Danielle is a professional vocal musician and educator with over 2,200 commercial jingles and other recordings to her credit. She's performed on over 12 recordings nominated for Grammy Awards, and was honored by NARAS in 2012 for 20 years voting member service. She has performed everything from opera to rock, performed and directed musical theater and dance productions. A former Newsweek-WDIV Middle School Teacher of the Year (Vocal Music, Theatre and Technology) and former Adjunct at Oakland University, Danielle recently retired from a career in public school vocal music education. She is excited to now be able to do more recording, performing and to grow her private voice studio. Notable career performances with choral or vocal jazz greats include Ward Swingle, John Rutter, and Norman Luboff. A native of Waterford, she earned her Music Education degree at Oakland University and her Master's Degree at Chicago's VanderCook College. She couldn't be happier about Lansing's support for jazz and live performance art in general. When not involved in music, Danielle enjoys painting and silversmithing.
A product of a musical family, Ian first attended Wayne State while also playing music in metro Detroit. At MSU, he completed undergraduate and grad programs in social science/secondary education and school psychology, and was a member of MSU Jazz Band I under the direction of Ron Newman. Ian has performed in jazz festivals at Aquinas College, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Detroit, Schoolcraft College, Michigan Festival, Lansing Old Town, E. Lansing Summer Solstice and Flint. He has subbed with the Jimmy Dorsey and Legends of Swing big bands; worked in many professional and community theatres and houses of worship. Since retiring in 2010 from public education, Ian's musical vita still grows, to include freelance gigging; continuing as a founding member of the Arlene McDaniel trio and quintet, pit work with the LCC theater department; facilitating two monthly Lansing area drum circles; co-producing Mike Daniels' annual LaBatterie drum show at LCC. Ian can be heard on jazz CD recordings by The Arlene McDaniel Trio "Timeless" (2009) and southeastern Michigan vocalist Danielle Blanchard - "Jazz Portrait" (2011).
Jeff has been an active jazz pianist and arranger for many years. He received his B.M. and M.M. from Michigan State University, and has contributed dozens of arrangements to the libraries of both the Spartan marching Band and the Jazz Ensemble. He has also written arrangements for the Lansing & Flint Symphony Orchestras in addition to bands at several universities and high schools throughout the nation. He has also performed with many of the top jazz artists in Michigan, and has played with both the Woody Herman and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras.
Jeff is a retired high school band director of DeWitt Public Schools, a former director of the Alma College Jazz Ensemble, and is currently in his 12th year as the Jazz Keyboard instructor at Central Michigan University.
Ed is an instructor of classical jazz, and electric bass at the Michigan State University Community Music School. He received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Bass Performance. While at MSU, Ed was awarded the Outstanding Performance award from the Notre Dame Jazz Fest. He has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, as the principle bassist for the Lansing Symphony, and as a substitute for the Flint Symphony.
Rollin Bashford Dart greeted his Lord on May 5, 2016 after several months of illness. He was born December 2, 1925 at Miss Maude Orr's Hospital in Mason, Michigan to Doc C. Dart and Zola Bashford Dart. He grew up in Mason and graduated from Mason High School in 1943. He was active in the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943, serving in the Pacific Theatre (Iwo Jima). After his return, he attended Michigan Agricultural College (MSU) for two years.
Rollin married Mary Vay Corbin, they raised two children, Melanie Sue Dart and Doc Corbin Dart. Rollin's early career was in insurance, employed by the Dart Insurance Agency. he worked under the training and mentorship of his uncle, John Dart. While still employed in insurance, he was elected Chairman of the Board and President of Dart National Bank in April 1956. In January 1962, he concluded arrangements to leave Dart Insurance Agency and work at the Bank full time. Rollin Dart, affectionately known by his friends as Rollie, was an extraordinary and unique person. He had unusual business instincts, growing Dart National Bank (later Dart Bank) from $8 million in assets to $179 million during his tenure at the helm. He made friends wherever he went, touched many lives, and impacted people in myriad of positive ways.
A memorial service will be held Monday, May 23rd at 11:00 a.m., with visitation at 10 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church of Mason, 131 E. Maple Street, Mason. A luncheon will follow at the Ingham County Fairgrounds Community Building, 700 E. Ash Street, Mason.
President Myles Johnson called the annual Student’s Program to order; Grace Mohr gave the invocation and the assembled Rotarians sang God Bless America. Erin Howard facilitated the introduction of guests and visiting Rotarians and then shared the remembrance report, noting that Rollin Dart, father of Melanie Dart, passed away on May 4th; details will follow in the Rotogram. Doug Wiesner of PTD Technology, was given a red badge and welcomed as a new member being sponsored by Mark Hooper.
