News and Information about Emerson Alumni
Alums perform in "Our Town"
November 2009 - Emerson Alumni appear in the Greenhills production of Thornton Wilder's play about the passing of time and the appreciation of life in all of its daily routines, rituals and simplicities.
Stage Manager - Paul Riker (11th)
Howie Newsome - Matthew Fligel (10th)
George Gibbs - Tom McClure (12th)
Mr. Webb - Michael Szocik (10th)
Constable Warren - Andrew Garton (11th)
People of the Town - Liz Baker (9th) and
Patricia Simmer (9th)
Emerson alumni working as a crew member - Erin Spencer (12th) is the actual Stage Manager
Revenge of the Space Pandas
November 2009 - A two-speed clock is at the heart of David Mamet's crazy comedy, The Revenge of The Space Pandas. Among the actors playing beyond Earth time in the Greenhills middle school production are Emerson alumni Gus Nordhielm, Astra Tucker, Brendan Kelley-Bukovac, Annika Morrison and Gina Vasey.
Alum plays in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
October 2009 - Emily Wilson-Tobin is among the cast of five actors, each playing four roles, in Blackbird Theatre's original take on Shakespeare's classic love comedy.
Emerson Alum performs at Chelsea High with "Barrage!"
October 2009 - Barrage! is a high-octane fiddle-fest that performs its ecletic mix of music, song and dance internationally. This year's multi-talented cast is joined by Emerson alum, Kiana Weber, Class of 2003. On October 6, Kiana performed locally at Chelsea High School where she was a stand out in academics, music and drama.
Alum is recognized as 2009 Presidential Scholar
May 2009 - Emerson Alumna Andrea Jarrett has been selected as a 2009 Presidential Scholar. The Presidential Scholars Program is a nonpartisan, public-private partnership designed to recognize and provide leadership development experiences for some of America's most outstanding graduating high-school seniors. It is one of the Nation's highest honors for high school students. The 141 students named annually as Presidential Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people.
Andrea has been playing the violin since the early age of three, and attends the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy program for pre-college musicians, where she studies with Almita Vamos. Andrea was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2008 Michigan ASTA Solo Competition, Junior Division. She is a member of Quartet Polaris, Gold Medal Winners of the 2008 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, Junior Division. Andrea has performed as a soloist with the Toledo, Dearborn, Birmingham-Bloomfield and Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestras, as the first-place winner of their concerto competitions. In April 2009, she performed at Carnegie Hall as a member of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. This summer, she attended the Astona International Summer Music Academy in Geneva, Switzerland, and in the fall began studies at the Julliard School.
Andrea’s ultimate goal playing the violin has always been to inspire audiences with her passionate performances.
The Scholars travel to Washington, D.C. each June as guests of the program for National Recognition Week: five days of educational, celebratory and fellowship activities. Scholars participate in seminars, lectures and workshops with government officials, elected representatives, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and other accomplished people; perform community service; and attend cultural events and ceremonies held in their honor. During the week they forge friendships that often last a lifetime. The week culminates in a White House-sponsored event at which the Scholars are awarded the Presidential Medallion.
Our heartfelt applause to Andrea for her boundless musical talent and inspiring accomplishments.
Alum awarded US State Department Critical Language Scholarship
May 2009 - The Department of State's Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) for Intensive Summer Institutes Program was launched in 2006 to increase opportunities for American students to study critical-need languages overseas. In 2009 the CLS Program received over 5,400 applications and accepted only a little over 500 students. Emerson Alumna, Adina Williams, was awarded a scholarship.
As a member of the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor Community,
Ms. Williams is excited to represent her hometown and her country
on her travels in China. Ms. Williams, a native Ann-Arborite, has
taken full advantage of the Asian educational and cultural
opportunities available at the U of M and in the city of Ann Arbor.
Throughout her undergraduate career at the University of Michigan, Ms.
Williams has participated in myriad university and community
organizations ranging from the Taiwanese Student Association to the UM
Shorin Ryu Karate Club. As an honor student, Ms. Williams has also
enjoyed working and volunteering in many scientific laboratories at
the University. Her laboratory work ranges from social sciences to
biological chemistry.
