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Heeyoung Choi. “Cultural Convergence and Musical Nationalism: The Transnational Concept of ‘kugak’ (National Music) through Analysis of Korean Musicking in the Early 20th Century Korea and Hawaii,” Ph.D. dissertation, history department, fall 2016.David Hasseldahl. Music education professional development portfolio, fall 2015, music teacher and choir director at Zion Lutheran School, Marengo, IL.

Jennifer Mullen. Music education professional development portfolio, summer 2015, orchestra director and secondary general music teacher, Community High School District 99, Downers Grove, IL.Amirah Ali. “Eight Fusion Compositions: Seven Devotional Compositions for Multi-Ethnic ‘Selamat Hari Raya’ and One Patriotic Composition,” spring 2009. Part of her final project, “Katakanlah,” won the 2010 John Lennon Songwriting Competition in the world category and the 2011 International Songwriting Competition. She is currently a world-pop singer-songwriter in Malaysia.

Albert (Aboud) Nasser Agha. “Intonations of Grief: Samih Choukeir’s ‘Ya Haif’ and the 2011 Syrian Revolution,” spring 2013. Ph.D. candidate in ethnomusicology at UCLA (2013-present), adjunct professor (world music) at North Park University, Chicago, IL, 2017-present.

SarahEmily Lekberg. Graduate research project, “Identity and Music: An Analysis of the Influence of Trinh Cong Son and Pham Duy’s Music as a Reflection of Vietnamese Identity,” spring 2013. Awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Vietnam, 2013-2014.

Jeannie Brooks, “Validity and Reliability of a Musical Assessment Measuring Students’ Achievement of Rhythmic Concepts in Elementary General Music,” Ed.D. (curriculum and instruction) dissertation, fall 2015, National Board Certified teacher, Indian Prairie School District, IL.Pei Han Lin. “All Around the World: Sample Lessons of a World-Music Based Piano Pedagogy,” spring 2017, accepted to doctoral program in piano pedagogy, Texas Tech University, Fall 2018.Joe M. Kinzer. “Making the Other Relevant: Performing Identity through Expected Sounds in Metropolitan Malaysia,” spring 2012. Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at the University of Washington, 2017.

All Columbia Adventist Academy teachers hold certification in their subject area, and many of our teachers hold post-graduate degrees. Plus, in keeping with our holistic approach to education, CAA provides a full time campus Chaplain to help guide and mentor students as they grow into young adults.Saturday shoppers in a packed Coral Ridge Mall stopped in their tracks with cocked ears earlier this month when various versions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” echoed over the food court from the ice arena public address speakers.

Through the club’s affiliation with the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League, outstanding Heartlanders players have the opportunity to advance first to the Iowa Wild in Des Moines, which is part of the American Hockey League, then on to the NHL in Minnesota.He said about 14 individuals and groups are being scheduled to sing at one or more of the 36 home games this season. The team has a 72-game schedule from October through April.

During the auditions, the newly-unveiled team mascot — a fuzzy version of a white-tailed deer — roamed around, dancing, hugging and mugging for selfies with contestants and anyone else available. He carried a sign urging the public to give him a name by visiting the organization’s website. Fine said some 600 names have already been suggested through this contest.

A few contestants later, 10-year-old Julia Kartvelishvili of Coralville stood with the wireless mic toward the center of the rink and you could almost hear jaws dropping. Her amazing voice rolled into the rafters, strong and true and undaunted by the sky-high “land of the free” finale, which was spot on.With her family afterward, Julia revealed she has done a lot of public singing “since I was 4,” including performing the anthem to open a Lumber Kings baseball game in Clinton. She has competed and placed in four American Protégé Music Competitions and is scheduled to sing in a recital at Carnegie Hall in May through that organization.

This was not Bolden’s first rodeo. He teaches music in the Iowa City Community School District, has been singing with Chamber Opera Chicago for 14 years and has performed the anthem literally hundreds of times. He was viewed as a shoo-in for the Heartlanders job, which will rotate singers when the team plays at home.Heartlanders communications and community relations staff members David Fine and Jordan Cue were on hand to welcome the singers. They liked the idea of holding tryouts at the mall skating rink.

Aaron Bolden of North Liberty kicked off the auditions in spectacular fashion. He strode out onto the Coralville mall ice on a special no-slip red carpet and demonstrated the true power of a dramatic baritone voice.A new Heartlanders hockey merchandise store called The Silo has also opened in the Xtream Arena, selling club apparel and other items emblazoned with the buck deer logo.

