Aurora approves first members of new entertainment commission

The Aurora City Council this week approved the first members of the city’s new Music, Events and Entertainment Commission.

The 11-person commission will take its place among other commissions that advise the city government, tasked with advising on arts and entertainment issues.

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

Alex Voigt, deputy chief of staff in the mayor’s office, pointed out when the commission was established that it would include some non-residents. Because city officials consider that they are making Aurora a regional destination for arts and entertainment, Voigt said having some members from outside the city was “deemed beneficial.”

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

The appointments were approved at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, and Mayor Richard Irvin called the new commission “a long-time coming.”

“You are the first members, so you’ve got to set the standard,” Irvin said.

Appointed to 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.

Appointed to two-year terms were Didi Foley, a nonresident, who is student services manager at the downtown Aurora campus of Waubonsee Community College and also works on the weekends as an 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 nonresident who owns We R Music studio in downtown Aurora and is a DJ; and Braden Smith, 4th Ward, the owner of French 75 in Aurora and an accomplished jazz musician who plays the saxophone.

Appointed to one-year terms 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 nonresident, 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.

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