2011 Edition

A LOOK INSIDE... A Year in Review 2

Donor Impact and 4

Alumni Focus

Student Spotlight 6

What’s New? 7

Upcoming Events 8

Dear Friends in Song: It's official! On December 18th, the Purdue University Board of Trustees approved constructing our new home, Ralph and Bettye Bailey Hall! Schmidt Associates of Indianapolis will design the $8 million, 18,000-square-foot facility which will be paid for entirely from gift funds. Bailey Hall will be located at the southeast corner of Grant Street and Northwestern Avenue in West Lafayette. We hope to be in the building by the spring of 2013.

On behalf of our current students and staff, as well as all those who came before us and those who will come after, thank you to the 472 donors who helped make this dream a reality. A most special “thank you” to Ralph and Bettye Bailey, whose tremendous generosity will enhance the student experience for generations of PMO performers and allow our program to accommodate the ever-growing interest in musical opportunities at Purdue.

For PMO, 2010 was a year of collaboration. We were proud to partner in performances with Purdue Bands & Orchestra, Pur-due’s Black Cultural Center and the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. We also collaborated with Purdue Convocations, Greater Lafayette Commerce, Lafayette-West Lafayette Convention & Visitors Bureau and Purdue Athletics. Perhaps our most visible partnership of 2010 was with Purdue’s Office of Marketing & Media to launch our new website, www.purdue.edu/pmo.

In 2010, our students performed in 126 shows in 31 cities across six states. Even though 2011 has just begun, we have already accomplished much. Highlights from our year thus far include accepting an invitation to perform at The Palladium, the new Cen-ter for the Performing Arts in Carmel, during their grand opening. Most recently, Glee Club performed with the Indiana Univer-sity Singing Hoosiers. This collaboration marked the first time these ensembles shared the stage since 1997. For a complete list-ing of what we have planned this year, visit our website and click on the calendar.

As we look to the future, we are planning an international performance tour in May 2013 which will bring Glee Club, Purduettes and Purdue Bells to Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France. More details regarding the tour will be available in 2012.

As you can see, we are experiencing an exciting time for Purdue Musical Organizations! You help make it all possible. Thank you

for staying connected with us. Even if distance prevents you from participating in person, check out our Facebook page to stay

connected with us anywhere in the world, www.facebook.com/PurduePMO.

We hope to see you again soon. Until then, Hail Purdue!

William E. Griffel Director, Purdue Musical Organizations

For occasional e-mail updates from PMO, join our e-mail list where you

can set your preferences for what information you would like to receive

from us. Visit our homepage at www.purdue.edu/pmo to get started!

JOIN OUR E-MAIL LIST

Yours in Song · 2011 2

↑ Glee Club performed the National Anthem during the Indiana Pacers vs LA Lakers game at Conseco Fieldhouse.

↓ PMO students melted hearts on Valentine’s Day, performing more than 500

Singing Valentines in Greater Lafayette and over the phone.

↑ Purduettes performed during the 7th Annual Cancer Benefit Concert

raising $55,555 for Purdue’s Center for Cancer Research.

↑ University Choir ended their season sharing the stage with the Purdue Bells, Heart & Soul and All Campus & Community Chorale.

↑ Glee Club senior Noah Demerly serenaded Sonya Eddy, daughter of PMO Founder Dr. Albert P. Stewart.

For hundreds more photos, visit

“Center Stage” on our website.

↑ Purduettes & Glee Club performed together at Zionsville

High School in what may become an annual collaboration.

↓ Glee Club visited Neyland Stadium during a tour of the

University of Tennessee before their concert in Greeneville.

↑ Mother and daughter duo Kelly Jacobs and Sheila Klinker performed “Yellow Bird” at the PMO Alumni Luncheon on April 10, 2010. Thank you to all the PMO alumni who joined us!

↓ The PMO students produced and directed

their annual rock concert PHENOMENA, which benefited Food

Finders Food Bank.

Yours in Song · 2011 3

↓ Glee Club senior and student manager Jeremy Clifford with his mom, Peggy, at the 2010 PMO Club Donor Reception.

↓ Purduettes & Glee Club had the amazing opportunity to work

with Calmus Ensemble, an a cappella quintet from Germany.

Thanks to Purdue Convocations for sharing Calmus with us!

↓ During the Bailey Hall Celebration, PMO Director Bill

Griffel spoke along with Purdue’s Vice President for

Development Lisa Calvert, Cinda and Bettye Bailey and Purdue President France A. Córdova.

