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sai-national.org • SPRING 2016 • PAN PIPES 29 J ohn Easterlin, a four-time Grammy award recipient and an SAI National Arts Associate, made his Broadway debut in the role of opera tenor Ubaldo Piangi, the primary tenor of the Paris Opera in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, on Monday, April 4. Of opening night he said, "What a night! What an incredible night!…I stepped out there like I'd been with the show for years. When I came out, it was like at Vienna [a few years ago he debuted as Herod in Salome]–there was just a roar! I was overwhelmed!" The show ended with a standing ovation and many words of congratulations from audience, cast, and friends. There will be 8 performances per week: Monday-Saturday with 2 matinees. He must wear a body suit to make him appear as a heavier man and has 11 costume changes throughout the production. The opening costume weighs 64 pounds and the role requires him to climb up on an elephant. Easterlin's contract goes until mid-September, as he is scheduled to be with the Seattle Opera, being the Witch in 'Hansel and Gretel', a role he did with them several years ago. His international opera credits include multiple productions with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, ROH Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, ENO, Teatro Real, Bolshoi and COC Toronto, in addition to the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, Houston and Dallas Opera. Mr. Easterlin created the role of Andy Warhol in Philip Glass' The Perfect American and Larry King in the U.S. premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's Anna Nicole. Mr. Easterlin succeeds long-time cast member Christian Šebek as Piangi, who joined the production in 2011 and played the role over 1,500 times. This year, the Broadway production of Phantom celebrated 28 years, playing in New York for over 11,700 performances at The Majestic Theatre. well as completed two terms as a member of the ITG Board of Directors. In 2004, he was named the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Professor of the Year for the state of Kentucky. is award is presented each year to one educator from every state in the U.S. DiMartino was also awarded the Governor's Artist Award for lifetime achievement in the arts by the Kentucky Arts Council in 2008. Dr. James E. Brown Dr. James E. Brown was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Delta Zeta Chapter in March. He is Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Troy University's John M. Long School of Music, conducting the Troy University Collegiate Singers and Troy University Gospel Singers. In addition, he teaches private voice and conducting lessons, as well as courses in music education. Dr. Brown earned his Bachelor of Music Education and Master's of Music in Choral Conducting from e University of Akron and his Doctorate of Philosophy in Choral Music Education from e Florida State University. He taught at public schools in Ohio and North Carolina and named Moore County's Arts Teacher of the Year at Pinecrest High School (NC) in 2004. In 2009, he received the North Carolina Symphony Jackson Parkhurst Award for Special Achievement. Choirs under Brown's direction have received multiple superior ratings at regional festivals and national competitions in Washington D.C., New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. Currently, Dr. Brown serves as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Youth and Student Activities for Alabama ACDA. In addition, he is a singer/ assistant conductor of Festival Singers of Florida, an annually auditioned ensemble consisting of women and men from throughout Florida and the Southeast. Dr. Jay Bulen Dr. Jay Bulen was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Epsilon Pi Chapter in January. He is the head of the Department of Music at Truman State University and Assistant Professor of Trombone and Musicology. He holds a bachelor's from California Institute of the Arts, a master's from Arizona State University and a doctorate from the University of Washington. He has performed a significant amount of research on hearing in relation to musicians and protecting one's hearing. He is a member of the Missouri Music Educators Association and the Music Teachers National Association. He served as Principal Trombone of the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional del Ecuador and a member of the Fellowship Orchestra, Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood. He is a member of numerous chamber groups, including the Southwest Brass Quintet and Washington Brass Ensemble and has recorded material for Nonesuch and New Albion Records. Julia Dollison Julia Dollison was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Delta Zeta Chapter in March. A classically trained soprano, Dollison has performed as a guest soloist under the direction of symphony conductors Michael 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 Easterlin Makes Broadway Debut in Phantom Bulen Dollison Brown Easterlin FRIENDS continued on page 30

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