Lawrence Today magazine, Spring 2003
Conservatory of Music voice students captured first-place honors in five of 12 undergraduate divisions at the Wisconsin chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) audition competition in November: Jim Dedering, '06, Laura Muller, '06, Elaine Moran, '05, Meg Ozaki, '03, and Tim Schmidt, '03. In addition, Alisa Jordheim, a junior at Appleton North High School who studies with Lawrence voice professor Patrice Michaels, placed first in the high school women division.
Dale Duesing, C'67, artist-in-residence at the Lawrence Conservatory, performed the role of the Narrator in the December premiere of Nicholas Maw's opera Sophie's Choice at London's Covent Garden.
Elaine Gajewski, '03, directed an October production of the play "Ripper" at the Rebel Alliance Theater in Oshkosh, where she is co-artistic director and has appeared in over 20 productions in addition to her work as a theatre performance major at Lawrence.
Two former students of pianist and composer Allen Gimbel, a member of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music faculty from 1987 to 1998, organized a tribute concert in his honor in Palm Beach, Fla., in October. Brooke Joyce, '95, a doctoral candidate at Princeton University, and Jeffery Meyer, '96, conductor of the symphony orchestra at UW-Oshkosh, organized and performed in the concert, which included six of Professor Gimbel's works for chamber ensemble, piano, and soprano voice.
Martha Hemwell, '73, dean of student academic services and adjunct associate professor of anthropology, is president of Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL), which held its annual conference in October at St. Norbert College. The organization provides professional development and networking opportunities for women who hold leadership roles in both public and private higher education.
Brian O'Morrow, '03, won the Wisconsin state-level Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) collegiate piano performance in November. This is the third straight year that a Lawrence piano performance major has won the state competition.
Kenneth R. W. Sager, '39, professor emeritus of education, was awarded the Distinguished School Board Member Award of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) for 2002. Sager has served on the Appleton Area School District Board of Education for 37 years.