↑ Thank you and congratulations to all our PMO seniors on an outstanding show!

↓ Purdue Bells performed during the 77th Annual Purdue Christmas Show.

↓ Heart & Soul in the spotlight.

↑ Glee Club kicked off the new school year with an audience of more than 1,300 fans, including 40 alumni, during their annual “First Nighter” concert in the

Purdue Memorial Union.

↑ Students performed during the President’s Council Annual Dinner where Purdue alumni

astronaut Neil Armstrong & ‘Hero of the Hudson’

Capt. Sully Sullenberger were in attendance.

↓ On November 15, 2010 PMO held a celebration in the Elliott Hall of Music in honor of the 472 donors to Ralph E. and Bettye J. Holder Bailey Hall. We hope to move in by the spring of 2013. Thank you to everyone who helped make this dream come true!

ALUMNI UPDATES

WAYS TO GIVE

Mail: Purdue Musical Organizations · Attn: Joli Heavin 712 Third Street · West Lafayette, IN 47907 (checks payable to “Purdue Foundation”)

Phone: 800-893-3041 or 765-494-3947

Online: http://www.purdue.edu/pmo/makeagift.shtml

Have an update? Visit www.purdue.edu/pmo/alumni_news.shtml to share your news and see more alumni updates!

PMO FINANCIAL STATEMENT FISCAL YEAR 2009 - 2010

Jean (Busby) Beard, U-Choir '50 · Jean and husband, Bill celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year. They have two living children, Diana (John) Glen-denning, Lebanon, IN and Dr. Pamela (Ashruf) El-Dinary (Choral Club ’88), Clarksville, MD. They have four grandchil-dren and three great-grandchildren. Jean and Bill re-tired in 2003 from their former business, Beard Industries, Inc. Bill has served as Clinton County Commissioner since Jan. 1, 2004.

CORPORATE PARTNERS

C hri st mas S ho w Pr e sen t ing Par tn e r P lym ou t h Fo und ry , Sa m & Ka re n S ch lo sse r

Go ld L ev el P urd ue Fe d e ra l C re d it U n ion the Na ti ona l G ro up

S i lv e r Lev e l Be a ux C he ve u x S ty l in g Sa lon Chi ck - f i l -A Fol le tt ’ s P u rd ue Book s to re s P urd ue Al u mni A sso cia t i on Sg t . P re s ton’ s Ca te rin g Te xa s R oa d h ou se

Eme ra ld L ev e l Loe b Ho use Inn Be d a nd Bre a kfa st P urd ue Ce n te r fo r Ca nce r R e se a rc h U nion C lu b Hote l

Rub y Lev e l Duke Ene r gy Flo we r s by R us tic B ou qu e t Ho me ca re by De si gn J . A la n Goe tz & So ns A uc t ions & Appra i sa ls Su ba r u of Ind ia na Au to m otive , In c .

Me dia Par tn er s WL FI T V-1 8

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Bob Madison, PVGC and U-Choir ’57 · Bob retired from an exten-sive career in Human Resources management, including interna-tional responsibilities, in 2000. He then established a consulting firm focusing on career transi-tion and outplacement counsel-ing and executive/management coaching. Sadly, his wife, who he married while in Spain, died in 2008. Bob is still physically ac-tive in skiing and tennis.

Jerry Pullen, U-Choir ’81 · Jerry and his family has been involved in international development work since 1990. They currently reside in East Asia.

Jae (Julie) Truesdell, P’ettes ’06 ·

Jae and Marek Szeszycki (BA

2009) were engaged to be married

in May ‘10. Jae was a PMO leader,

serving as manager of the Pur-

duettes in 2006. Marek served as

section leader for the trumpets in

Purdue's All-American Marching

Band. Theirs is a match made in

Purdue musical heaven!

John Bently, PVGC ’53 · John cur-rently owns and operates a com-mercial pool/spa design/build/service company in Highland Park, IL. He is married to retired Metropolitan opera star, Gloria Linari Lind Bently.

Carrie (Getch) Gaerte, P’ettes ’96 Carrie and husband, Scott, wel-comed their fourth child on July 15, 2010. Daniel Christian Gaerte weighed 7 lbs, 5 oz. and was 20 3/4 in. long.

Jeff McGee, PVGC ’04 · Jeff and his wife, Christy, are excited to an-nounce the birth of their first child, David Matthew McGee. He was born on October 16th, 2010, and weighed 7lb, 3oz.

