Curtain closes on Deanne Zogleman’s and Carole Pracht’s 20+ years at Newman

After decades of performances, rehearsals and memories, the dynamic duo of Newman University’s music department has taken their final bows.

Deanne Zogleman, director of music, and Carole Pracht ’75, piano instructor and accompanist, retired in 2025 after more than 20 years of teaching thousands of students. Their final show took place in early May, when current students and alumni reunited for the Family Reunion Spring Show — a celebration of their legacy.

“I only hope to be remembered for keeping the threads of music alive and well at Newman University as others did for me,” Pracht said. “The students and the close connections with them every semester are what I’ll treasure most.”

Pracht joined the department in 1996, teaching piano and organ and accompanying ensembles through decades of concerts, musicals and community performances.

Zogleman, who started with just 21 students, built the program into a vibrant community of 75 to 85 students strong, encompassing musical theater, jazz, sacred and classical styles.

“It blessed my life, and I got to live my dream,” Zogleman said.

Together, the female powerhouses created a community rooted in friendship and unforgettable experiences, including performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City, trips to Chicago, Washington, D.C., and the ASC Center in Ruma, Illinois, and even serenades to veterans of Kansas Honor Flights, to name a few. Zogleman especially cherished the 20 spring “jukebox musicals” performed in Newman’s De Mattias Performance Hall.

“Watching students and alumni experience the joy of performing was such a gift,” she said.

The duo’s influence extended beyond the rehearsal hall or stage.

“It was a group I spent more time with than my actual family,” said Rusty Carbaugh ’15.

Yamir Lozada ’12, ’25 called music at Newman “a lifeline.”

“They were not just professors. They were mentors, cheerleaders and sometimes our mothers,” he said. “They helped me find a confidence and a voice I didn’t know I had.”

Zogleman’s daughter, Sara Zogleman Avelar, a 2021 social work and 2022 Master of Social Work graduate, grew up immersed in that community.

“I’ve been fortunate to see my mom and Carole thrive in their roles for my entire life,” she said. “My mom taught me to ‘breathe and believe,’ not only in music, but also in breathing in the good and breathing out the bad in life.”

Current students shared their sentiments.

“They made Newman feel like home,” said theology major Nathan Galicia. “When I walked into that room as an out-of-state student, they made me feel welcomed.”

“Deanne and Carole gave me the confidence to be myself and realize I have a gift,” added Anna Corbett, an elementary education major.

Though they retired from Newman, both plan to stay active in music. Pracht will continue teaching and serving as a church organist and on boards of musical organizations. Zogleman looks forward to directing the Heart of America Men’s Chorus, returning to theater and spending time with her new grandson.