Aaron Bolden completed his MM at Northern Illinois University, and earned a BM in Voice Performance; Teacher’s Certification for vocal music (K-12); and a minor in Spanish from the University of Iowa. Recent opportunities have included consecutive years with the young artist program OperaMaya In the Yucatán peninsula in Riviera Maya region of Mexico in both the summers of 2018 and 2019.

Erin Sura, mezzo-soprano, has been praised for her “vocal warmth and depth, emotional heart” and for her “powerful polished vocal work” by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, for singing “with formidable power” by Milwaukee Magazine, and Clevelandclassical.com said her “role was memorably sung and acted” and described her as “indefatigable.” Ms. Sura’s ampleness of voice and range have made her desirable in a wide variety of roles. Recent performances include Second Lady in Magic Flute with Milwaukee Opera Theatre and Lawrence Opera Theatre, Jo in Adamo’s Little Women with Nightingale Opera Theatre, Fatme in Zemire et Azor, several roles in The Skylight Ring an adaptation of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, and performances in both the world premiere and the Thailand premiere of Somtow Sucharitkul’s The Snow Dragon, all with Skylight Music Theatre, The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Southwestern Suburban Symphony and Music by the Lake, and the Mother in Hansel and Gretel with Main Street Opera. Upcoming performances include the 2nd Lady in the world premiere of Jordan Jenkin’s Queen of the Night with Fresco Opera Theatre spring 2018.Cameron Smith has been an active member of Wisconsin classical music performances throughout the state for over 10 years. He has performed twice with the Belle Ensemble, as a chorus member and soloist in the Echoes of the Abbey program and as Prince Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Cameron has previously been a featured soloist with Bel Canto Chorus, as well as the Kettle Moraine Symphony, Brew City Opera, South Shore Chorale, UW-Milwaukee’s Concert Chorale, Kalliope Vocal Arts as well as a plethora of student recitals, weddings, private concerts, and charity events. He has completed a year study abroad program in Germany, bringing a host of musical experiences and opportunities in the heart of classical music in Europe. Also an enthusiast for sacred music, he sings with the North Shore Congregational Church Choir directed by Richard Kieffer. Cameron was a semifinalist in the national Classical Singer competition, the New York Lyric Opera Theatre competition, and the Wisconsin National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. Completing his studies at UW-Milwaukee in 2014 under the direction of Dr. Connie Haas, Cameron looks forward to further supporting the arts in Wisconsin and bringing classical music to those who appreciate it.

Ryan Garrett White, baritone, is a native of the Milwaukee area. In his career he has had the pleasure of performing such roles as: Figaro in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, William Williamson in Bolcom’s A Wedding, and Pandolfe in Massenet’s Cendrillion. In edition to singing with the Belle Ensemble, Ryan can be heard singing with Opera on Tap’s Milwaukee chapter and in the Madison Opera Chorus. He holds a B.M. from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he studied with Brian Leeper, and a M.M. from the University of Nebraska Lincoln where he studied with William Shomos. Ryan is currently studying with Karen Brunssen.Bryan Chung is a graduate of Carthage College, where he received his B.A. in Vocal Music Performance and K-12 General and Vocal Music Education degrees. He is a general music educator at Milwaukee Sign Language School, the music director at Somers Community UCC, and frequent music director with the Lakeside Players at the Rhode Center for the Arts (Kenosha). Outside of the Belle Ensemble, Bryan has also been performing in the Southeast Wisconsin area with organizations and ensembles such as the Parkside Community Master Singers (Kenosha), the Over Our Head Players (Racine), the Kenosha Chamber Choir, and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus/Orchestra.

Karen Archbold, mezzo-soprano, After receiving a Bachelor of Music Performance, Karen Archbold continued her studies in Bremen, Germany at the Hochschule fur Kunste. In 2017, Karen won first prize in the Fox Valley Rising Stars Competition. In 2016, she was the Sinfonietta Bel Canto’s Voice Competition First Place Winner in the Emerging Artist Category. She was a 2014 and 2015 finalist in the American Prize Competition Vocal Division and runner-up in the American Prize Chicago Music Theatre Award. She has appeared as Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw, Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, Abuela in La Vida Breve and Berthe in Barber of Seville. Karen’s solo appearances include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, John Rutter’s Magnificat, Lili Boulanger’s Psalm Profundis, the Verdi Requiem, and the Mahler Kindertotenlieder. She currently performs with the Belle Ensemble and with Duo Striata. She also gives weekly concerts as a part of Music for the Mind, a music therapy program for people with Alzheimer’s. Karen is currently pursuing a 2 year certification with Total Vocal Freedom, a holistic approach to singing incorporating the discoveries of F.M.Alexander.Mr. Stumpff is also the Education and Community Engagement Manager for the Florentine Opera, in which he coordinates and organizes the education tour, the Young Singing Actor Intensive, as well as creates the resource guides for Teachers, High Schoolers, and Mainstage audiences. Mr. Stumpff is also an active teacher maintains a voice and piano studio in Milwaukee. Mr. Stumpff earned his Masters from the University of Iowa in voice performance and his Bachelors from Cornell College in Music and Business.