Anne Mcgill-Perry, U-Choir ’83 · Anne lives in Germantown, TN with her husband and two chil-dren. She still sings regularly (a must) and is a member of her church choir with one other Pur-due alum. Boiler UP!

Lynda Sears, P’ettes ’73 · Lynda was the accompanist for the Pur-duettes and remembers well the scary audition for Al Stewart! Seldom for pay, but always for fun, she has continued to accom-pany various choirs, church groups, and community choirs as well as the occasional gig with local garage bands in the Minnea-polis area. “Give me that old time rock n roll!!” And, at 60, she mar-ried the love of her life this past summer (a Notre Dame marching band alum, ha!)

Brian Thompson, PVGC ’84 · Thor-oughly enjoying the family, the Dallas metroplex, the job… sicken-ing, isn't it?! Now if Purdue ath-letes could just take better care of their knees!

Todd Walroth, PVGC ’05 · Todd and his wife, Sara, are excited to welcome Alexa Grace Walroth born September 24, 2010 weigh-ing 7 lbs, 1 oz and 20 1/2 inches.

Sarah Wannarka, P’ettes ’95 · Sarah is currently serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Western District of Texas, in San Antonio. After Purdue, she graduated from Baylor Law School and has been in TX ever since. Sister, Emily, her husband, Daniel, and their 2 boys recently moved back to San Antonio. Aunt Sarah couldn't be happier!

Yours in Song · 2011

Yours in Song · 2011 5

AN UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIP In the fall of 2007, the Purduettes performed for an army infantry reunion, during which they performed their customary “run-out.” Monica (Ruberg) Helfrich, then a senior, serenaded a man by the name of Bobby Stevens. During their brief chat, Monica learned Bobby was celebrating his 87th birthday. This in-spired her to gather her fellow Purduettes together following the show to surround Bobby to sing “Happy Birthday.”

Sometimes the simplest gestures mean the most. “Bobby was overjoyed and overwhelmed,” Monica recalls. “He gave me a hug and thanked me for ‘the greatest night of his life.’” A few weeks later, Bobby sent pictures of the perform-ance and a thank you letter to Monica. She responded to say it was her pleasure and shared a little bit about PMO. The two became lasting pen pals and Bobby promised Monica he would dance at her wedding. Last year, Monica was engaged (to PVGC alum, Barry Helfrich) and wrote to invite Bobby to attend their wedding. “It was so kind of him to travel up from Tennessee. I hadn't seen him since the night I met him at our Purduette performance. Our friendship is an example of how PMO can truly touch people's lives.”

STAR ON THE RISE Purdue Varsity Glee Club alumnus Levi Riggs is a star on the rise. A native of Danville, this 26-year-old’s first country single, "F-150," reached #19 on the New Music Weekly Country Charts this past July. Two months later, he released his second single, “Tailgate Time,” and has been asked by radio stations across the country to record custom versions for the Purdue Boilermakers, Indianapo-lis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints and the requests continue to pour in. He recently signed an entertain-ment agency booking contract with 32 Degrees Entertainment and has been hard at work on a country album in Nashville. Yours in Song caught up with Levi about his experience at PMO and his next single.

DESTINED FOR SHOW BIZ J. Peter Smith initially enrolled at Purdue in 1943 in engineering. He was intro-duced to Al Stewart and PMO through Delta Upsilon, but Peter’s initial tenure at Purdue was short-lived. Like so many young men, he was called to join the war overseas. After a harrowing experience as a German prisoner, Peter returned to the States and Purdue. He was no longer interested in becoming an engineer, however. Al Stewart encouraged him to join a brand new degree program in the School of P.E. called “Industrial Recreation and Music.” Yet, as Peter recalls, “PMO was my major.” During his time at Purdue, he met and married his wife, Lois, with whom he had six children. His favorite memories include performing at President Harry Truman’s inauguration in 1948. Peter also made many lasting friendships and connections which led him further down the path to show business. In 1949, the Glee Club performed for the Indiana Club of Chicago. In the audience was Mr. Glen Hillis, a noted and wealthy lawyer from Kokomo. Mr. Hillis had previously sponsored students in the Indiana University School of Law, his alma mater.

