Candice Agree (IAC 70-72) received a grant from Instituto Cervantes for a Spanish language course in Santander, Spain in August 2009. While there she reported on the 58th Annual Santander International Festival of Music and Dance. Candice currently hosts the weekend morning classical music show on New York’s 96.3FM WQXR and wqxr.com, and is the off-camera and promo announcer for CBS News Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood and The Early Show.
Matthew W. Rose (IAC 72, IAA 72-73, IAC St 73, UM 74) is a freelance keyboardist, arranger and producer. He has recorded and performed with Aretha Franklin, The O'Jays, Ramsey Lewis, R.Kelly, Oscar Brown Jr. Matthew's co-production The O'Jays' 2001 album "For the Love…" resulted in a Grammy nomination for best traditional R&B album.
Cheryl (Godown) Riker (IAC 72, IAA 72-73) is the chief financial officer of the North Carolina ABC Board. She is a former manager of the New Jersey Clearing House Association, has worked with banks in the New York tri-state area and was the owner of a corporate sign design company. Cheryl was a violinist with a variety of area ensembles including the Plainfield Symphony. She also solos at lighthouses, weddings, and special events. She is married with six children and seven grandchildren.
Jayne Sleder (AS 73-75, UW 76-77) and Lynne Church (AS 74, UW 78, IAC St 80-83, 85-87, 01-02, 05-present) were soloists with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 2 in April 2009.
Stacey Gurian-Sherman (IAA 73-75) is the first director of the Office of Community and Family Partnerships (OCFP) at the Department of Juvenile Services in Baltimore, Md. Stacey and her team were awarded $3.1 million from the Federal Government for a comprehensive positive youth development program for youth in the juvenile justice system.
Deborah Weiss (IAC 74-75, IAA 74-76) is an attorney and freelance writer for Andrew Breitbart's Big Hollywood, an online celebrity column.
Dr. Paula (Robinson) Arai (AS 74, 76, IAC St 79) is an associate professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies (Buddhism), Asian Studies, and Women and Gender Studies at Louisiana State University. She was awarded an ATLAS (Awards to Louisiana Artists and Scholars) grant for the 2008-09 academic year to complete her book "Healing Zen: Japanese Buddhist Women's Ritual Lives."
Gary Shoemaker (IAA 74-78) is the director of program and outreach for the Boy Scouts of America for the Coronado, Kansas area.
Dr. Deborah Podolka (AS 75-77, IAC 78-79, ICCA 06) is flute faculty at Northwesern Michigan College (NMC) in Traverse City along with being the founder of NMC's Youth Flute Choir and flute teacher for Traverse City Catholic Schools and Traverse City Public Schools. Dr. Podolka is also on the faculty at Marygrove College in Detroit and Assistant to Band for Groves High School in Birmingham, Mich.
Dwight Brown (IAA 74-78, UM 81, IAC St 79, 82-84) is starting his 28th year as a school orchestra director with the San Felipe Del Rio School District in Del Rio, Texas.
Leisa (Hungle) Rich (IAA 75-78) had a solo installation art exhibition this summer at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. She was recently featured in two books: "The Best of America Sculpture Artists and Artisans" by Kennedy Publishing and "Quilt National 2009" from Lark Books. Leisa taught at The High Museum 2007-2009 and currently teaches at Callanwolde, the GASP art program at The Galloway School and runs private classes in her studio. Leisa is the mother of two daughters and has been married to John Rich for 23 years.
Jeff Dalton (IAA 76-79) was music director and orchestra conductor for a southeastern Michigan production of "Sweeney Todd" that was presented in collaboration with numerous Interlochen students and alumni. Alison Aquilina (AS 06-08, IAA 08-09) played Lucy Barker, Dakota Dalton (IAC 05-07, IAA 08-09) played Sweeney Todd, Tressa Greschak (IAC 06, IAA 08-present) played Mrs. Lovett, Rachel R. Goldberg (IAC 07-08, IAA 07- present) played Johanna, Jacob Dalton (IAC 08) played Toby, Timothy Zeller (IAA 78-79, ICCA 07-08) played the Beadle, Craig Symons (IAA 76-80), played the pipe organ, Samantha Lazar (AS 09) played clarinet, and Quincy Brown (IAC 00-01, IAA 01-02) led the percussion section. MPA graduate Samuel Zeller (IAA 07-08) shot hundred of hours of footage that will be featured in an upcoming documentary about the making of the show.
Dr. Darcie Bishop (IAA 76-79) is principal trumpet of the Mississippi Symphony and an associate professor of trumpet at Jackson State University.
Rick Robinson (AS 77-78, IAA 78-81) returned to campus in May for the Tribute to Byron Hanson celebration and while on campus conducted a double bass master class for the IAA double bass students. Rick is a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Glenn Poorman (AS 77-79) hosted the Interlochen College of the Creative Arts Chapman Stick Workshop in August 2009.
Jess T. Whitson, M.D. (IAC 77) is professor of ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center and President of the Dallas Academy of Ophthalmology. He still plays violin and piano whenever he can, and has fond memories of the afternoons of "forced fun," his friends in cabin 7 (among others) and the night of "Les Preludes" during his summer at Interlochen.
Howard Breitbart (IAC 77-78) is a pianist with the Capital Steps.
Bruce Galbraith (IAA Dir. 77-87, IAC Fac 78-86) was inducted into the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre and Dance Hall of Fame. The award was presented in September during the Homecoming 2009 celebration. Bruce currently serves as the executive director of the National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls.
Marc Taddei (IAC 78) is the music director of the Vector Wellington Orchestra in Wellington, New Zealand. Marc is currently involved in New Zealand’s largest ever-classical recording project with Rattle Records and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Lisa Wienhold (IAA 78-79) is principal flute with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
James M. Stephenson, III (IAC 79-84, 86; IAA 83-86; IAC Fac 04, 08) is writing a violin concerto for Jennifer Frautschi, a triple concerto (brass trio) for the Grand Rapids Symphony, an oboe concerto for Alex Klein (former principal oboe, Chicago Symphony) a flute concerto for the Southwest Florida Symphony (Bill Larsen,) and a new trumpet work for Chris Martin (principal trumpet - Chicago Symphony.) Recent premieres have included the American Guild of Organists convention in Boston others at festivals in Croatia and St. Barths (French West Indies.)
