On July 10, the U.S. Marine Band performed its 220th anniversary concert at Strathmore Hall in Bethesda, Maryland, which included a performance of Paul Noble’s (C ’56) arrangement of William Walton’s “Orb and Sceptre.” Noble is also writing arrangements for concert bands as well as combined bands and choirs, from such outstanding composers as John Rutter, Philip Lane, William Walton, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gordon Jacob, Gustav Holst, John Gardner and many others. His website www.bandmusicpdf.net, now has more than 250 of his arrangements being performed around the world.
At the conservatory’s end-of-year awards ceremony on May 11, trustee Marjorie S. Lewis (C ’81) received the second Conservatory Dean’s Medal awarded in the past two decades. The medal is given to an individual who has made an extraordinary and singular impact on the conservatory. Lewis, a former conservatory student, has been a skilled advocate for the conservatory and the university as a whole and was, with her husband, John, a lead donor in the All-Steinway Initiative. She also co-founded the Piano Society, is a member of the Dean’s Circle, has traveled on several Global Citizenship Project trips, and has enthusiastically supported a wide variety of conservatory and university initiatives.
Director and Associate Professor of Music Production & Recording Technology Golder O’Neill (C ’92) worked with fellow alumnus Laurence Elder (C ’92) to install recording equipment for the SUNY-Binghamton University School of Music this summer. O’Neill is also working with Elder on his new CD project that is expected to be released in the spring. (Pictured right to left.)
In August 2018, Lisa Byrd (AS ’95) started her own business, Lisa M. Byrd, LLC. She has also launched a new website, Lisambyrd.com.
Sean Beachy (C ’02) taught music theory at the Mountain Maryland Music Institute for Garrett College in McHenry, Maryland.
Reed Prosser (AS ’05) was appointed as the new director of student activities for John Handley High School in Winchester. Prior to his appointment, Prosser coached football for 20 years a portion of which was spent serving as an assistant football coach at Shenandoah, coaching under Walter Barr.
Johnson Scott (C ’07, C ’17) was married to his partner, Robin on July 31, 2018, at the Snidow Chapel at the University of Lynchburg by University Chaplain, The Rev. Stephanie McLemore. Scott is an assistant professor at University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia. (Pictured in the middle.)
Kari A. Reed (EL ’08) is the director of development & events at the Spinal Research Foundation in Reston, Virginia. She oversees all of the fundraising efforts and community outreach initiatives, and executes signature events. (Pictured to the left.)
Alex Serio (C ’09) is the director of Settlement Music School’s Wynnefield branch in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Tracey Alperstein Wyton (C ’09, C ’14) and Chris Wyton (C ’10) welcomed their son, Alexander Maddox Wyton, into the world on July 31, 2018. Baby Alexander weighed seven pounds, 11 ounces, and was 21 inches long.
After a year of planning, Shenandoah board of trustees and alumni board of directors member Kyle Feldman (AS ’11, HP ’14) spent time in Kenya where he mentored Kenyan therapists in orthopedic manual therapy. Throughout his trip, Feldman chronicled experiences on his blog: https://kenya2018ptmentor.blogspot.com/?m=1.
Brian Fream (AS ’11) and Jenna Kline (AS ’14, HP ’16) were married on Aug. 25, 2018, at The Star Barn at Stone Gables Estate in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Multiple alumni were in attendance, including Samantha Butrym (AS ’14, HP ’16), Chris Christensen (B ’11), Laura Standley Christensen (AS ’14, HP ’15), Christian Frey (AS ’12) and Brian Goddard (B ’11). (Pictured to the right.)
Jake Heeren (AS ’14, HP ’15) is the head athletic trainer at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine.
Daniel Clark (HP ’16) is an athletic trainer at Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg, Virginia. Since working at the high school, Clark has been a part of 19 state tournament teams, nine state championships, four state runner-ups and 17 regional championships.
In January 2018, Yanira Dawson (HP ’16) was Employee of the Quarter at Professional Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy in Brooklyn, New York.
