Who Are We?
Illini Student Musicals (ISM) is an organization dedicated to the performance of musical theater at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Students will be able to gain experience in the administrative, technical, creative, and performance aspects of producing musical theater. By putting on a show once a semester, students will be able to get first-hand experience in the collaborative process and in all elements of musical theater.
ISM strives to put on performances that showcase our members’ talent, enthusiasm, creativity, and passion. With each show, we aim to challenge ourselves as artists as well as our audiences with performances of the highest artistic and professional caliber.
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) are core values in our organization and in all aspects of our show processes. We believe that DEIA is a commitment to all individuals we work with regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and identification, economic circumstance, ability, and age. Personal differences and perspectives are appreciated as factors that cultivate an inclusive environment. It is essential to us that everyone feels respected and affirmed for their true identities at all times.
As a student-run organization that is constantly changing and evolving, we incessantly welcome individuals of all backgrounds. When making decisions relating to any aspect of ISM, we strive for mutual understanding that is rooted in all voices and outlooks being heard.
There is no end to our process of promoting DEIA. We are continually learning and improving as a nonprofit. As we progress beyond these current objectives, we are dedicated to further advancing our path towards equity and inclusion for all current and future members.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors meets weekly on Sundays at 5:30 PM during the school year. Contact secretary@illinistudentmusicals.org to meet with the Board.
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President
Ellie Pierzina (she/her) is a junior majoring in Music Education with an instrumental focus.
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Vice President
Aidan Gardner (he/him) is a senior majoring in Sound Design & Technology with a minor in Business.
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Treasurer
Peter Giannetos (he/him) is a junior majoring in Computer Engineering.
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Secretary
Ava BooydeGraaff (she/her) is a senior majoring in Industrial Design with minors in Psychology and Art History.
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Marketing Director
Laine Gamrath (she/her) is a senior majoring in Psychology on the Pre-Med track.
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Community Outreach
Michal Szczepaniak (he/him) is a senior majoring in Journalism with a minor in Theatre.
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DEIA Chair
Jaz Wilkins (she/her) is a sophomore majoring in Acting with a minor in Dance.
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Board Member
Emma Perisho (she/her) is a junior majoring in Choral Music Education.
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Board Member
Hannah Sachs (she/her) is a sophomore majoring in Management and Information Systems.
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Board Member
Maggie Hancock (she/her) is a sophomore majoring in Lyric Theatre.
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Board Member
Sophia Urban (they/them) is a senior majoring in Theatre Studies.
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Board Member
Zoe Mihevc (she/her) is a senior majoring in Materials Science & Engineering.
Previous Boards
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President: Aidan Gardner
Vice-President: Ethan Matteo Fazio
Treasurer: Zoe Mihevc
Secretary: Sophia Urban
Community Outreach: Maya O’Neill
Marketing Director: Emma Mize
DEIA Chair: Ellie Pierzina
Board Members: Ava BooydeGraaff
Laine Gamrath
Peter Giannetos
Mitch Ryba
Michal Szczepaniak
Faculty Advisor: Sarah W. Johnson
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President: Daniel Owen
Vice-President: Lucy Economos
Treasurer: Ethan Matteo Fazio
Secretary: Joanna Riemer (2021)
Owen Henderson (2022)
Community Outreach: Maya O’Neill
Marketing Director: Trevor Santiago
Board Members: Aidan Gardner (2022)
Owen Henderson (2021)
Jessica Hendrickson
Zoe Mihevc
Emma Mize
Kenneth Tochihara
Sophia Urban
Faculty Advisor: Sarah W. Johnson
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President: Daniel Owen
Vice-President: Kenneth Tochihara
Treasurer: Ethan Matteo Fazio
Secretary: Ellen Reckamp
Community Outreach: Christine Millins
Marketing Director: Kelsey Handschuh
Board Members: Joanna Riemer
Owen Henderson
Lucy Economos
Sarah Dolins
Faculty Advisor: Sarah W. Johnson
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President: Gabriel Herzog
Vice-President: Abby Steimel
Treasurer: Daniel Owen
Secretary: Caylei Hallberg
Community Outreach: Christine Millins (2019)
Kelsey Handschuh (2020)
Marketing Director: Morgan Dunn
Board Members: Kara Hynes
Ellen Reckamp
Kenneth Tochihara
Joanna Riemer (2019)
Spencer Andrews (2020)
Faculty Advisor: Sarah W. Johnson
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President: Aleeza Leder Macek
Vice-President: Olivia Begley
Treasurer: Jake Fava (2018)
Kelsey Handschuh (2019)
Secretary: Abby Steimel
Community Outreach: Drew Howard (2018)
Gabriel Herzog (2019)
Marketing Director: Osiris Ramos
Board Members: Nick Hittle (2018)
Tessa Muriello (2018)
Gabriel Herzog (2018)
Jack Wierschem
Morgan Dunn (2019)
Kate Jurkovic (2019)
Haley Prochilo (2019)
Faculty Advisor: Sarah W. Johnson
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President: Anne Deichert
Vice-President: Aleeza Leder Macek
Treasurer: Olivia Begley (2017)
Jake Fava (2018)
Secretary: Amy Hoke
Community Outreach: Mary Di Leo
Marketing Director: Katie Burke
Board Members: Dane Brandon
Jonathan "Keaton" Hellman
Osiris Ramos
Tessa Muriello
Faculty Advisor: Sarah W. Johnson
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President: Lauren Brooks
Vice-President: Anne Deichert
Treasurer: Matthew Gross
Secretary: Tucker Nevel
Community Outreach: Rebecca Sweeney
Marketing Director: Maureen Sanderson
Board Members: Katie Burke (2017)
Mary Di Leo
Jon Faw (2016)
Jonathan "Keaton" Hellman
Aleeza Leder Macek
Faculty Advisor: Sarah W. Johnson
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President: David Naber
Vice-President: Stephanie Svarz (2015)
Jon Faw (2016)
Treasurer: Lauren Brooks (2015)
Anne Deichert (2016)
Secretary: Tucker Nevel
Community Outreach: Margaret Boland (2015)
Griffin Jenkins (2016)
Corporate Relations: Melisa Puthenmadom (2015)
Marketing Director: Maureen Sanderson
Board Members: Katie Burke (2016)
Anne Deichert (2015)
Mary Di Leo (2016)
Jon Faw (2015)
Kirsten Vold
Faculty Advisor: Sarah W. Johnson
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President: Carly Graham (2014)
Christopher Cayari (2014)
Austin Errera (2015)
Vice-President: David Naber
Treasurer: Matt Bleck
Secretary: Brandon Saposnik
Community Outreach: Delaney Sterling
Corporate Relations: Ashley Scott (2014)
Elizabeth Balkan (2015)
Marketing Director: Austin Errera (2014)
John Lattanzi (2015)
Faculty Advisor: Sarah W. Johnson
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President: Justin Brauer
Vice-President: Matt Bleck
Treasurer: Michael Courtney
Secretary: Erin Berg (2013)
Brandon Saposnik (2014)
Community Outreach: Christopher Cayari
Corporate Relations: Ashley Scott
Marketing Director: Derrick Pemberton
Faculty Advisor: Dawn Harris
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Co-Presidents: Chris Johnson
Aaron Kaplan
Vice-President: Justin Brauer
Treasurer: Michael Courtney
Secretary: Erin Berg
Community Outreach: Jeri Hart
Marketing Director: Jenny Jones
Faculty Advisor: Dawn Harris