Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • SUMMER 2016 • PAN PIPES 29 Dr. Madeline Bridges Dr. Madeline Bridges was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Epsilon Lambda Chapter in April. She is the Associate Dean for Academic Studies and Professor of Music Educa- tion in the School of Music at Belmont University (TN) and has taught in classrooms from kindergar- ten through the graduate level. She serves as Campus Director of the Tennessee Arts Academy and is Co- Director of the Nashville Children's Choir (NCC). In 2002, the NCC Touring Choir performed at the MENC National Confer- ence. Dr. Bridges is a frequent conference leader and clinician for choral music festivals. She is a past-president of the Tennessee Music Education Association and the Choristers Guild. Articles and curricula by Dr. Bridges have appeared in many national Music Education and Music erapy publications. She is the co-author of the book How to Lead Children's Choirs. Cristian Cantu Cristian Cantu was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Lambda Sigma Chapter. He is a recent graduate from Columbus State University's Schwob School of Music in Columbus, GA, and is continuing his studies at e University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX, as a Choral Conductor in the Butler School of Music. While in Columbus, Cristian has performed extensively as a horn player, tenor, and organist in a variety of settings including St. omas Episco- pal Church, St. Luke United Methodist Church, LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Sym- phony Orchestra, and the Springer Opera House Pit Orchestra. Alex Duncan Alex Duncan was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Pontchartrain Alumnae Chapter in April. He is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit and holds a master's degree from Eastern Michigan University. An accom- plished jazz musician, he has performed professionally for many years on piano, keyboard, and accordion. He plays at churches in the Metropolitan Detroit area, as well as in theatres, restaurants, hospitals, and at private and community events. Also an educator, he taught public school mathematics for 25 years. He has taught piano at Evola Music in Canton, MI, and teaches piano privately with the Simply Music method. Mr. Duncan has performed for Pontchartrain Alumnae Chapter as a soloist and with his wife, Cathy Feldman-Duncan, a flutist and member of the chapter, for whom he has ar- ranged music. Dr. Forrest "Matt" Gilmour Dr. Forrest "Matt" Gilmour was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Eta Epsilon Chapter in April. He was a member of the faculty at Missouri Western State Univer- sity (MWSU) in St. Joseph, Missouri for 44 years and was Chair of the Music Department for 35 years. During Dr. Gilmour's time at Missouri Western, the department first became an accredited institution by the National Association of Schools of Music. Dr. Gilmour worked with MWSU's piano faculty to establish the All-Steinway School program as well as designing the BA music major program. Dr. Gilmour also established a relationship with the St. Joseph Symphony and assisted them in becoming a professional-level orchestra, estab- lishing the shared faculty/conductor position with MWSU. He was Chairman of the Music Depart- ment during the time of Eta Epsilon's installa- tion in the summer of 1981, and his wife, Linda Gilmour, was initiated as a Patroness in the fall of 1981. Dr. Gilmour has been a major supporter of Eta Epsilon for 35 years. Dr. Alina Grimm Dr. Alina Grimm was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Pi Chapter in April. A Teaching Artist and Fine Arts Coordina- tor at Drake University, Dr. Grimm has been teaching at high schools and middle schools in the Des Moines area since receiving her ed- ucation at Drake University but returned to the University in 2013 to teach at the collegiate level. Dr. Grimm also manages Drake's Fine Arts building, coordinating matters from space rental to facility issues. Dr. Alina F. Grimm received her Bachelor's in Percussion Performance at Drake University, her Master's in Percussion Performance from the University of Texas, El Paso, and her Doctorate in Percussion Performance from Michigan State University. She is currently serving on the board of the Addam C. Medina Foundation in Des Moines. Dr. Grimm has performed nationally and internationally as a percussionist, performer, and educator. She served as guest timpanist with the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra in Hubei, China and was the timpanist with the Holland (MI) Symphony. She has worked with the Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Metro Concert Band, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Wind Symphony, El Paso Opera, Timberline Symphony, Jackson Symphony, West Michigan Symphony as a substitute percussionist, and has worked shows with the El Paso Dinner eater and Des Moines Community Playhouse. She has also been active as a chamber artist and soloist. She established the Red Cedar Percussion Ensemble, the 3-4-3- Duo percussion ensembles, and the Synchronize Duo of flute and percussion. Dr. Chialing Hsieh Dr. Chialing Hsieh was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Gamma Upsilon Chapter in April. Dr. Hsieh is an active solo and collaborative pianist. She was a winner in the First Youth Piano Competition in Taiwan and has performed many solo recitals in Europe, North America, and Asia. As a collaborative pianist, Dr. Hsieh has performed with renowned musicians from all over the world. She performs in many regional and national confer- ences and accompanies in several competitions, such as the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition and the District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Dr. Hsieh is an instructor at the School of Music at Morehead State University, where she directs the piano accompanying program. She earned her bachelor's degree from the National Taipei University of the Arts, and a Masters and Doctor- ate in Piano Performance at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Susan Kelly Dr. Susan Kelly was initiated as a Friend of the Arts by the Kappa Iota Chapter in April. She DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS Bridges Cantu Duncan Gilmour Grimm Hsieh FRIENDS continued on page 30

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