In lieu of special music, three Student Rotarians shared their experiences in high school, what they thought of participating in Rotary, and their aspirations for life following graduation.
Bryan Myrick, a Senior at Lansing Catholic, was active in high school, participating in basketball, soccer and track. He is headed to GVSU to study criminal/juvenile justice. Initially excited about free lunch and a possible scholarship, Bryan has learned that Rotary is so much bigger than that, and really sees how it aligns with his desire to make a difference and help impact someone’s life.
Garrett Strpko, a Senior at Lansing Christian, was involved with cross country, served as Class President and President of the Student Council. He actually looked up Rotary on Wikipedia (that could be a first for this group) but still didn’t have a feel for what it was about until he participated these past several weeks. He is headed to Calvin College to study film-making; wherever life takes him, he hopes to pursue a Rotary membership later in life.
Jacob McDowell, a Senior at Lansing Christian, plans to study film at MSU with a minor in music. He was on the cross country team captain at LC, where he led the team to States. He has been a part of the worship team since 7th grade and plays a wide range of instruments from piano to mandolin. He was “ecstatic about Rotary”, but truly “knew nothing about it”. It didn’t take him long to get a good grip on the great work being done here and hopes to one day join Rotary himself.
Erin Howard introduced Suzy Merchant, AKA “The best women’s college basketball coach in the country” as the speaker of the day. Suzy has been at MSU for 9 years; she is a great coach and a woman of even greater compassion. Suzy Merchant didn’t talk about wins or losses (but acknowledged wins are better than losses), rather, she spoke with passion about wanting to make a difference in the lives of young women. Not just the young women that she coaches, but young ladies struggling with confidence, body image and difficult choices that can forever influence their life. Suzy shared the emotional story that led her to create the first annual EmpowHER retreat at MSU’s Breslin Center April 29-30. Read an article about the event at http://broad.msu.edu/2016/05/03/empowher-retreat-inspires-michigan-teens/. When not coaching the MSU women’s hoops, recruiting the next class of Spartans, celebrating her players that are going to the WNBA, or being a wife and mother, Suzy can be found elsewhere in the community, speaking at events like the Oldham Project Gala and otherwise sharing her smile, encouragement and passion for building up our youth and helping others to achieve their dreams.
President Johnson thanked Coach Merchant for sharing her time with us, provided her a pocket piece with the 4-way test on it and noted that, in lieu of a speaker’s gift, we will donate in her name to the Bio Sand Filter project, providing pure water to under developed countries.
Matthew Anderson, referred to by President Johnson as “Our Main Man”, presented the students with their scholarships ($400 per student) from the Rotary Foundation to be used in support of their continued educational pursuits.
After a brief moment of startling realization that the meeting was over with 15 minutes to spare, President Johnson was ready to lead the Club in a few festive songs before choosing instead to ring the bell and dismiss the Rotarians to enjoy the sunshine. See you next week at the Lansing Center for a special all-music program produced by John Dale Smith.
Remember:
Friday, June 17th – Centennial Celebration - Dinner & Special Entertainment at 6pm (replaces June 17 lunch meeting)
Thursday, June 23, Club meeting with RI President (replaces June 24 lunch meeting)
aspirations for life following graduation.
Erin Howard introduced Suzy Merchant, AKA “The best women’s college basketball coach in the country” as the speaker of the day. Suzy has been at MSU for 9 years; she is a great coach and a woman of even greater compassion. Suzy Merchant didn’t talk about wins or losses (but acknowledged wins are better than losses), rather, she spoke with passion about wanting to make a difference in the lives of young women. Not just the young women that she coaches, but young ladies struggling with confidence, body image and difficult choices that can forever influence their life. Suzy shared the emotional story that led her to create the first annual EmpowHER retreat at MSU’s Breslin Center April 29-30. Read an article about the event at http://broad.msu.edu/2016/05/03/empowher-retreat-inspires-michigan-teens/. When not coaching the MSU women’s hoops, recruiting the next class of Spartans, celebrating her players that are going to the WNBA, or being a wife and mother, Suzy can be found elsewhere in the community, speaking at events like the Oldham Project Gala and otherwise sharing her smile, encouragement and passion for building up our youth and helping others to achieve their dreams.
Rotary Foundation to be used in support of their continued educational pursuits.