4 minute read
In Recognition
Mu Phi Epsilon is proud to announce the latest ACME (Artists, Composer, Musicologists, Educators) honorees and include them among our most accomplished members whose achievements place them at the acme of our profession. Like all ACME honorees, they welcome mentoring requests and other contact from Mu Phi members.
David Raiklin (Omega Omega, Los Angelos Alumni)
American composer, digital creator, producer, educator and host David Raiklin is an award-winning commissioned composer and a prolific composer of concert, film and television works. He has scored over 100 movies and composed over 100 concert and occasional pieces. He has worked for the major studios including Sony, Fox, Disney, Sprint, Mattel, Warner Bros and PBS, and on independent productions. Raiklin was mentored by Oscar winner John Williams and Pulitzer Prize winner Mel Powel. His projects have starred Elliott Gould, Doug Jones, Blythe Danner and Martin Sheen.
Raiklin made the New York Film Critics Top Ten with the documentary Heist, was short listed for an Academy Award for Worth, and won a Los Angeles Area Emmy for Mia, A Dancer’s Journey. He loves creating augmented reality and soaring concert music. His works have been performed at the Hollywood Bowl and Disney Hall. Raiklin studied at the University of Southern California and CalArts and later taught at those universities along with UCLA, Eastman and UC San Diego among others. Raiklin is the current president of the National Association of Composers USA LA chapter and a retired physician.
Claudia Navarro Jameson (Beta Kappa, Dallas Alumni)
Claudia Navarro Jameson is the current president of the Dallas Alumni chapter. As an artist, Jameson is no stranger to the stage. She has performed in musicals and operas as a soloist and chorus member and she has been a choral director. She began singing ingenue roles professionally at the age of 18 while a freshman in college. She has performed in musicals and operas, sung as a member of the Dallas Civic Chorus, and been a choral director at Southern Methodist University. As a composer, Jameson has composed many short children’s songs in Spanish and English to teach educational content.
In recent years, she wrote the libretto for Anám the Witch and Beatrice the Beautiful, the opera composed by Mary Alice Rich for elementary-aged children, many of whom are bilingual. In the performance of this Mexican fairy tale by the Diversitá Opera Company, Jameson directed the production as well as acted as the company’s costumer and sang the role of Anám. The opera was performed at the 2023 Mu Phi Convention for which the Dallas Alumni chapter served as host. As an educator, Jameson has taught bilingual education at public schools for over 20 years. She has been a dedicated, active member of Mu Phi Epsilon serving in many positions. She is a thoughtful, sensitive teacher, mother, grandmother and friend. Members of the Dallas Alumni chapter and others she supports have benefited from her considerate attention as they have aged. This goes beyond any expectations of friendship or allegiance to the chapter.
Lei Weng (Alpha Alpha, Denver Alumni)
Steinway Artist Lei Weng enjoys a successful international career as an accomplished pianist, a dedicated teacher and a sought-after adjudicator and clinician. As an artist, Weng has performed at prestigious venues and music festivals around the globe. A frequent concerto soloist, Weng has appeared with over 40 orchestras worldwide. An avid chamber music performer, he has collaborated with musicians from major symphonies. He has served as jury member in multiple international piano competitions. As an educator, Weng is a much sought after pedagogue. He is the keyboard area head and professor of piano at the University of Northern Colorado. He is the founder and director of the Colorado International Piano Academy and Festival. Previously, he was the chairman of the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation keyboard scholarships.
About ACME
ACME is the acronym for Artists, Composers, Musicologists and Educators. ACME highlights the strengths of our Mu Phi Epsilon artists, composers, musicologists, and educators. It is an honor bestowed upon Mu Phi Epsilon members who are distinguished in their respective fields of musical endeavors. We therefore encourage members to nominate deserving candidates who have achieved national and/or international acclaim in their music-related fields for ACME consideration. Information about ACME members and their attainments are published to recognize outstanding achievements of our members as well as to provide mentors who are willing to advise other musicians in the same category of the music profession.