He was seated with Dr. Frank Hockema, then Vice President at Purdue, and asked if he knew of any Glee Clubbers interested in a career in music that might be in need of a sponsor. Dr. Hockema recommended Peter! He was sent to “audition” with Mr. Hillis’ daughter, Margaret, in New York. She said Peter definitely had talent but needed more training. Thus, Peter ended up at IU to study music. Mr. Hillis provided him with financial assistance. From IU, Peter began auditioning in New York. His big break was playing the understudy for “Lt. Joe Cable” in “South Pacific” on Broadway. He went on to star in two other Broadway productions, in addition to many other theatrical productions, TV shows and commercials. As his family grew, he opted for a career in arts management. Peter spent the final 25 years of his career as a talent agent, representing a bevy of major stage and screen stars, including Denzel Washington and Florence Henderson.

“All of this blessed life started at Purdue through Al Stewart and finally Dr. Frank Hockema and Glen R. Hillis.” When Peter landed his first job, he thanked Mr. Hillis for all his support and also asked how he could repay Mr. Hillis. His answer was, “Just do the same for someone else when you can.” Several years ago, Peter and Lois made a deferred gift to Purdue in order to establish a scholarship fund for PMO students in memory of Dr. Hockema and Mr. Hillis. “Without Purdue and these great men, I probably would have ended up in an Indiana high school as a football coach and music teacher!” To read more, visit www.purdue.edu/pmo/newsletter.shtml and click “Destined for Show Biz.”

Levi Riggs & Grammy-award winning country-pop trio Lady Antebellum

Yours in Song: What did you enjoy most about your four years in PMO?

Levi Riggs: PMO gave me a lot of opportunities. A combination of the travel opportunities, getting to meet all kinds of different people and the camaraderie and friendships made along the way are what I enjoyed most.

YiS: Did your experience help prepare you for your current endeavors?

LR: My Glee Club experience has been my roadmap on how I handle myself professionally. Everything from stage performance and learning how to handle yourself when things don’t go as planned to getting my gear on and off the stage effectively are things I learned as a part of PMO.

YiS: Why do you choose to give back to PMO?

LR: I give back because I like to see people succeed. Someone helped me get where I’m at and I want to help people get where they want to go.

While most PMO alums graduate and pursue careers in fields unrelated to music, a select few seem destined for show business. We feature two of these alums below.

YiS: What’s next for you?

LR: Before the album drops, I’ll be releasing a new single, “My Best Friend’s a Girl,” which is about the early stages of marriage.

Levi graduated with honors in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sales and Marketing. Visit www.leviriggs.com to learn more.

Yours in Song · 2011 6

Can’t come to us? Bring us to you! Purdue Musical Organizations relies on performance revenue to fund our operating expenses. Without the support we receive from our generous show sponsors, we would not be able to provide our student per-formers with scholarships and awards, costume subsidies, travel opportunities and more. We are able to travel almost anywhere and tailor our performance to almost any occasion. To learn more, contact Lance Connolly at 800-893-3041 or via e-mail at lconnoll@purdue.edu. Begin the booking process for a PMO ensemble today!

Student Successes Congratulations to Purdue Bells student Debbie McCaffrey on receiving the 2010 Alpha Chi

PMO students present PHENOMENA, an entirely student-produced and student-directed production benefiting Food Finders Food Bank

Debbie McCaffrey Noah Demerly

Keeping Busy I knew when I entered college I needed an activity, besides school work, to keep me busy and that's when I found out the Purdue Varsity Glee Club was searching for a percussionist. Its first impression was a lasting one and I've been drumming for PMO since. As a drummer in PMO, I've had a unique experience compared to most students in the group. I've had the privilege of performing with the Varsity Glee Club, Purduettes, and Heart & Soul during my four years at Purdue, and it has been a great time. Being part of such an organization teaches you so much about life you wouldn't normally learn as a college graduate. For instance, learning how to behave and interact in formal black tie affairs can be very important someday down the line. Besides everything else, it has been a wonderful opportunity to continue my passion for percussion and to make friends who have the same passion for music as I do.

New Merchandise Purdue Musical Organizations just released Ambassadors of Song, a new recording from the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. The CD features 25 tracks and is available for $15. To learn more or place your order, visit our Merchandise web page and download our order form.

Or, if you prefer, call us at 800-893-3041 to order over the phone. Regrettably, online ordering is not currently available. Shipping is $3 and Indiana residents should add 7% sales tax.

