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ALUMNI NEWS
Cal Lewiston ’90 was recognized for instructional leadership by the
National Institute for Sta� and Organizational Development in spring
2011.
After completing her RN degree in May 2010, Hollie Grosklos ’91,
’93 began working at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas on
a medical-surgical unit. She is about to celebrate one year in her new
career. She hopes to transfer to an oncology unit and will begin her
MSN at Texas Woman’s University in January 2012, with plans of a
career in nursing education.
On May 28, 2011, Rebecca Guess Brandt ’93 had the honor of
performing at Carnegie Hall. The choir from San Jacinto College South
(where she teaches) was selected as the debut choir for a MidAmerica
Production concert series. She played �ute with the a cappella choir
during the performance. Nothing can compare with performing on
that stage! There are some things on your “bucket list” you never think
you’ll get the opportunity to do.
Larry Wayne Morbitt ’93 is in his 17th year playing one of the lead
roles, Ubaldo Piangi, in The Phantom of the Opera. He began doing it
in 1995 in Basel, Switzerland, eventually performed on Broadway for
nearly eight years and now has been with the Las Vegas production
for �ve and a half years, playing at the Venetian Resort and Casino. He
is pleased to report that Hal Prince, the original director, and Gillian
Lynne, the original choreographer, continue to play active roles in
their production. This production is the most elaborate of all, costing
more than $75 million to produce and, in spite of the current economic
challenges, it seems to be doing well. While doing eight shows a week,
Morbitt continues to take time away to do orchestra concerts and
other solo appearances. Recently, he sang with the Tulsa Signature
Orchestra and the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Also, Sen. Ted Kennedy
(before his passing) asked Morbitt to sing for the annual Pro�les in
Courage Award ceremony at the Kennedy Library. Morbitt continues
giving a considerable number of concerts in churches and parachurch
organizations around the country. Singing gospel music has been a
particular mainstay and joy in his career.
Michael E. Ekbladh ’94 is a published composer with Lorenz and
Adoro Music Publishing. Find him on Facebook.com/MichaelEkbladh.
Stephanie Lewis Northcutt ’95 is living in Missouri City, Texas, with
her husband, Gary, and their boys Jake (8) and Zach (5). She enjoys her
private voice studio and performs throughout the Houston area. She
will be singing Violetta in La Traviata in the fall of 2011.
Dr. Sallie Pummill-Pollack ’96 began her �rst year as assistant
professor of collaborative piano at the University of Central
Oklahoma. Along with maintaining a busy performance schedule, she
coordinates the collaborative piano program and will go on tour in
October with the entire UCO piano department, performing various
orchestral works adapted for piano and up to 10 players. She makes
her home in Edmond, Okla., with her husband, former Blue Man Group
percussionist Peter Pollack, and her three children.
Mark Olmsted ’98 received his doctorate of physical therapy at
Washington University in St. Louis in 2007.
Judith Rodriguez ’98 recently returned to Texas after having spent
almost 10 years performing opera, zarzuela and concerts in Spain and
learning from great artists such as Montserrat Caballé, Mirella Freni
and Roberto Scandiuzzi. In 2011, she was fortunate enough to sing
in a production of The Magic Flute, collaborate in the recording of an
American �lm soundtrack and volunteer to sing to raise funds for the
victims of the earthquake in Lorca, Spain.
Sheryl Yeomans Jordan ’01 was one of eight �nalists chosen
from among 70 international entries in the Music in Architecture:
Architecture in Music composition and design competition. Her entry,
“Bridge Harp: Mirror Space,” was performed live during the Music in
Architecture: Architecture in Music Symposium, sponsored by the
Center for American Architecture and Design and the Butler School
of Music at the University of Texas at Austin, Oct. 19-22, 2011. Sheryl
and her collaborator Liam Singer examined the Brooklyn Bridge and
invented a harp tuned to have created a musical instrument to the
frequencies the vertical and diagonal cables would vibrate at, if they
were proportionally downsized. Their composition for this “bridge
harp” mixes its microtonal scale with violin sounds, a �eld recording of
the bridge, and some Frank Sinatra, creating a piece about 23 minutes
long (the time it takes to walk across the bridge). The world premiere
was Oct. 21, with competition winners announced later that day, and
the Sheryl-Liam team was awarded the 2nd place in the symposium.
Andrea L. Riggs ’01 has completed a doctorate in �ne arts from Texas
Tech University and accepted a position as the director of traditional
worship and music at Northern Hills United Methodist Church in San
Antonio. In addition, Riggs has recently published an article in the
Journal of Music Teacher Education.
Unkyoung Teresa Kim ’02 is director of the Global Artist Society.
Detailed information is on http://globalartistsociety.com/.
James Mick ’02 has been named assistant professor of string music
education at Ithaca College (New York). He is completing his doctorate
in music education at Florida State University.
Andrés Franco ’03 was selected as one of 10 �nalists for the Memphis
Symphony Orchestra’s International Conducting Competition in May
2011. The organizers received more than 225 applications from 35
countries and 30 U.S. states.
Madelyn Moore ’04 has been teaching privately and has been
freelancing in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for the last �ve years. She
started a clarinet camp, Ready Set Clarinet, with a fellow TCU alum,