Sigma Alpha Iota

LEGACIES IN MUSIC American Harp Society Mourns SAI Member Laureate T he American Harp Society presented a tribute concert in memory of Member Laureate Lynne Wainwright Palmer at their 39th National Conference in Tacoma, Washington on July 3. Palmer, a harpist, teacher, composer, and faithful SAI member, died April 22. Lynne (nee Betty Evelyn Wainwright) was born into a musical family in Cleveland, OH, and became widely renowned. She studied with Carlos Salzedo at the Curtis Institute and taught harp at Louisiana State University at the age of 16, where she was initiated into Sigma Phi in May of 1936 Later, Lynne established a harp department at the University of Michigan. Lynne, and she transferred her SAI membership to the Seattle Alumnae Chapter in 1955. Lynne taught harp at the University of Washington. "The Vocalizer," a standard piece in the SAI songbook, was actually written by Lynne, but she insisted that the Seattle Alumnae Chapter be credited with the song. Lynne was awarded the Sword of Honor in January of 1962 and was initiated as a Member Laureate in 1979. She served as Chapter President from 1980-81. Her harp students can be found in major orchestras all over the world. Lynne and one of her daughters, flutist Rae Terpenning, often provided many musical performances for meetings and Province Days. The University of Washington dedicated a retrospective concert of her works in 1992 with pieces ranging from solo works to pieces for harp ensemble. Her compositions reflected her dedication to expand both solo and orchestral harp repertoire, and ranged in style from classical to jazz and pop music. Influence of Kansas City Impresario F riend of the Arts Richard L. Harriman, Kansas City's beloved performing arts impresario, died on July 15 at the age of 77. Richard "Dick" Harriman was artistic director and founder of the Harriman-Jewell Series, an internationally acclaimed performing arts presenting organization, affiliated with William Jewell College. He joined the faculty in 1962 in the English department. In 1963, Harriman and fellow professor, D. Dean Dunham, Jr., petitioned the College's administration to fund performing arts presentations and Harriman became director of what began as the William Jewell College Fine Arts Program in 1965. Iconic tenor Luciano Pavarotti famously sang his professional recital debut in 1973 for the College's Fine Arts Program. In 2000, the Fine Arts Program was renamed the "Harriman Arts Program of William Jewell College" in Richard Harriman's honor, later shortened to the "Harriman-Jewell Series" in 2006. The Harriman-Jewell Series has presented more than 850 events and 19 American recital debuts by prominent artists. An Independence, MO, native and graduate of Northeast High School, Harriman was a graduate of William Jewell College in 1953, served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, and earned his Master's from Stanford University in 1959. He was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow from 1957 to 1958. He has studied at the Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford University. In 1983, William Jewell presented him with an honorary doctor of letters, recognizing his contributions to the College through performing arts presentations as well as through his teaching excellence. The Kansas City Alumnae Chapter awarded him a Certificate of Merit in 1976, and he was initiated as an SAI Friend of the Arts in 1988. Among Harriman's many awards are the Missouri Arts Award for the Fine Arts Program from the State of Missouri (1986); the Pirouette Award by the Kansas City Ballet (1984); the Kansas City Tomorrow Alumni Association's "Performing Arts Contributor of the Year" award (1984); the Look North Award of Clay County (1985); and the county's Quality of Life Award for cultural amenities enhancement in 1983. Harriman also received the Community Service Award (2000) from the International Relations Council for his "contributions to the international field through education and exchange." Friend of the Arts Richard Harriman The Kansas City Star Editorial Board wrote that "no one will ever be able to calculate how the presence of some of the world's most superb artists influenced the development of resident music, dance and theater companies. What Harriman has done has multiplied in countless, wonderful ways." sai-national.org FALL 2010 PAN PIPES 9

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