Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES WintER 2014 sai-natiOnal.ORg 24 dearbhail Finnegan Dearbhail Finnegan was initiated as an Honorary Member by the Jonesboro Alumnae Chapter on Jan. 9. She descends from what can best be described as Irish Music Royalty. She was brought up in a family immersed in traditional music, near the village of Nobber, Co. Meath, Ireland. Her late father was President of the Irish Traditional Music Organization - Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann ("Gathering of Musicians of Ireland") and her grandfather was a celebrated traditional Irish fiddle player. Finnegan followed the family path in music by dancing at age 3, picking up the fiddle, tin whistle and accordion at age 5 and becoming passionate about her cra with the Irish harp at age 13. Her studies began with the Irish harp society Cairde na Cruite on a weeklong course under the tutelage of Mercedes Bolger/McGrath. She proceeded to study with Aibhlin McCrann, who gave her the great love she has for the history and music of the Irish harp, she continuously challenged herself in live performances and soon won both regional and All-Ireland Irish harp competitions. Her proficiency and skill on the Irish harp lead to invitations to play worldwide at Celtic festivals. In 1995 Finnegan graduated from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, with a degree in music and began her professional career. Graduation gave her the opportunity to pursue writing, arranging and live performance in earnest. Her passion for the Irish harp soon placed her in the circle of the world's elite Irish harp players. She continued to advance her music studies as well and earned the Teaching Diploma for Irish Harp. Her passion for music, compelling stage performance and endearing personality has made her a premier talent with the incredibly complex and challenging Irish harp. As a teacher, Finnegan enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion by conducting workshops and master classes in Europe, across the United States and at the major summer schools in Ireland including An Chúirt Chruitireachta, Scoil Eigse, and Carolan Harp Festivals. In 2013 she led the Meath Harp Ensemble in a world premiere of e Chronicles of Meath, a new work composed by Vincent Kennedy, a composition for harp ensemble in seven movements, of which one movement performed by Finnegan on concert harp demanded virtuosic playing. Her music was featured in the animated movie Nim's Winter Tale by Ola Schubert and was nominated as a finalist in the Best Original Sound category at the Flash Forward Conference 2006 in Seattle. Over the years shehas had the opportunity to collaborate with some wonderful artists including e Chieans, Belfast Harp Orchestra, e Irish National Harp Ensemble, Flores de Praga Orchestra, Michael Londra and Cordaí and enjoys returning annually to World-Fest, Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri and presenting the Irish Kaleidoscope, (an Irish educational program) across the US Midwest. Solo performances include performing for President Bill Clinton in the Whitehouse, Washington D.C. during the 50th anniversary of NATO, seniorities at e House of Commons, London, past presidents of Ireland Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, Irish Embassies worldwide and recently for President Barrack Obama. Dearbhail has released five recordings including last year's Enchanted, a duet with her husband Robin Slater on silver flute. Her publications include e Butterfly, an ensemble arrangement for three harps, and Traditional Irish Harp Arrangements Volume 1, many of these arrangements feature on the harp syllabus of e Royal Irish Academy of Music. Finnegan continues to teach, write, arrange and perform Irish music worldwide while still calling Ireland home. eVi martyn Evi Martyn was initiated as an Honorary Member by the Long Beach (AC) Alumnae Chapter in November. Evi Martyn, born Evi Giannatou, is an internationally known concert pianist who has distinguished herself by the sponsorship of the State Department and National Endowment of the Arts in the United States. She is also a recording artist, lecturer, author, and master teacher. Her studies began in Greece at the age of four and she made her first public appearance at six. An alumna of the National Conservatory of Athens, she was awarded the gold medal of Andreas Sygros by the Board of Education. She completed her doctoral degree in Munich and finished her studies under Maria-Landes Hindemith and her husband, composer Paul Hindemith. Her books include Anthology of Piano Literatures, a compilation of select and choice compositions of in-depth study programmed for the academic musicians as well as the serious listeners and e Art of Piano Playing, a comprehensive manual emphasizing fundamental principals as well as views and suggestions to teachers and students. In recent years, she has premiered the works of Greek composers, such as Hatzidakis and Papaioannou, at New York's Merkin Concert Hall. She also enjoys the Hall of Fame distinction by the American College of Musicians for her vast contribution in the art of piano. She has appeared as a soloist with the Long Beach Symphony and the South Coast Symphony and recitals in California. An active teacher and performer, she is frequently invited to adjudicate piano competitions. She co-founded the Martyn School of Music in 1973 with her late husband, Philip Martyn. Her world tours include concerts, seminars, lectures, and numerous radio and television appearances. In the United States, she is a frequent guest on Hellas FM radio in New York City, where she discusses today's economic priorities along with subjects concerning the Hellenic culture and history. 1n 2012, she founded the Hellenic Culture Advocacy. She also speaks frequently at various universities, including California, Utah, Minnesota, and many others. distinguished members HOnOrary memBer a woman who has achieved international distinction in the music profession who is not an initiated member of Sigma Alpha Iota.

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