Richard Drexler ’77 is busy teaching in Orlando, full time at UCF and part time at Valencia College. Tenor saxophonist and head of UCF Jazz Studies Jeff Rupert and Richard were busy giving concerts, jazz club performances and college clinics in IN and OH for the past week and a half, minus Tues. afternoon to Thurs. morning, when he flew back to cover UCF classes. Their duo CD “Imagination” has been on JazzWeek’s top 20 list of national jazz radio airplay since its release in early January. They have ten days of quintet work coming up, including two days in the recording studio, with young New York jazz vocal sensation Veronica Swift.

Donor support allows IWU students to continue to have experiences that make being a Titan unique and transformative. To be among those celebrated today, make a gift at www.iwu.edu/give.

Tom Dossett ’74 composed “Trilogy For Bass Trombone” which was performed this last year at the 2016 International Trombone Festival held at The Juilliard School in New York.  Blair Bollinger, bass trombonist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, was the performing artist.  “Trilogy” was originally commissioned by Tom Streeter, retired professor at IWU.  Tom’s composing schedule and other highlights can be visited at his website, www.thescribblershand. com

Cheryl Portwood-Peden Emery ’74 is the Tour Coordinator for The Savvy Traveling Seniors of Homewood, IL’s Diamond Tours- The Ultimate Washington DC Tour April 20-25, 2017. Our itinerary includes a scheduled tour of the White House and a session of Congress, as well as a much anticipated visit to the new Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture. Our next travel parties will be held on February 11, 2017 and April 8, 2017 at the downtown Flossmoor Illinois Library, located on the Lower Level in the  Conference Room. A deposit of $75.00 will secure your travel reservation.. They will be taking a trip to Washington DC.

Click here for a link to her website.

Neat post about Wayne in the Chicago Tribune on December 22, 2016.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-wayne-messmer-cubs-haugh-spt-1222-20161221-column.html

Cheryl Portwood-Peden Emery ’74 is working with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. JASSAC to create the 2nd Annual Youth Empowerment Conference at HillCrest H.S. in Country Club Hills, IL on Saturday, February 4, 2017.

Remember to make your gift to Illinois Wesleyan by December 31 to be eligible for 2016 tax benefits. Gifts can be made online, by calling 1-800-689-9743 before December 23, and by check. If sending a check, it must be postmarked by December 31.

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