Executive Members 2008-2009
Dr. Julie Skadsem (conductor)
Dr. Julie Skadsem is an Associate Professor of Choral Music Education and Conducting at the University of Michigan where she teaches courses in conducting, choral techniques, and vocal methods. She has earned degrees in choral music education from St. Olaf College (B.A.), Florida State University (M.M.E.), and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (Ph.D.). Before coming to Michigan in fall 2006, Dr. Skadsem was Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Alabama and was Founding Director of the Birmingham Children's Choir. She is a member of the VoiceCare Network and is certified in Dalcroze eurhythmics, Orff-Schulwerk, and Kodaly. Dr. Skadsem's research on choral conducting and rehearsal techniques has been presented at MENC, ACDA, and the Southeastern Music Education Symposium.
Samantha Biniker (Pianist)
Samantha Biniker is a student in the Artist and Scholars Honors Program. In this program, she studies collaborative piano with Martin Katz and solo piano with Logan Skelton. Samantha has attended summer festivals the past few years which include: The Eastern Music Festival in 2005 and The MasterWorks Festival in 2006, 2007, and 2008. She has performed piano concertos with the Toledo Youth Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, and The MasterWorks Festival Orchestra. Samantha loves working with instrumentalists and singers in solo, chamber, and large ensemble settings.
Deirdre Sprague-Rice (President)
Deirdre is a senior from Owosso, Michigan. She has been in the Women's Glee Club since her freshman year and is delighted to be a part of such a special group of women. She is looking forward to another fantastic year of fun, friends, and music!
Kirsten Mortensen (Vice-President)
Kirsten is a senior double majoring in Linguistics and Spanish, and dreads graduating and finally joining the real world. She grew up singing in every room in the house but the shower. Her great loves include reading (for pleasure, not for school!), exploring new cities, phonetics and historical linguistics, and of course, chocolate. Kirsten hopes to attend graduate school in speech pathology and audiology.
Molly Twigg (Treasurer)
Molly Twigg is a junior in the business school at U of M, concentrating in accounting and finance. She is originally from Chicago, IL but has learned to embrace Michigan as her home! Molly has been a member of WGC since her freshman year and served as fundraising chair her first two years before being elected treasurer. In addition to WGC, Molly is a member of the U of M club water polo team, and VP of Events on the Michigan Business Women board. She is excited for all the amazing events and performances planned for this year - especially our
concert in Hill!
Molly Netter (Secretary)
Molly is from Monroe, Michigan but attended high school in the state of Ohio. (Don't hurt her for it!) Here at the university, she is currently a junior double majoring in Classical Civilization and Psychology. She hopes to attend some form of graduate school, though her future career goals seem to change daily, so nothing can be set in stone yet. She loves traveling to foreign sites, being outside, and spending time with her friends.
Melisa Gilbey (Business Manager)
Melisa is a Junior in the School of Kinesiology studying movement science with the goal of attending dental school. She is from Rochester Hills, where she attended high school but is actually Canadian! Melisa has been a member of WGC since fall of her freshman year and has served as a fund raising co-chair, treasurer and is now the Business Manager. Aside from the lovely Glee Club Melisa is involved in the Pre-Dental Association and is a participant of UMDM. She is very excited for our upcoming International Tour to Austria and can not wait for our performances in Hill Auditorium.
Gabriela Aguilar (Concert Manager)
Gabriela Aurora Aguilar (aka Gabby) is a senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan. As a young child she always dreamed of being the next big Latina pop star. She figured that the easiest way to accomplish this lifelong goal would be to join the Glee Club in her junior year. When not studying Cellular and Molecular Biology, Gabby enjoys napping, eating fine foods in good company, dancing, talking about her travels to South America, and exploring South University Avenue after midnight. Her post-graduation plans include completing a MPH and attending medical school.
Christina Ziegler (Publicity Manager)
Christina is a senior nursing student. She is originally from Crystal Falls, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where she attended Forest Park High School. Christina joined Glee Club to be apart of "University of Michigan's Premier Women's Choral Ensemble" and to continue her love of singing and sharing it with others. She is publicity manager for her third consecutive year and she is looking forward o getting the word out there about Women's Glee Club, not only in the U-M campus but also across the state and country!
Chair Positions 2008-2009
Historian: Melissa Golliday
Glee Club Liaison: Hiab Debessai
Alumni Relations Chair: Shengnu "Cynthia" Zhang
Webmaster: Yu "Lucy" Han
Merchandise Chair: Jisu Kang
Ticketmaster: Heather Jones
Social Chair: Rennie Jones
Librarian: Claudia Arno
Fundraising Chair: Elena Garcia