Rockford Public Schools: RPS 205 To Celebrate Alumni At Fine Arts Hall Of Fame

Press release from Rockford Public Schools:

February 28, 2022

Rockford Public Schools will celebrate and welcome four alumni into the Fine Arts Hall of Fame in April who have established successful careers in the arts.

Congratulations to the 2022 Hall of Fame class: 

“It’s exciting to recognize such talented alumni who represent not only successful arts careers, but a lifelong love of the arts,” said RPS 205 Director of Fine Arts Bonnie Spurling. “Our goal is to connect with students every day through various media and nurture a lifelong love and appreciation of fine arts. That’s something each of these alumni have clearly demonstrated, and I’m excited to celebrate that with our students, staff and the community.”

The Hall of Fame event is a fundraiser for the Rockford Fine Arts Coalition and a way to recognize Rockford's past fine arts students and educators.

Click to purchase tickets online

To purchase tickets by cash or check, contact Abby Compton at  [email protected] or 815-997-3146.

Martha Hand Frantz graduated from Guilford High School in 1969. She co-founded the Rockford College Music Academy, now known as The Music Academy of Rockford, and has led the program for 34 years. The Academy’s mission is to inspire a life-long love of music and the arts. Thousands of students have learned to play and appreciate music at the Music Academy. There are families that are now starting their 3rd generation of students at the school. Frantz has been there to witness their growth, as both musicians and as individuals, from the beginning.

Dr. Eric A. Johnson graduated from Guilford High School in 1983. He is the Director of Choral Activities at Northern Illinois University and the Founding Artistic Director of Cor Cantiamo, a professional 24-voice touring choral ensemble. As a 2019 National Endowment for the Arts Artworks grant recipient, he has been recognized for his artistic leadership, whose ensembles represent choral artistry at its finest. He is a champion of contemporary choral music and dedicated to addressing social justice issues through interdisciplinary concert events. 

Ensembles under his direction have performed at multiple national and division conventions for the National Collegiate Choral Organization, American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference. He has a long list of international guest conductor and tour credits, music collaborations and published works.

ALONZO Russell graduated from Auburn High School’s Creative and Performing Arts program in 2009. He is a professional choreographer, dancer, singer, songwriter and performer. Russell is the founder of the Rockford-based hip-hop dance group Fatally Unique, which made it to the semifinals of the television competition show America’s Got Talent in 2011. The Creative and Performing Arts program graduate founded the group at age 15 and taught hip-hop classes at Rockford Dance Company.

As a vocalist, he performed as the lead singer in a symphonic Prince tribute show, “4U The Music of Prince,” a celebration of Prince’s music approved by Prince’s estate, in addition to performing background vocals. His first solo album debuted at No. 14 on the iTunes rock charts.

Michelle Williams graduated from Auburn High School’s Creative and Performing Arts program in 1997. She is an author, mental health advocate and former member of R&B/pop group Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling female vocal groups of all time. With Destiny’s Child, she earned seven Grammy Award nominations and one win: The Destiny’s Child album “Survivor” won Best R&B Album in 2002. 

She is among the most notable Rockford natives and was recently featured in a mural on the corner of West State and Winnebago streets, part of CRE8IV, a community-building, arts-infused event. 

Williams has found success as a solo artist and has appeared in theatre and on Broadway, worked as a singer/songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, designer and television host. She is an advocate for mental health and is an ambassador for the Office on Women’s Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

This press release was produced by Rockford Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.