Mark Miller - President
It was in 1999 that I responded to an ad in the Novato Advance. The venerable NMA Chorus was to sing with the San Marin Chorus under the revered Emily Gates, and they wanted singers to join them for the spring show. I come from a very musical family and sang as an alto in my mom’s church choir when I was a boy. But, I had not sung in anything since reprising the role of Conrad Birdie in “Bye Bye Birdie” during my late teens with a community players group. I thought I’d give the NMA a go and then bail when it was over. Well, I was so embraced by the group and their love to make music, that here I am, hauling risers, milking everything I can out of my gravelly bass voice, and signing on as President for our NMA board. I’m not sure what I can offer, but I do know that I’m proud to be a member; and that after all the practice and preparation, when the voices of many are in harmony as one, all seems right with the world. We’ll see you at the show!
ilani kopiecki - Vice-President
It is my great honor to serve as a board member for the Novato Music Association Community Chorus. Singing is my lifelong passion. My first memory of singing was joining our church choir at the age of ten. I then continued singing with my high school acapella choir, my college concert choir, and then singing in various small performance groups throughout my adult years. The Novato Music Association Chorus is my singing home. I am so grateful to be singing with such a dedicated, talented and fun group! I look forward to many more years of performing with these amazing singers!
Kathleen Minor - Treasurer
An ex-New Yorker, I wound my way to San Francisco in 1969 with “flowers in my hair”. (In my eagerness to reach the promised land, I bypassed an opportunity to attend a small music festival in Woodstock along the way!) Music had always been part of my family life growing up and I was expected to be able to read music and participate in piano and violin lessons sufficiently to experience the joy of making music in group settings. Although I never became an accomplished instrumentalist, it was a gift to learn the language of music and be able to appreciate much of what it took to produce it.
After relocating to Marin, I sang several seasons with the Dominican Chorale and rediscovered the fun and challenges of learning to master and perform music with others. Subsequently I accompanied friends to the NMAC Winter Concert of 2012 and was struck by the obvious enthusiasm and joy of all the participants as well as the attraction of the repertoire of “lighter” music than the classical works performed by the Dominican group. The rest is history, and I am continually appreciative of all the hard work and mutual support that goes into each production.
On a personal level, I am retired from a challenging but rewarding career in health care, have successfully launched three terrific children, and have one grandchild with a second on the way. Life couldn’t be much better!
After relocating to Marin, I sang several seasons with the Dominican Chorale and rediscovered the fun and challenges of learning to master and perform music with others. Subsequently I accompanied friends to the NMAC Winter Concert of 2012 and was struck by the obvious enthusiasm and joy of all the participants as well as the attraction of the repertoire of “lighter” music than the classical works performed by the Dominican group. The rest is history, and I am continually appreciative of all the hard work and mutual support that goes into each production.
On a personal level, I am retired from a challenging but rewarding career in health care, have successfully launched three terrific children, and have one grandchild with a second on the way. Life couldn’t be much better!
Joanne Golden - Secretary
I'm delighted to be on the board of a group that has brought me so much joy. I joined NMA about 13 years ago after I went to see a friend singing in the holiday concert. I was captivated by the music and saw how much fun the chorus members were having. I decided there and then that I wanted to be a part of NMA. I started as an alto, but moved to tenor when we needed a few extra voices. But, I sing alto on the women-only songs. I am proudly bi-sectional!
When I'm not singing with NMA, I am Dean of Students at Sinaloa Middle School and JoJo to two wonderful grandchildren.
When I'm not singing with NMA, I am Dean of Students at Sinaloa Middle School and JoJo to two wonderful grandchildren.
Susan Nelson - Member-at-Large
I was born in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to California in 1950. We lived in San Rafael. I attended St. Raphael's and Marin Catholic. In 1956, I married and moved to San Bruno for about 10 years. My husband and I have four children and returned to Marin for his job. We bought a home in San Anselmo and raised our children there.
Several jobs came my way. My experience cooking for the Girl Scouts led me to a job as food administrator at Marin Academy from 1980 to 1984. Then I worked in Sunny Hills for a number of years. Now, I am self-employed and working out of my home. In my free time, I like to hike, dance, sing, play Mah Jong and Scrabble,read and garden. I joined NMA 4 years ago and am enjoying it very much. I am pleased to be on the board this year.
Several jobs came my way. My experience cooking for the Girl Scouts led me to a job as food administrator at Marin Academy from 1980 to 1984. Then I worked in Sunny Hills for a number of years. Now, I am self-employed and working out of my home. In my free time, I like to hike, dance, sing, play Mah Jong and Scrabble,read and garden. I joined NMA 4 years ago and am enjoying it very much. I am pleased to be on the board this year.
Tom Kibbee - Member-at-Large
Wayne Dunlap - Member-at-Large
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I grew up in Los Angeles and moved to San Francisco in 1970 right out of the Army. Music has always been of interest, but high school was the last time I performed. Joining the Chorus has been a challenge and a delight. I hope that by serving on the Board I can help chorus members and our audiences.
My working background was in management consulting for 30 years followed by a nine-year stint driving buses for Golden Gate Transit, seriously! Now in retirement, besides chorus and walking my dog, I volunteer as a high school math tutor. |
