2008 Year in Review

Bassoonist Cheryl Neumann to Perform for Lenten Concert

The Morrison United Methodist Church presents bassoonist Cheryl Neumann in its Lenten Concert Series. Ms. Neumann will perform on Friday, February 29th in the sanctuary of the church beginning at noon. An accomplished musician and performer, her recital will include the works of Mozart, Elgar, and Bourdeau. This is the fourth in continuing presentations of local musicians during the Lenten season. These mini-concerts are a time of peace and reflection. A soup luncheon will follow the concert. There is no charge; however, there will be a free will offering for the soup luncheon.

Cheryl Neumann received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998, where she studied privately with Timothy McGovern. She was awarded the Division Achievement Award for Woodwind Performance at UIUC in 1997. Other teachers have included Kim Richter of North Central College, Robert Barris at Northwestern University, and Yoshiyuki Ishikawa at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Upon completing her student teaching at West Aurora High School with Stephen Orland, she was hired as the band director for the Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico school district. Cheryl taught in the district for eight years, including 5-12 band, K-5 and 7th grade computers, study skills, and 6th grade general music, as well as coached volleyball and sponsored student council at the middle school.

Cheryl left the school district in 2006 to be a stay-at-home mom to her children Molly, 6, and Adam, 3, as well as a part-time substitute teacher in many area schools. Currently, she is working towards completing her secondary math teaching endorsement.

Cheryl has played principal bassoon in the Sterling Municipal Band since late 2003, and has been the librarian for the band since 2007. Her husband, Ryan, who heads the trombone section, joins her in the band. Cheryl has been featured with the municipal band as both a soloist and as a conductor. Recently, Cheryl has played as a substitute principal bassoon with the Clinton Symphony Orchestra. Other orchestras that she has freelanced with include the Illinois, Danville, and Kankakee Symphonies, the Prairie Winds, and the Sinfonia da Camera. She also was the contrabassoonist for the Champaign-Urbana Symphony 1997 concert season.

Cheryl and her family have lived in Morrison since 1998. She spends her free time scrapbooking about her family as well as for hire. Cheryl is also a Girl Scout Brownie troop leader for the 1st and 2nd graders in town.

The United Methodist Church opens its doors to all to spend a time of repose during the journey of Lent to Easter.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
February 25, 2008