Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • SUMMER 2017 • PAN PIPES 5 L aura Schwartz is the winner of the 2017 Margaret Blackburn Biennial Composition Competition. She is a composer, horn player, conductor, and music theorist. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Davis in 2013 studying with Laurie San Martin, Sam Nichols, and Ross Bauer. Laura completed her Masters in Music Composition from Illinois State University in 2015 studying with Martha C. Horst and Rory D. Magnuson. Currently she is a PhD candidate in Music Composition and eory at the University of Pittsburgh studying with Amy Williams. Laura's music was performed during the Oregon Bach Festival Composer's Symposium in 2014, the Oregon Symposium of Graduate Musicians in 2015, and the Yarn/Wire Institute in 2016. She was Artist in Residence with the University of Pittsburgh Department of Physics and Astronomy in 2016 which culminated in System Cooling, an illustrated set of six miniatures for clarinet, baritone, saxophone, violin, and double bass. Her collaborations with solo performers include Sarah Pyle, flute(s) and Aaron Hynds, tuba. e tuba piece written for Hynds, titled Le Out, is set for release in Summer 2017 on the Colossus Recordings album of New Music for Tuba. Schwartz's winning composition is Wreaths, a work for string quartet. e award is $1,000. e judge for the competition was Dr. Eric Moe, composer, and Andrew W. Mellon, Professor of Composition and eory at the University of Pittsburgh. A graduate of Princeton, he received his Master's and Doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley. e Competition is a project of the SAI Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter in honor and memory of Margaret Blackburn, member and composer of the Sigma Alpha Iota Chorale. It is open to female composers enrolled in an accredited university or college undergraduate or graduate degree program. — J. Barbara McKelway Chair of the Margaret Blackburn Committee for the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter MUSIC NOTES Schwartz Wins Blackburn Competition Laura Schwartz composed Wreaths, a work for string quartet. I n the Summer 2008 edition of PAN PIPES (Vol. 100, No. 4), an article was written about two Atlanta Alumnae sisters who, together, had 110 years of music involvement. e article featured the accomplishments of Naomi Donaldson and Peggy Cobb. Naomi had actually met two Sigma Alpha Iota founders, Minnie Davis Sherrill and Georgina Potts. e other sister, Peggy Cobb, had been a patroness for 42 years. Since that issue, sadly, our beloved Naomi has passed on aer living an inspiring 93 years-plus. But our other Atlanta Alumnae sister, Peggy Cobb, has just recently celebrated her 102 nd birthday! is has to be some kind of record in the SAI files! To commemorate this landmark event, cards were sent to this loving sister, and several alumnae members treated Peggy to a special lunch. Needless to say, she was "the talk of the restaurant" with the establishment and waitresses learning of the milestone birthday accomplishment! No one could believe this spry and alert lady could be so vivacious! Peggy continues to attend the Atlanta Alumnae meetings when she's able. Her infectious humor and laughter bring joy to members. Peggy's interesting story-telling is reflective of her broad knowledge of many things. Her latest quest for knowledge is patterns and where they are seen in fashion and artwork. Peggy is remarkable in her physical and mental capabilities. Her ever-present positive outlook on life is awe-inspiring, and all who are fortunate to meet her are struck with her unending quest for learning and imparting that knowledge on to others. One specific feature about Peggy is her belief that curiosity about nature, everyone, and everything, is what keeps her going. She loves to stop and talk to anyone that crosses her path and their faces just beam when talking with her. Our Atlanta Alumnae Chapter considers itself to be very fortunate to have this remarkable, cherished, and loving sister as a member. Having so much experience and knowledge, we always welcome her time with us. e unspoken "protocol" within the chapter is that whenever Peggy wants to talk, she gets the floor and we put everything aside just to sit, listen, and absorb all that we can from this very special sister. We hope she has many other birthdays to come! — Arolue Flemmen Prater, Atlanta Alumnae Chapter Member Over a Century and Still Going Strong Peggy Cobb, an initiate of Iota Eta at Indiana State University and Atlanta Alumnae Chapter member, recently celebrated her 102 birthday.

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