Encyclopedia Dubuque
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WOODIN, John F.
WOODIN, John F. (Grand Island, NB, Dec. 28, 1953-- ). Woodin, hired as a music teacher in 1979, was later appointed the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Fine Arts director, instructor of vocal music at DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, and teacher of the Video Rangers, a student group responsible for video taping events in the district. In 1991 when Superintendent Joel MORRIS resigned, Woodin and Gene POTTS, both school principals, were enlisted to assist Assistant Superintendent Jane PETREK into Morris' former position. (1)
Woodin served as the chancel and family choir director and soloist at ST. LUKE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH beginning in 1992 and from 1993 was a member and program chairman of the DUBUQUE ARTS COUNCIL Artist in Residence Program. A board member, board secretary, and parent volunteer of the COLTS DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS beginning in 1994, he also served as the music director at the GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Beginning in 2009 the Northeast Iowa School of Music launched the New Horizons Band, part of the international organization, New Horizons Music, for musicians 50 years of age and older. Woodin was the director. (1)
In 2001 Woodin was a member of the board of Artstart, an outreach of the DUBUQUE COUNTY FINE ARTS SOCIETY and a memorial to Russell NASH. The program provided after-school opportunities for talented Dubuque elementary school students. (2) He served on the board of the Dubuque Main Street Architecture Days Committee in 2010. (3) In 2013 he was elected to the board of the DUBUQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. (4) It was with the symphony that Woodin in 1993 introduced the Pupils Readily and Eagerly Supporting the Orchestra (PRESTO) project. An example of school-business partnerships, PRESTO allowed students to purchase Sunday afternoon tickets to the symphony at a deeply discounted rate and receive the amount they paid in a voucher for food later. The business sponsor was Wendy's restaurants. (5)
Woodin performed as a soloist with the symphony in the 1996 Labor Day Pops Concert and the 1997 performance of Tosca. He was featured in the 2007 "One Enchanted Evening--An All-Star Salute to Broadway" presented by the NORTHEAST IOWA SCHOOL OF MUSIC. (6) He also appeared in Bell Tower productions. (7) As "Daddy Warbucks" in the GRAND OPERA HOUSE production of "Annie," he raised money for the production by charging twenty dollars to those who wanted to help cut off his hair. (8)
In 2010 Woodin was a consultant for the Mid-Iowa School Improvement Consortium, music and voice teacher, music director, conductor and performer. (9)
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Source:
1. Pieters, Jeffrey, "Morris Will Take Job in Elmhurst," Telegraph Herald, May 25, 1991, p. 1
2. "Community Briefs," Telegraph Herald, September 10, 2011, p 16
3. Voight, Sandye, "Perfect Fit," Telegraph Herald, February 23, 2001, p. 20
4. Advertisement, Telegraph Herald, April 25, 2010, p. 15
5. Glindinning, Mary, "Students Meet the Symphony," Telegraph Herald, January 21 1993, p. 14
5. "Achievements," Telegraph Herald, December 5, 2013, p. 72
6. Advertisement, Telegraph Herald, March 11, 2007, p. 4
7. Voight, Sandye, "The Real World of Relationships," Telegraph Herald, September 23 2004, p. 9
8. Gilligan, Amy, "Actor Raises Money as He Loses Hair," Telegraph Herald, June 14, 1997, p. 1
9. Gloss, Megan, "The Many Faces of Music," Telegraph Herald, April 18, 2010, p. 36