Laura Eakman
Blakeley Menghini
Holiday Sing-Along
Our annual Holiday program will be presented by the Music Academy in Rockford. The details are a little fuzzy but from what I understand this will be a two-part program with some musical numbers from one family that is connected with the Music Academy. Then there will be the holiday sing-along with the Music Academy. Our presenters will be Laura Eakman and Blakeley Menghini.
The Music Academy in Rockford is a not-for-profit community school of music that provides students opportunities to grow through music, inspiring them to pursue a life of excellence, accomplishment and fulfillment while achieving their full musical and personal potential.
Since its founding in 1985, The Music Academy has successfully motivated and inspired more than 40,000 young people with high quality music instruction. Our non-profit community music school is based in a historic, centrally located neighborhood at Loreen Hall, and we also provide partner programs at eight locations throughout Rockford. Our highly skilled artist-faculty members provide a multi level, articulated curriculum to youth – from newborns to teens and also to adults.
Dr. Laura Eakman currently serves as Executive Director of The Music Academy in Rockford, a non-profit community music school offering traditional and Suzuki instruction for all ages. Prior to her work in Rockford, she founded Suzuki Strings of Manhattan where she ran a Suzuki Program, Summer Chamber Music Camp and conducted the local youth Orchestra. Additional past experience includes serving as Chair of the Strings Division for the Community School for the Performing Arts at Kansas State University and teaching with El Sistema Colorado which serves primarily disadvantaged students in the Denver Area.
Blakeley Menghini has been appointed education and community engagement director of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra in Illinois. Originally from Shannon, Illinois, about an hour west of Rockford, Menghini has worked in education and music-making in the Midwest. Primarily a violist, she earned degrees from Greenville University, Northern Illinois University, and UW-Madison. She is a founding member of the Griffon and Kalara String Quartets. During her doctoral studies, she researched the Suzuki Method and identified ways that learning a string instrument can help youth development. She has taught viola and violin lessons to all levels and ages, as well as classroom teaching that spans from kindergarten to undergraduate levels.
We would encourage everyone to bring your singing voice and dress up in your favorite holiday outfit or even an ugly sweater and join us for this fun and entertaining program. We would also encourage members to invite a guest or prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via zoom.
PDG Elise Cadigan will introduce our presenters and act as Rotary Host.