IWU talent fills the cast and crew of Prairie Fire Theatre’s “Who Stole B-Flat?” including Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Robert Mangialardi; students Megan Callison ’16, Rebecca Buechel ’15, Sean Leeds ’15 and Jacklyn Klimczak ’15; and alumni Jeannie Breitweiser ’72, Nancy Brokaw ’71 and Rhys Lovell ’87.
Also between January and April 2014, Lisa composed two new works for solo clarinet and a trombone Quartet for the ensemble known as “The trombones of the St. Louis Symphony.” Tim Myers, principal trombone of the St. Louis Symphony formed this ensemble with the other members of the trombone section in 2006 and have been asking for and commissioning new works for trombone quartet.
Already planned is another concert of works by Ragsdale for September 14th, 2014. Working with five U of MN students and a pianist friend, Ragsdale’s 2nd and 3rd wind quintets will be performed along with her Sonata for bassoon and piano, 2 works for solo oboe, and 2 works for solo clarinet. Currently Lisa is at work on two songs for soprano and alto sax and a work for full orchestra.
We are sad to say Mary J. McNichols passed away April 6, 2014. If you would like to read about her, she was recently remembered as a “creative soul” in the Chicago Sun Times (free subscription required): Mary J. McNichols ’78.
Aberdeen (S.D.) News
Jim Molinari has been hired as an assistant basketball coach at University of Nebraska-Lincoln!
The Millennial
David Petreman is profiled in his journey to becoming “professor, poet, author and guru of Latin American culture.”
Congratulations David!
The Pantagraph
State Farm CEO Ed Rust Jr., a 1972 IWU graduate, dispelled rumors that the company will move jobs away from Bloomington during his remarks to the Illinois Wesleyan Associates on April 10, 2014.
Carol began her career in LaSalle National Bank Bond Department and later transitioned to the Wealth Management Group, where she obtained her Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP)SM designation, awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
Carol holds a Bachelor of Music Education cum laude from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University.
Carol sits on the Lincoln Park Zoo Women’s Board and the Illinois Wesleyan University Chicago Alumni Board. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
While working at LaSalle National Bank, Carol founded and directed the LaSalle Bank Employee Choir, which performed the National Anthem annually for the Cubs and White Sox, as well as holiday concerts. Carol also chaired the LaSalle Women’s Network.
She and her husband, Bill, live on the Near North side of Chicago.
IWU alumnae were recently featured in the Sigma Alpha Iota Rosebud newsletter! 
(top row) Vicki Cox ’70 Lois Hamm Thurner ’68
(middle row) Sandy Thompson ’71 Sally Simpson ’70
(bottom row) Carol Pedigo Phoenix ’67 Ann Sauer Ragsdale ’69
Sara “Sally” Simpson was recently featured in the Sigma Alpha Iota Rosebud newsletter!
Sara recently toured some Civil War Battlefields. She played an alto saxhorn built about 1857 for spectators at the 150th Anniversary Reenactment of the battle of Chickamauga, GA. She also played at the Illinois Monument at Shiloh and placed flowers on the grave of her great grand uncle at the National Cemetery in Corinth, Mississippi. Sara still resides in Bloomington-Normal and plays regularly with the Community Concert Band and the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band.
Way to go Class of ’75. We had 19 donors to the “All In” Campaign!!!