David Pierrat · Granger, Indiana · Senior · Building Construction Management

PMO students visit the University’s

low-ropes course for team-building

Omega Arts Scholarship. This university-wide award recognizes one student who has demonstrated excellence in the

arts. This May, Glee Club senior Noah Demerly will graduate and be commissioned from AFROTC Detachment 220. He

will serve as a Maintenance Officer in the United States Air Force and be stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

Learn how to book an ensemble

Check out our PMO Strategic Plan

Connect with us on social media

Review media coverage and announcements

Check out upcoming alumni & donor events

Read alumni news and share your story

Update your information with the University

Make a gift online and join PMO Club

Schedule an audition

Check out our PMO merchandise

And, of course, plan your visit to the annual Purdue Christmas Show

Yours in Song · 2011 7

Our New E-Home Last summer, we collaborated with Purdue’s Office of Marketing & Media to design a new home for PMO on the world wide web. The new website, www.purdue.edu/pmo, offers a number of new features:

GET CONNECTED

To get connected with PMO on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/PurduePMO and click “Like.” On Twitter, visit

www.twitter.com/PurduePMO and click “Follow.” On LinkedIn, click Groups, then Group Directory and search for

“Purdue Musical Organizations.” On YouTube, subscribe to our channel at www.youtube.com/user/PurduePMO.

Dr. Tom Robinson Dr. Melissa Exum

Congratulations and Welcome Aboard!

After 12 years of serving as Purdue’s Vice President for Student Services, Dr. Tom Robinson retired last sum-mer. We congratulate him on his retirement and thank him for his friendship and many years of support. We wish him, his wonderful wife Nancy, and his entire family all the best. Hail Purdue!

The PMO Advisory Board consists of alumni, donors and friends who serve as ambassadors for the program. Special thanks go to these volunteers who assist and advise PMO with friend-raising and fundraising efforts. Each year, members nominate one person for membership. Nominations are presented to the PMO Director for review. To learn more, visit:

www.purdue.edu/pmo/advisory.shtml

Meet the PMO Advisory Board

Dr. Melissa Exum joined the Boilermaker family as our

new Vice President for Student Affairs last August

after serving as Dean of Students and Associate Vice

Chancellor of Student Affairs at the University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill. Please join us in welcoming

Dr. Exum to Purdue and PMO!

Congratulations to U-Choir alum and PMO Advisory Board member Betsy Marti on receiving Mortar Board national honor society's top award for chapter advisors.

“My involvement with PMO is one of the most uplifting and enriching experiences in my life.” – Betsy Marti, University Choir ‘69, PMO Advisory Board

Yours in Song · 2011 8

Purdue Musical Organizations 712 Third Street West Lafayette, IN 47907 800-893-3041 www.purdue.edu/pmo

2011 DATES TO KNOW

March

11-18 Glee Club Spring Break Performance Tour

27 Purduettes, Center for Cancer Research Benefit 2pm Lafayette Theatre Lafayette, IN

April

7 PHENOMENA, Elliott Hall of Music 7:30pm West Lafayette, IN

15 PMO Alumni Day, University Church All day West Lafayette, IN

16 Purduette Spring Spectacular, Long Center 7:30pm Lafayette, IN

17 Purdue Bells, University Choir, Heart & Soul and All Campus & Community Chorale Concert 4:30pm University Church West Lafayette, IN

May

14 Glee Club End of Season, Loeb Playhouse 7:30pm West Lafayette, IN

August

19 Glee Club and Purduettes, Camp Tecumseh 2pm Brookston, IN

26 Glee Club First Nighter, Purdue Memorial Union 7:30pm West Lafayette, IN

September

17 PMO Parent Cookout

October

22 Homecoming

November

6 Purdue Bells, University Choir, Heart & Soul and All Campus & Community Chorale Concert 4:30pm University Church West Lafayette, IN

12 PMO Club Donor Reception

December

3-4 78th Annual Purdue Christmas Show Weekend

This is not a complete listing. For details and many additional performances, please visit:

www.purdue.edu/pmo

PMO STAFF

Director

Bill Griffel, Varsity Glee Club and University Choir

Assistant Directors

Ted Arthur Varsity Glee Club, PMO Kids Choir

Michelle Beimfohr Purdue Bells

Jon Ranard Purduettes, University Choir and Heart & Soul

Jeff Vallier Purduettes, All Campus & Community Chorale and Recruitment

Director of Operations

Steve Schlenk

Director of Alumni & Donor Relations

Joli Heavin

Scheduling & Events Coordinator Lance Connolly

Account Clerk Kim Van Meter

Secretary/Receptionist Andrea Ridge

Business Manager Kent Shoults