Aurora to consider appointments for Entertainment Commission

The Aurora City Council will soon consider the first 11 appointments to the city’s new Music, Events and Entertainment Commission.

Members of the council’s Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee on Tuesday recommended the appointments made by the mayor’s office. The appointments will go to the Committee of the Whole at its Nov. 7 meeting, with the idea they will be approved by the council on Nov. 14.

The commission is tasked with advising City Hall on arts and entertainment issues, and would include non-residents as well as residents.

Alex Voigt, deputy chief of staff in the mayor’s office, said that is because “we are looking to make Aurora a regional destination for arts and entertainment, therefore having members from outside of the city was deemed beneficial.”

The non-residents being considered for the panel do work in Aurora, officials said.

The original ordinance creating the commission said it would have nine members, but officials asked that be amended to 11 members to better carry out their duties, Voigt said.

There were 51 applicants for the commission, and the mayor’s office interviewed 22 of them, Voigt said.

Because this is a first-time commission, the appointments would be staggered with three-, two- and one-year terms. Who would serve which term was decided by random lottery, Voigt said.

Chosen for three-year terms were: Daryl Silberman, 8th Ward, a middle school orchestra teacher in the Indian Prairie School District who also works with the Youth Symphony of DuPage; Tiffany Hall, 2nd Ward, a painter and singer who also has experience with Broadway in Chicago; and Alvin Watkins, 9th Ward, who has a music management degree and is also a touring musician.

Chosen for a two-year term were: Didi Foley, a non-resident, who is Student Services Manager at the downtown campus of Waubonsee Community College and also works on the weekends as on-air radio talent; Michael Summers, 4th Ward, who has experience with the “Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Late Night with David Letterman” as an intern and worked with New York University and event management for high-profile events and individuals; Alex Benitez, a non-resident, who owns We R Music studio in downtown Aurora and is a DJ; and Braden Smith, 4th Ward, the owner of French 75 and an accomplished jazz musician who plays the saxophone.

Chosen for a one-year term were: John Sargent, 5th Ward, who works with the Fox Valley Folklore Society and the Ukulele Fest in Aurora and hosts “Singarounds” at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora; Nilda (Nina) Melendez, a non-resident, who is a creative director, event manager and podcast host; William Small Jr., 8th Ward, owner of Jazz Perspectives, a talent management company; and Aaron Lechuga, 4th Ward, who has an arts management degree, does events management, and is a musician and music teacher.

[email protected]