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When music and theatre come together at East Central University or in the Ada community, chances are Vickie Jo Reifsnider has been in the middle of it for nearly the past 20 years.

For her years of service to Ada and ECU, Reifsnider was recently selected as “The 2016 Outstanding Adan in the Arts” by the Ada Arts Council. Reifsnider accepted the award during the “Ada Arts Showcase” at the Ada Arts and Heritage Center on Jan. 22.

Reifsnider, who was recently named musical theatre director at ECU, has been a common fixture in the musical theatre scene in the Ada area for nearly two decades.

Not only has she served as a voice coach and participant for the ECU Singers, ECU Chorale and Showtime, she has answered the call to serve with Ada Community Theatre (ACT II) since 1997 and has held the executive position of president since 2001.

In addition to being an executive board member for ACT II, she has acted in and directed nearly 100 plays and musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Nunsense.”

Reifsnider has taught private voice lessons in the community for 20 years as many of her students have achieved awards.

In 2001, Reifsnider partnered with Rudy Lupinski, current ECU musical staff accompanist, to create the “Youth Drama Camp,” which has featured a number of original productions, complete with music composition, choreography and stage designs. The camp provides an outlet for the youth of Pontotoc County and surrounding counties to come and explore the world of stage performances and live theatre.

Reifsnider received master’s degrees in both music and theatre from ECU and has served as an educator at ECU for the past 16 years.

Among the past winners of this award were: Lupinski, Dennis Boe, Starla Hibler, David and Deanna Piercy and Betty Woods.

 

-ECU-

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