Friday, May 30, 2008

So Cal Concerts for AUP Music Center


L to R: Jimmy Tagala, Jr., violinist; Victor Coo, cellist; Cristina Piccardi, lyric roprano; Rodney Abriol, pianist; and Heidi Cerna, pianist

These 2008 concerts in Southern California, starting on Thursday evening, May 22, in the home of Marlene Zerna-Robertson, brought together artists on behalf of the Music Center of the Adventist University of the Philippines. With help from other alumni, Dr Heidi Cerna, AUP Music Dept chair and chief fundraiser for the Music Center project, made this possible. Other venues during the week included the following: May 23, Inland Empire Fil-Am Chuurch; May 24, Loma LInda University Church Social Hall (following a memorial concert on behalf of the late Minnie Iverson-Wood); May 25, Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church (afternoon) and White Memorial Church (evening); and May 26, Loma LInda Fil-Am Church.

CRISTINA PICCARDI
, lyric soprano, Softly and Tenderly

Thursday, May 29, 2008

MTAC Senior Medallion 2008


BRIAN VILLA , Recipient of Music Teachers' Association of California, Glendale Branch, Certificate of Merit SENIOR MEDALLION 2008

May 17, 2008
AN EVENING OF AWARDS
First United Methodist Church, Glendale, CAq

by Cora Coo

It is my pleasure to introduce Brian Villa, who has been my piano student for the last 7 years.

When Brian was at the Aldama Elementary School, he played both the piano and the violin and was in the school orchestra for 3 years. It was also during this time when he was chosen to play a piano concerto with a Chamber Orchestra, performing at the Alex Theater.

Brian has taken CM tests for at least 8 years, and has participated in the Piano Guild Auditions since 2002. This year, he took the Music Achievement Award exam for the 2nd time. He has always been in the Top-Talent Circle in the Guild auditions, and awarded Honors in the CM and M2A tests. He has also qualified for Convention recitals , several times but will participate for the 3rd time only, at the coming MTAC Convention in Riverside.

Brian uses his musical gifts for community service, organizing music programs for convalescent homes during Christmas time. He also plays the piano for church and performs as soloist and accompanist for recitals.

Brian is currently the Student Body President at BRAVO MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL in East LA, with 1600 students. Throughout his 4 years there, he has been an officer: class Vice president, in 9th and 10th grades, Student Body VP in 11th grade. For the last 2 years, he has been in the School Site Council.

Brian is a member of the National Honors Society and the California Scholarship Federation. He has been coordinator of the Renaissance Academy Rally for the last 2 years, and won 1st place in the USC Bravo Science Fair in Plant Biology.

In the academics, Brian has always been an honor student, with a weighted GPA of 4.22. He has been an AP (Advanced Placement) Scholar since 10th grade and has taken college courses such as Biology, Calculus AB and BC, Statistics and Government.

Brian has also received a Citizenship Award, and is a scholar athlete as well. He is an athlete in Cross Country and Track and Field. He made it to the Varsity team and has been in it since 10th grade. This year, his Varsity Cross Country team (with 7 members) was named the undefeated League Champions. They made it to the City Finals. He has run the LA Marathon 4 times, as part of the SRLA (Student Run LA) and was voted MOST INSPIRATIONAL RUNNER.

Besides all these, Brian worked (with pay) every summer, as tutor for the Jaime Escalante Math program in East Los Angeles College.

He has been accepted at several schools for the next school year, but has selected UC Berkeley in Northern California for his undergrad studies . He will major in Civil Engineering and minor in Music.

CONGRATULATIONS, Brian! I wish you God’s richest blessings as you start a new phase in your life. With your passion for excellence, an analytical mind and a desire for a balanced life and heart for helping and sharing with others, I’m sure, you will succeed. We’ll miss you in our recitals, Brian. Whenever you’re around during our quarterly recitals, you are always welcome to join our performances.

Daniel A. Augsburger Excellence in Teaching Awardee, Andrews University



Armand Poblete
Instructor of Information Systems
MS, Andrews University

Office: 230B Chan Shun Hall
Office Phone: 269-471-3105
Email: poblete@andrews.edu

http://www.armandpoblete.com/

http://www.andrews.edu/sba/faculty/poblete.html

http://www.andrews.edu/news/2008/03/service_awards.html


2008 Faculty and Staff Awards Presented

Andrews University's faculty and staff were joined by the Board of Trustees for their annual faculty and staff service awards presentation followed by a reception in the Howard Performing Arts Center on Monday, March 3. The evening centered around the presentation of the Daniel A. Augsburger Excellence in Teaching Award, the Spiritual Life Award, the Staff Excellence in Service Awards and Years of Service Awards. Each award was presented following a short slideshow presentation highlighting the qualifying attributes of each recipient.

Six faculty members were honored with the Daniel A. Augsburger Excellence in Teaching Award. This award recognizes faculty whose teaching reflects the high standards of excellence modeled by Dr. Augsburger in his 60 years of teaching at Andrews University. Augsburger’s leadership, academic rigor, breadth of knowledge, teacher-scholar role, along with care and concern for students, exemplify the best of faculty endeavors. Faculty from each school nominates and chooses their individual candidates. This year’s recipients were: Richard Davidson, professor of Old Testament interpretation and chair of the Old Testament Department; Stephen Thorman, professor of computer science and physics; Gary Gifford, associate professor of leadership and educational administration; Armand Poblete, instructor of information systems; Margarita Mattingly, professor and chair of the Department of Physics; and Carlos Flores, professor of music and chair of the Department of Music....