Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES WINTER 2015 saI-NaTIONal.ORg 26 dr. Robert Jan August Dr. Robert Jan August, Director of Music and Organist at First Presbyterian, Fort Worth, TX, was initiated by the Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter in December. A native of e Netherlands, he studied the organ from an early age starting at the Sweelinck Conservatory. He has a Bachelor's of Music from Groningen Conservatory, a Master's of Music from Brigham Young University, and his doctorate from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has toured internationally collaborating with such artists as Christopher Hogwood, Simon Carrington, and Yo-Yo Ma. His wife, Delores, is an SAI patroness and, since moving to the Metroplex in 2006, they have both contributed greatly to the music scene. Peter l. Bates Peter L. Bates was initiated by the Long Beach Alumnae Chapter in November. He has been a leader in the church music of Long Beach and the greater Los Angeles area for several decades. He has served churches of several denominations and is currently organist-in- residence at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Long Beach. Bates has been a generous supporter of SAI fundraisers. His church welcomes community groups to their beautiful facilities, including aer-school and summer arts program for neighborhood children. Bates is an important part of this ministry. He is an active member in the American Guild of Organists and National Association of Church Musicians. Thomas E. Crossler omas E. Crossler was initiated by the Moscow/Pullman Alumnae Chapter in October. A bassoonist, Crossler played over 20 years in the Washington-Idaho Symphony. He served as director of music in Moscow's United Methodist Church for 25 years, sharing his love of choral music with its choir. ere, he created an excellent program of handbell music in which youth and adults choirs performed, toured, and were featured in the annual Community Christmas Concert. Crossler shared his love of music with countless numbers of youngsters and adults, teaching many of them to read music. He was recently awarded the Mayor's Lifetime Achievement in the Arts at the Moscow Arts Commission ceremony in October. He identifies his wife Denise, an SAI patroness, as his primary collaborator, helping him in all his successful ventures. howard d. genrich Howard D. Genrich was initiated by the Long Beach Alumnae Chapter in November. He has been a supporter of SAI for over 60 years. e Genriches have welcomed both Gamma Pi and the Long Beach Alumnae Chapters to their home. His wife, Dorlyne, is a chapter member and an initiate of Sigma Eta. Howard taught science in Long Beach for 38 years. He recently donated his childhood violin to a needy student. He has been inducted into the Halls of Fame for both Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Speedsters (for Model-T enthusiasts). His community interests include the Model-T club, Veterans Day parades, and Covenant Presbyterian Church. david Irving David Irving was initiated in November by the Lambda Gamma Chapter. Irving helped the charter members launch the chapter in 2004 and composed "Our Vows to SAI" in 2003 as a gi to the chapter. Irving has promoted music throughout the community as the author of Learn to Play the Guitar in ree Easy Steps (and Twenty Hard Ones); as the editor of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia: A Centennial History; and as the founder and organizer of the Texas Music Educators Association Sinfonia Sing which began in 1986. His wife, Jan, is an initiate of Iota eta and serves as co-advisor to Lambda Gamma. marja kerney Marja Kerney was initiated by the Eta Xi Chapter in October. Kerney has performed as a percussionist/timpanist with the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, Florida Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Wichita Symphony, St. Joseph Symphony, West Shore Symphony, Midland Symphony and Greater Lansing Symphony, and has served as a pit percussionist for musicals including A Chorus Line and Once Upon a Mattress. She was also a member of Marimba Sol de Chiapas, an authentic Mexican marimba quartet based in Kansas City and is currently adjunct professor of music (percussion) at Stetson University, where she teaches Applied Percussion and Percussion Methods and directs the Percussion Ensemble. A native of frienD of tHe arts a man or woman who is supportive of and actively involved in the arts at a local or regional level dISTINgUIShEd mEmBERS Genrich Irving Strummer has appeared in numerous produc- tions staged by American opera companies such as those in New York City, Santa Fe, Dallas, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Washington D.C., as well as with several Canadian companies. A favorite of opera-goers in his home city, Tulsa, his most recent Tulsa appearances were in Tulsa Opera's 2013 production of Le Nozze Di Figaro and the company's 2014 staging of Elmer Gantry. He is married to Sigma Alpha Iota Honorary Member Linda-Roark Strummer. e Strum- mers, who reside in Tulsa, are co-founders and co-artistic directors of the Land of Enchantment Opera Institute, founded in 2009 in Gallup, NM. e institute is designed to provide the next gen- eration of singers with a bridge between school and the professional world and help transform them from singers into artists. Crossler DISTINgUIShED continued from page 25

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