2010 Signature Sinfonian Inductees

Dr. J. Roger Breland, Iota Nu (Troy) '62
Dr. Roger Breland was involved with internationally known contemporary Christian ensemble TRUTH as the group’s founder and director. For over 30 years, the group performed over 10,000 concerts in 27 countries and recorded 60 albums. He is the Vice President of Project Development and Executive Director of The Center for Performing Arts at the University of Mobile. He continues to travel and record with the university group The Voices of Mobile which presents 150 concerts internationally each year. In 2000, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Vic Firth, Alpha (New England Conservatory) ’50
Vic Firth is the founder of Vic Firth, Inc., a percussion stick and mallet manufacturing company that manufactures over 12 million sticks per year. As an accomplished percussionist, he has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for over 50 years and has written two etude books, The Solo Timpanist and The Solo Snare Drummer. In 1995, he was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society's Hall of Fame.

Wayne Messmer, Alpha Lambda (Illinois Wesleyan) ’70
Known as the "Voice of Wrigley Field," Messmer is perhaps best known for his spirited rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the field announcer at Wrigley Field. He has been the featured soloist at Chicago Cubs games since 1985. Before that time, he served as the celebrated soloist for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago White Sox. He has over 25 years of professional radio broadcasting experience, musical theater, voice-over, jingle singing, commercial work and public speaking to his credit.

Dr. James M. Simmons, Theta Rho (Memphis) ’63
Dr. James M. Simmons, a distinguished music educator and administrator, is the 10th president of Lamar University. Under his watch, the university has steadily increased its enrollment and maintained its commitment to education in the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes. He is an active solo artist, guest conductor and an advocate for the arts. At a recent award ceremony, he performed a jazz rendition of "Oklahoma" on saxophone after his keynote address. Additionally, he was the first university president to be a featured soloist at the Texas Music Educators Association conference.

Brian Stratton, Delta Omega (Southeastern Louisiana) ’79
For nearly 22 years, Brian Stratton was a member and featured soloist with the Moses Hogan Chorale and Singers. He has worked to promote the Spiritual arrangements of Mr. Hogan and other renowned composers and arrangers in workshops and seminars around the world. He has appeared at the White House on four occasions, performing for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and William Clinton. An enthusiastic promoter of music education, he devotes his time not only to music education, but enthusiastically encourages arts education for children around the nation. Brother Stratton was initiated as an honorary member at the 2010 Leadership Institute in Evansville, Ind.