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Motifs: January/February 2019
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Mary Malin (IAC/NMC 55-60, 62-63, IAA 62-63, UNIV 64) performed as a guest harpsichordist with Jaime Laredo and the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 24, 2018. Malin has performed with the NYSO numerous times since 1976. This past year, she performed the Vivaldi Concerto for Four Violins, featuring Pam Frank and three other female violinists as soloists. She has also joined the Brandenburg Ensemble many tours, even accompanying Peter Serkin in all the Bach concerti.
Elizabeth Young (IAC/NMC 56, 58) published her fifth book, "The Hand in the Window." Set in rural Virginia, it is a mystery-romance with two kidnappings. Young is working on her next novel, "Finding J. Hubbard."
Lynn Bogen Sanders (IAC/NMC 65-66) was named the "2017 Conservation Author of the Year" by The Illinois Conservation Foundation for her best-selling children's book, "Dancing With Tex: The Remarkable Friendship To Save The Whooping Cranes." She will co-author the 2019 "Keep Smiling" book. As Founder and President of Difference Makers Media, Lynn interviews business leaders to create, tell, and share their stories and build their impact.
Claudia Reder (IAC/NMC 67-68, IAA 68-70) published a book of poems, “How to Disappear,” through Blue Light Press.
February 20th, 2018 was proclaimed "Leslie Stewart Day" by the mayor and city council of Fort Collins, Colorado in recognition of Leslie Stewart’s (IAA 69-71, IAC St 71) role as Founding Conductor of the Health & Wellness Community Orchestra in 2008. Professor Stewart serves as Director of String Pedagogy and Director of the Summer Conducting Program at Colorado State University, where she also teaches violin, undergraduate conducting, violin/viola pedagogy, chamber music and conducts the university's non-auditioned orchestra. Stewart also plays in the Cheyenne Symphony, Pro Musica Colorado Orchestra and the Ft. Collins Symphony and maintains a private violin studio.
Jeff Dalton’s (IAA 76-79) second book, "Great Big Agile: An OS For Agile Leaders," was published in December 2018 by Springer-APress, and is available at all book retailers. "Great Big Agile" is an illustrated guide for business leaders seeking to build sustainable agility, purposeful self-organization, and high-performance self-organizing teams.
Liza Grossman (IAA 82-85, IAC Fac 99-14) is the founding music director of the award-winning Contemporary Youth Orchestra. She and CYO will present two concerts with Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz in Cleveland at Severance Hall on June 8 and 9, 2019. She and CYO also performed the world premiere of Concerto for Drumline and Orchestra with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in November, and will honor the 80th birthday of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Joan Tower in March 2019 with an entire concert of her music, with Joan as a guest.
Melissa White (IAC 93-94, IAA 00-02) won a $10,000 grant from the Sphinx Organization during their Sphinx Tank session at SphinxConnect 2019. Fellow Interlochen alumna Cameren Anai Williams (IAC 13) won the $2,000 audience favorite prize. The Sphinx Tank session showcased emerging arts/culture entrepreneurs of color and offered awards for entrepreneurial excellence.
Laura Kaufmann (IAC 95-97, AS St 99) was named a 40 under 40 industry influencer by License Global, the licensing industry’s leading publication, in recognition of her work on brands such as Nickelodeon, Care Bears, Hershey and Jelly Belly.
Brenden Wynn (IAC 98, IAA 99-01) has recently been promoted to the role of Director of Clinical Transformation for Equitas Health. Equitas Health is a regional not-for-profit, community-based healthcare system and Federally Qualified Health Center look-alike with a mission to be the gateway to good health for those living with or affected by HIV, the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone seeking a welcoming healthcare home. He remains proud to attribute much of his career success to the skills acquired at Interlochen.
Cari Shipp (IAC 99-01, IAA 03-04) is currently teaching and performing in Charlottesville, Virginia. She has a private studio of over 40 students, and puts on two student recitals of solo and chamber performances each year. Through collaboration with other local artists, she organizes and performs benefit concerts to further the work of non-profit organizations in Charlottesville.
Caroline Amer’s (IAA 01-05) production company, Double Yay Productions, released its debut series, Nutritiously Nicola! on Jan. 9, 2019. A seven-part comedy about a health blogger with an eating disorder, the series features guest stars such as Heida Reed (Poldark), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter, Ripper Street), and Rosie Day (Outlander). The full series will drop simultaneously on Double Yay's YouTube channel.
Katelyn Jassoy (IAC 09, 11) is a senior at Oklahoma City University, where she is majoring in Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance. Jassoy won first prize in the college musical theater division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in 2017, and has had opportunities to perform professionally in Virginia, Illinois, and Oklahoma. She will graduate with honors and will perform in her university’s New York showcase.
Akshat Jain (IAA 10-11) was hired to teach tuba and euphonium at the Merit School of Music in Chicago, Illinois.
Grace Roepke (IAC 12-13) won the grand prize and first place in the Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra Concerto Competition.
Nathaniel Heyder (IAA 14-17) and Yusei Hata (IAC 16) received recognition in Webster University’s Community Music School Young Composers Competition. Hata received first prize in the Level One division (for composers age 12-16), while Heyder received an honorable mention in the Level Two division (for ages 17-21).
