soloist, chamber and orchestral musician as well as educator. He currently performs with the Abilene Philharmonic, Las Colinas Symphony, and the Abilene Chamber Players, having previously been a member of the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the Des Moines and Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestras, and the Chicago String Ensemble. He serves as visiting instructor in music at Hardin-Simmons University, previously holding teaching positions at the University of Missouri and the University of Souther Mississippi. He received his Bachelor's of Music from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, Master's of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, and Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky. During the summer, Neubert serves as the operations director of the Abilene Summer Music Festival and the string department head at Camp Encore/ Coda in Maine. Margaret Saunders Margaret Saunders was initiated by the Eta Sigma Chapter in April. Saunders has shown a true dedication to music through her countless positions as visitng artist and an instructor of violin and viola at Eastern Kentucky University Saunders and the state's Asbury College, Centre College, and Heritage Area String Program for K-12 grades. She serves as Concertmaster /Orchestra Contractor for the Lexington Bach Choir, instructor/coach for the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camps and performer for the Wintergreen Performing Arts Festival and Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a member of ASTA and Suzuki Association of the Americas. sai-national.org FALL 2012 PAN PIPES 55

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