After graduation in the winter of 2009, Ms. Williams plans to attend graduate school and find some way to combine her love of the chinese language with her love for scientific research. She has completed the equivalent of 4 years of academic study of the Chinese Language through the U of M Asian Languages and Cultures Department. She is a member of the Asian Martial Arts Studio on Fourth St. in downtown Ann Arbor and spent a summer working at Falling Water Books and Collectibles, a locally owned and run shop on Main St. Ms. Williams feels incredibly fortunate to be able to attend one of China's most famous Universities (Soochow University in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province) and continue her work on the Chinese Language.
Congratulations, Adina, on your outstanding work and impressive achievement.
Alex Perlman is chosen Ann Arbor News Young Citizen of the Year
May 10, 2009 - Alex Perlman's leadership and his service to the community he loves so much have earned him The Ann Arbor News Young Citizen of the Year Award for 2009. Congratulations, Alex, and thank you for all of your work on behalf ot the community. Read article.
Two Emerson Alumni awarded McDowell Writing Awards at Greenhills
May 2009 - Marita Ingelhart (11th) received the award for Poetry, and Paul Riker (10th) was this year's winner for Fiction. The community was invited to hear the winners share their writing on May 19 at Greenhills.
Alum is a youngsARTS semi-finalist
This February,in New York City, Andrea Jarrett qualified as one of the 46 semifinalists in the youngARTS competition. 20 will be selected to travel to the White House and receive the Presidential Scholar in the Arts award. Read more.
Emerson Alums in "Fiddler on the Roof" at Greenhills
There was music in the air at Greenhills as the Upper School production of "Fiddler on the Roof" took to the stage, March 27-28. The show was directed by former Emerson student Emily Wilson-Tobin, and the cast included alums Hannah Anderson, Jenny Burks, Michelle Canning, Lauren Duclos, Matt Fligiel, Andrew Garton, Alia Phillips, Paul Riker, Cameron Strong, and Maddy Walsh, as well as current 4th grader, Daria Chamness. Joe McClure and Katherine Selwa played in the orchestra; Noah Cohen and Erin Spencer were tech crew members.
Alum heads to Yale in the fall
March 2009 - Former Emerson student, Joshua Stein will be attending Yale next fall. Congratulations Josh!
National Merit Finalist
February 2009 - Former Emerson student, Joe McClure was named a national merit finalist last week. Congratulations, Joe!
2 Emerson Alums team up for music making
January 2009 - "Engaging" and "energetic" are words to describe the musical collaboration of two Emerson Class of 2006 alums. Leah Latterner (pianist) and Jacob Joyce (violinist) have joined with fellow Pioneer High School junior, Ryan King, to form the Cobahshi Trio. They recently performed Bartok's Contrasts:III:Sebes at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids. See - and hear! - them in action here.
Emerson Alumna recognized for commitment to inner city teaching
September 2008 - With a new Master's of Education Degree from Stanford and a 5-year fellowship from Knowles Science Teaching Foundation, Sangeetha Lakshminarayana knows exactly where she's going -- across San Francisco Bay to San Lorenzo Unified School District. There she will be teaching high school math in an inner city setting. Read more about this alum who is the daughter of our own Emerson Librarian, Linda Lakshminarayana.
Congratulations to the Class of 2008!
Young Ann Arbor birder recognized for his skills
Andy Johnson, 15, is going to World Series of Birding.
He knows the secret in seeing a rare species of bird lies not in great binoculars, but in a good set of ears."If you've heard about a location of a specific bird, you can start there and then if it moved, you walk around a little bit," said the 15-year-old Ann Arbor Pioneer High School sophomore. "The most important thing to do is to listen. You're going to hear it before you see it."
Johnson knows what he's talking about......
Read the Ann Arbor News article here.
In Memory of Julia Segall-Derfler
The Emerson community is deeply saddened by the death of former Emerson student Julia Segall-Derfler, age 24, on November 19, 2007.
Read on.....
Emerson Alumnus in the Community
Alex Perlman, a Junior at Huron High School and a 2005 Emerson graduate, recently visited Emerson as a representative of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s Youth Council. He is helping Emerson fifth grade students apply for community service mini grants. Read more........
