Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES sPRIng 2014 saI-natIOnal.ORg 26 ensembles, film scores, modern ballets, compositions for organ, harpsichord and piano, choral anthems, and many arrangements for brass and organ of various Baroque works. Her CDs include harpsichord works by women composers, arrangements for organ of well- known hymns and her own compositions, and recordings of her orchestral and chamber music. Musical America has called her "nothing short of brilliant," and Gramophone has cited her as an "acknowledged interpreter – and, indeed, muse – of modern harpsichord music." Her recording Harbach 1: Orchestral Music received the Critics Choice Award 2008 by the American Record Guide. She was recently in England for the recording by the London Philharmonic of her latest six symphonies, to be released on CD in late spring 2014. She has toured extensively as organist, harpsichordist, and lecturer throughout the United States, Canada, and overseas in Belgium, Bosnia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, Romania, Serbia, and Russian Siberia. Her lively performances and recordings have captured the imagination of many American composers who have written music for, and in dedication to Dr. Harbach. She is also involved in the research, editing, publication, and recording of manuscripts of eighteenth-century keyboard composers, as well as historical and contemporary women composers. She is editor of WomenArts Quarterly. In 2005 Dr. Harbach initiated Women in the Arts-St. Louis. More than 800 events by various cultural organizations in the St. Louis region provided audiences with new and historical examples of the work of women writers, composers and artists. In 2006 for her work on Women in the Arts-St. Louis, she received the Arts Education Award from the Missouri Arts Council; the Missouri Citizen for the Arts Award; the Yellow Rose Award from the Zonta International Club of St. Louis; and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Fine Arts and Communication Faculty Excellence Award. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Pennsylvania State University, a Master's from Yale University, and Doctorates Musikhochschule (Konzertdiplom) in Frankfurt, Germany, and Eastman School of Music. dr. dennIs layendecker Dr. Dennis Layendecker was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Mu Epsilon Chapter in April. e Director of the George Mason University School of Music, he holds the Heritage Chair in Music and serves as Director of University Orchestras in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), positions he has held since joining the faculty in August 2009. During his 26-year Air Force career, Dr. Layendecker served as a band commander, conductor, artistic director, pianist, public spokesperson, educator, and diplomat for the Air Force at home and abroad. In July 2002, then-Colonel Layendecker assumed command of e United States Air Force Band. As part of his duties, he provided direct musical and ceremonial support to the President of the United States and his Cabinet, members of Congress and other high ranking civilian and military leaders nationally and internationally. In addition to his duties at the USAF Band, from December 2007, he also served as the Chief of Music for the Air Force. In this capacity he advised the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs leadership on music policy, officer hiring, development and assignments, force structure, and total force integration of Air Force active duty and Air National Guard musical units. During his military career he led more than 6,000 musical performances worldwide. He officially retired from the Air Force in late August 2009. Dr. Layendecker is a graduate of the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Music Education in 1975. He began his conducting studies in 1977 while on full piano scholarship attending the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, Belgium. He subsequently augmented his conducting studies during summer master classes at the Academia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, and at the Vienna (Austria) Academy of Music. In 1981, he earned a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and in 1988, completed a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the Air Force, Dr. Layendecker served on the music faculties of e American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Illinois and Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. He was inducted as a member of the American Bandmasters Association in 2006. He has remained active as a conductor and clinician throughout his professional career. During his distinguished career in the Air Force, Dr. Layendecker led many of America's finest musicians throughout the world. His ensembles have performed before numerous world leaders, including seven American presidents, Queen Elizabeth of England, and Pope John Paul II. His radio and television broadcast credits include appearances on BBC, German Radio and Television, Polish National Radio, Radio Luxembourg, RAI Italy, and public radio and national television across America. In addition to his civilian academic credentials, Dr. Layendecker is a graduate of the Air War College, a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and a graduate of the Air Force Academic Instructor's School and Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. dIstInguIshed memBers DISTINGUISHED continued from page 25

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