HIGHLIGHTING: ALL CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY CHORALE | HEART & SOUL | PURDUE BELLS | PURDUE VARSITY GLEE CLUB | PURDUETTES | UNIVERSITY CHOIR A publication from Purdue Musical Yours in Song Organizations 2017 WINTER 83rd Annual Purdue Christmas Show Indeed ‘A Christmas to Remember’ Heart & Soul with Director Rhonda Blacklock A Semester Review, Looking Forward We have had such an amazing start to In October, we welcomed PMO alumni our year and have experienced so much for our annual Homecoming Weekend. during our first semester! This fall, our All of our ensembles performed for and students continued to make Purdue proud interacted with distinguished PMO as ambassadors for the University while alumni from different eras. The free “Fall performing during their busy fall schedule. Show” in November featured outstanding performances by the Purdue Bells, In August, we welcomed new and University Choir, Heart & Soul and the All- returning students in the Purduettes Campus and Community Chorale at the and Purdue Varsity Glee Club back to Long Center in downtown Lafayette. campus for our pre-season camp at Camp Tecumseh in Brookston, Ind. Once classes The semester culminated with our began, both ensembles performed free pinnacle performance of the year: the concerts on campus—the Glee Club’s 83rd annual Purdue Christmas Show! annual “First Nighter” concert in Elliott This year, “A Christmas to Remember” William E. Griffel, Director, Purdue Musical Organizations and Purdue Varsity Glee Club Hall of Music, and the “Picnic with the provided stunning performances from Purduettes” performance on Slayter all of our ensembles, culminating in the alumni activities and a celebration gala. Hill. The Glee Club and Purduettes also collaboration of our PMO students and Be sure to save the date for our fourth returned to the Palladium at the Center the “All-American” Marching Band from annual Purdue Day of Giving on April 26. for Performing Arts in Carmel for a the Department of Purdue Bands and Then in May, the Glee Club will embark on combined performance in a truly Orchestras. This was the first time the a two-week performance tour of Poland breath-taking venue. band has ever performed in the Purdue and the Baltics. Christmas Show! We are packing the calendar at PMO, We are looking forward to a busy spring and we encourage you to stay connected THANK YOU to all who attended last year’s semester. During our annual Singing and come visit Bailey Hall any time you Valentine promotion in February, our Christmas Show! We look forward to seeing are back on campus! you this year at the 84th annual Christmas students spread love to local residents. In March, the Purduettes will celebrate Show on December 2-3. Read on for articles about these events, their 75th anniversary with a weekend of distinguished PMO alumni, and more. Familiar Faces Join PMO Staff Two former PMO members are now on staff: Colton Withers and Kris Webster. A 2013 graduate of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club, Withers has served since September 2015 as Director of Development for PMO. In this role, Colton serves as PMO’s main contact with the Purdue Research Foundation. “I am honored to work with the generous supporters who helped make my PMO experience and those of countless others so memorable,” he says. A favorite memory from his student years is performing at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2013, when he traveled with the Glee Club on its European tour. “That life-changing experience would not have been possible without PMO’s generous donors.” Withers assists PMO supporters in making contributions that require a bit of planning, including stock transfers, endowments and estate gifts. “My goal is to meet with as many PMO alumni, supporters and friends as possible.” Colton Withers 2 83rd Annual Purdue Christmas Show a Christmas to Remember The 83rd annual Purdue Christmas Show This show featured a first-ever surprise: THANK YOU CORPORATE PARTNERS delivered on the theme, “A Christmas the “All-American” Marching Band joined GOLD LEVEL Rubia Flower Market Purdue Federal Credit Union to Remember,” giving audiences that PMO students at the end of Act 1 St. Thomas Aquinas The National Group Catholic Center surpassed 18,300 a performance they in a rousing rendition of “Hail Purdue,” SILVER LEVEL The Union Club Hotel will long treasure. performed in the aisles of Elliott Hall Beaux Cheveux Styling Salon RUBY LEVEL of Music. Complete with Santa Claus Old National Bank Duke Energy Some 300 PMO students and staff Purdue Alumni Association Goetz Auctions jumping out of the big bass drum, this The Outpost Catering began rehearsing last September for the Homecare by Design year’s closing number is one that had EMERALD LEVEL Subaru of Indiana Automotive magical, lyrical miracle, devoting all their every audience on its feet in a Burkhart Advertising MEDIA PARTNERS free time to making it one of the best standing ovation. Hot Box Pizza