Madelyn Anderson Named to Sycamore Music Boosters Hall of Fame

The Sycamore Music Boosters is pleased to announce that Madelyn Anderson will be presented with an Advocate Award for its 2019 Hall of Fame induction. Anderson and her husband Keith are residents of Sycamore and their sons, Garth and Leif, both attended Sycamore schools. Garth is now the 5th grade Band Director and teaches K-5 General Music for the Sycamore School District. He also is principal trumpet for the DuPage Symphony.

Anderson has an extensive background in music and arts advocacy. She attended high school in Pinedale, Wyoming, where she was in All-State Choir and principal French horn at music festivals and competitions. She has a bachelor’s degree in music from Augustana College where she was a member of the Augustana Choir, Chamber Singers, and the Handel Oratorio Society. After graduation, she was hired as Director of Cultural Events. She later earned a master’s degree in communication and women’s studies.

Anderson began volunteering with the Music Boosters in the late 1990s and served on the board from 2002 to 2016. During her tenure, she was Scholarship Chair, Music Publicity Coordinator, and Hall of Fame administrator.

At the behest of Sycamore principal Tim Carlson, she worked for the Music Boosters to create the Sycamore High School Music Hall of Fame program in 2012. Previously, she established the publicity position which involved taking photos and writing news releases and other materials and disseminating them to the news media and the Sycamore school district. She established the protocol for the senior music awards and scholarships and wrote the Music Boosters mission statement. She also was instrumental in updating bylaws.

Ken Olson, former Boosters president and longtime music advocate, agrees that Anderson played a big role in launching the Hall of Fame and in service to music education in Sycamore.

“Madelyn and Tim Carlson came up with the idea of a Sycamore Music Hall of Fame,” Olson said. “Madelyn became the driving force behind development of the Hall of Fame, in terms of coordination of the trophy case construction, development of the categories for membership, development of the application process, and coordination of the awards ceremony. She continued to serve as chair of the SMHOF for the first 4-5 years of the program and turned this into a great asset for the school and the community.”

In addition to her years of volunteer work with the Music Boosters, Anderson also volunteered at Augustana’s NPR affiliate station and continued to serve as the road manager for Augustana’s Choir for several years after leaving Augustana College.

Currently, Anderson is a longtime, award-winning instructor in the Northern Illinois University Department of Communication. She also teaches an honors service-learning course emphasizing non-profit education and engagement. She and her students frequently volunteer in the community.

“It was a huge surprise to me that I was named to the SHS Hall of Fame,” Anderson said. “I am very humbled to be the recipient of the advocacy award – in part because arts advocacy and community service have always been a part of who I am.”

Anderson adds that her entire family is “fortunate to be part of a community that values and supports music education and performance as essential components to the education of our children.”

About the Sycamore Boosters Hall of Fame

There are four categories of Hall of Fame inductees, each of which recognizes ways in which Sycamore High School alumni and community members have contributed to excellence in music programs. The categories are:

Ovation Award: Given to an SHS graduate who demonstrated superior performance and participation in music throughout high school.

Legacy Award: Given to an SHS graduate who demonstrated superior performance and participation in music throughout high school, and who has continued to demonstrate superior involvement in music through continued education, professional, and volunteer involvement in music.

Advocate Award: Given to an individual who has outstanding qualities as an advocate for music programs in the Sycamore Community School District 427.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Given to an SHS graduate who demonstrated superior participation in music throughout high school. Beyond high school, the individual must have a record of distinguished and exceptional performance/service/achievement in their vocation and/or avocation outside of music.

About Sycamore Music Boosters

Sycamore Music Boosters supports all students in grades K-12 in music programs offered within Sycamore Community School District 427. For more information, please visit www.sycamoremusicboosters.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Our email address is SycamoreMusicBoosters@gmail.com.