Matthew Hunt, baritone, has performed with vocal ensembles in the United States, England, and Italy, with a focus on oratorio works. In addition to frequently performing as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Matthew’s oratorio credits include Mozart’s Requiem, Carmina Burana, and the roles of Lucifero in Alessandro Stradella’s Esule dalle Sfere, Pilatus in Bach’s St. John Passion, and Lucifero in Handel’s La Resurrezione. He performed the role of Le Surintendant in the 2015 Resonance Works production of Cendrillon and also performed in the 2016 production of Falstaff and the 2014 production of L’elisir d’amore. As a member of the professional core of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh he has performed as a soloist in Giacomo Carissimi’s Jephte, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and Durufle’s Requiem. In Milwaukee, Matthew has performed as a soloist and ensemble singer with Present Music as part of the Hearing Voices octet, Milwaukee Chamber Choir, Belle Ensemble, and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus.

Edson Melendez, Associate Director; Local tenor Edson Melendez is excited to be participating in this performance. Edson holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Arizona State University, where he studied voice with Robert Barefield, and a M.M. in Vocal Performance from DePaul University under the guidance of famed Metropolitan Opera Tenor Michael Sylvester. Edson can be seen regularly as a member of the Florentine Opera chorus where he has also been seen as a featured soloist in the summer concert series and as Giuseppe in La Traviata. He has also performed with Milwaukee Opera Theater, and Milwaukee Chamber Theater. Edson has been a soloist with SEWPA, Racine Choral Arts Society, Kenosha Master Singers, North Shore Opera Hour, and Candid Concert Opera.John A. Stumpff, tenor, is an active performer and teacher in the Milwaukee and Chicago region. Credits include Parpignol in La Boheme, Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte, Don Jose in Carmen, and King Kasper in Amahl and the Night Visitors. He has also been a part of two Grammy winning re
cordings, Aldridge’s Elmer Gantry and Davis’ Rio de Sangre. This season, Mr. Stumpff will sing with the Florentine Opera for their Gilbert and Sullivan concert as well as in their production of Prince of Players. He is also the tenor section leader and soloist at Queen of All Saints Basilica in Chicago and this season he will be featured as a soloist in their McGlynn Concert as well as the Basilica’s concert of Messiah. This database is resource intensive, both in money and time. We request, compile, organize and check data we receive from hundreds of taxing bodies across Illinois and put it into an easy-to-use site for you. ROCKFORD — Aaron Bolden, 39, a long-time Rockford resident, is a world-traveling opera singer and stage performer who most recently sang the national anthem for the 2019 North American Olympic Table Tennis Trials in Rockford.In the podcast discussion, Bolden explains how he has used his personal experiences as a child, as a college student, and as a believer in God, to enhance his portrayals of characters on the stage.“It can take people in so many different directions and places. I get to wake up everyday and know that I’m making an impact on somebody’s life and do something that’s bigger than myself.”

Summer meal pick-ups will be held every Monday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave. Meals are available to any District 97 family in need. District 97 has been working with our food service provider, Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, to ensure that all District 97 students have access to meals this summer. D97 will continue to hold weekly meal distributions through Monday, August 24. The goal of our Parent University is to empower parents and guardians with information, tips, and tools to support their child(ren) with remote learning. This does not take the place of any school-based events that may also be planned for families in the coming weeks, rather, it is an opportunity to connect across the district on the issues we all face in these unprecedented times. We are also planning to host additional Parent University sessions to support families throughout the 2020-21 school year.Families, have you noticed a Holmes teacher or staff member who deserves a compliment or a thank you? Has this person made a difference for your child? Please share the reason in a brief email to me ([email protected]) so that we may recognize and thank them! Over the next few weeks, you will receive many more updates that will contain details of our Remote Leaning 2.0 plans. We have been hard at work preparing to have a seamless return to learning that will be both engaging and focus on the social-emotional needs of our students. Welcome back to school for the 2020-2021 school year! Although this is not the start of the school year we had hoped for, we are nonetheless excited to see our Hawks again. They have certainly been missed over the summer.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) launched the Pandemic EBT to provide nutritional resources to families who have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to school closures. Families will receive money on a new or existing EBT card to help fill the school meals gap. If your child receives free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or your child attends a school that offers free school meals to all students, then you are eligible to receive P-EBT benefits. Families who have lost their job or wages may now be eligible.