Comcast • WBAA • WLFI performances yet. Purdue Center for Journal & Courier Cancer Research To them, he says, “It would be my pleasure to treat you to a cup of coffee and hear more about why you support this wonderful organization and share our PMO memories.” Be on the lookout for his name in your email inbox or on your caller ID to hear more from Colton. Kris Webster joined the PMO staff as Administrative Assistant in September. A 1988 graduate of the Purduettes, Webster says, “I love working with PMO students and staff. Being a member of PMO was the highlight of my collegiate career, and the lifelong friendships I made are truly a blessing. PMO gave me confidence and the ability to get up in front of people and share my gift.” “I loved being an ambassador for PMO and the University.” Today, she continues her ambassador role as the first friendly face guests see when visiting Bailey Hall. Next time you’re on campus, stop by to get to know Kris. Kris Webster 3 Purduette Anniversary March 24 & 25 March 24 and 25 Purduettes to Celebrate 75th Anniversary Generations of Purduettes will gather on At 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, campus March 24 and 25 to celebrate the March 25, alumni will meet for brunch Purduette 75th Anniversary. This weekend and rehearsal in the North Ballroom of will bring supporters and friends together the Purdue Memorial Union. to remember the past, honor the present, and forge a path for the future of the Gala, Performance Purduettes. At 5 p.m. on Saturday, PMO supporters and alumni are invited to a black-tie gala Alumni Activities in the North and South Ballrooms of the All Purduette alumni are invited to a Purdue Memorial Union. The event will 5 p.m. reception on Friday, March 24, at include a plated dinner, silent auction, Bailey Hall to reconnect, share stories, and a combined Purduette and alumni enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and perform with performance featuring songs from the their sisters in song. past decades. To register for the Purduette 75th Anniversary weekend, go to giving.purdue.edu/purduettes75registration. Legacy Fund to Honor Jae Israel-Kellogg For 25 years—from 1983 to 2008—Jae Israel-Kellogg devoted her life to PMO, serving as director, assistant director, musical accompanist, arranger, and mentor for the Purduettes and other ensembles. These included the Purdue Varsity Glee Club, University Choir, PMO Express, Choral Club, and the Purdue Indiana Extension Music Program. Israel-Kellogg led the Purduettes in becoming a premier vocal ensemble. During her tenure, she traveled with many PMO ensembles, including the 1999 tour to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji with the Glee Club, Purduettes, University Choir, PMO Express and the Black Cultural Now retired, Jae Israel-Kellogg lives on her Center’s Black Voices of Inspiration. sailboat on Marco Island, Fla. 4 Lasting Ties Purduette 75th Anniversary Legacy Fund Jae Israel-Kellogg’s influence is still in honor of Jae Israel-Kellogg present in several musical selections in the Purduettes’ current repertoire, and she continues to support PMO and champion students’ educational $100,000 experiences. “PMO provides lifelong friendships, travel Our goal is $100,000, and career opportunities, scholarships, alumni connections, and a home away we are 60% there! from home,” she says, making giving To reach the goal back to the organization important. we need 100 more “That way, each generation of students people to make a gift has the same or better opportunities than those before.” or pledge of $400 In that spirit, the Purduette 75th Anniversary Legacy Fund is being established to honor her decades of service and leadership and provide $60,000 ongoing travel funding. Help Us Honor Her Service PMO invites you to join in honoring Jae Israel-Kellogg and supporting current and future Purduettes. Together, alumni and friends can ensure every Purduette will have a once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity while enjoying Jae’s favorite PMO saying, “No fun without music, no music without fun.” Make an impact Thank you to our To register for the Purduette 75th Anniversary weekend, go to giving.purdue.edu/purduettes75registration. today and help generous supporters us celebrate and and alumni who have honor Jae! helped us reach 60% of our goal. To make your gift, visit giving.purdue.edu/Purduettes. 5 Outstanding Students and Alumni PMO donors, alumni, and students shine. Once the endowment is fully funded, it These stories highlight a few of our stars. will keep giving long after they’re gone. Alumni Honor Mom with “I hope this scholarship will help others Endowment with a passion for music experience the kind of camaraderie I did,” Jackie says. When Marjorie De Armond learned her “And, hopefully, another mother will see daughter Jackie was accepted in PMO’s her child perform for the first time in the University Choir, she was elated and eager Christmas Show.” to see her perform.