Mark Kadetsky (C ’16) is entering his second year as supervisor of fine and performing arts in the Egg Harbor Township New Jersey Schools. In his role, Kadetsky oversees the activities and supervises the arts education of over 7,600 students in the Egg Harbor Township school system. Prior to his appointment, he served as a director of bands and orchestras for the school system for 23 years.
Caitlin “Cady” Kievenaar (HP ’16) and Adam Lucas (HP ’15) were married on May 12, 2018, at Fort Myers in Arlington, Virginia. Multiple athletic training and physical therapy alumni were in attendance, including Joe Davis (HP ’15), Kate Hooker Hartsook (AS ’14, HP ’16), Nic Hoover (AS ’10, HP ’16), Lauren Hunt (HP ’16), David Michael Marsh (HP ’15) and Samantha Sisson Marsh (AS ’14, HP ’16). (Bride and groom pictured fifth and sixth from the right.)
Kyle Lewis (AS ’16, HP ’17) is the head athletic trainer at Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia. Lewis is also a preceptor for University of Virginia.
Jennifer Payne (HP ’16) is an assistant athletic trainer at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, where she serves as a trainer for the women’s basketball team and the baseball team. During her time at Randolph-Macon, the women’s basketball team won a conference title and went to regionals. The baseball team also won their first regional title, a regular seasonal conference title and went to the program’s world series, where they tied for third place.
Amanda Ripple (HP ’16) is an assistant athletic trainer at St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Maryland.
Ashley Gresh (N ’17) is a Ph.D. student at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland, and was awarded a Global Women’s Health Fellowship.
After working for the Conservative Institute for as a low-level editor, Michelle Adams Rawlings (AS ’17) accepted the position of executive editor. In this position, which encompasses both administrative and editorial tasks, Rawlings oversees editor training, maintains and ensures adherence to the style guide, and continues to edit both news and opinion content for half a dozen websites and their corresponding newsletters. This fall, she will be visiting Shenandoah on a few occasions to speak for a select number of English and communications classes about her work in digital media and finding career success after college.
Gwen Rhodes (HP ’17) is an instructional assistant at Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia.
On Aug. 17, Natalie Ahearn (C ’18) and the funk/fusion band, “Of Tomorrow” performed at the Bright Box Theater in Winchester, Virginia. (Pictured to the right.)
Emily Borde (HP ’18) accepted an internship with the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.
Catalin Dima (C ’18) accepted a position at the Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma.
Richard Jeric (C ’18) accepted a position at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Jeric will serve as an instructor of music, teaching piano and class piano in addition to performing on student, faculty and guest artist recitals.
Antoinette Moore (HP ’18) accepted an internship with Spartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
During Shenandoah University’s 2018 Opening Ceremony (to welcome back faculty and staff) on Aug. 20., multiple alumni received service awards for how many years they have worked at the university. This included Byron Jones (C ’04) for 20 years of service; David Hoffman (B ’86) and Karen Keating (C ’02) for 30 years of service; and Karen Colley (C ’67), Pearl Underwood (AS ’00) and Pam Bayliss Webber (AS ’75) for 40 years of service.
In Memoriam
John R. Jenkins (C ’72) of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, passed away on Aug. 25, 2018. Jenkins had a distinguished career as a musician in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. He was in the service for 20 years, serving his last five years with Army National Guard. Jenkins survived by his wife, Betty Jayne Williamson-Jenkins; son, Stephen F. Jenkins; grandchildren, Savannah Leigh and Tyler Joe; sister, Anna Sim; step-son, Joseph R. Williamson; and step-grandchildren, Aiden Joseph Williamson and Hannah Grace Williamson.
Russell M. Gentry (C ’78) of Hampton, Virginia, passed away on March 27, 2018. Gentry was a professional musician and was a church organist and choir director at several peninsula churches over the years. He was a lifelong member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Hampton. Gentry loved choral, piano and organ music. He is survived by his brother, Rodney B. Gentry; maternal aunts, Jean M. Savedge and Barbara W. Murphy; cousins George C. Savedge and Joseph W. Savedge; niece, Paige Gentry Bacon; nephew, Andrew D. Gentry, and six great nieces and nephews.