Our Team
Encore Leadership

Joshua Vickery
Chief Executive Officer
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Joshua Vickery began his role as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the organization on October 18, 2021. Joshua was drawn to the mission and vision of Encore Creativity and is thrilled to be joining the team. He plans to bring his experience and passions to the table to have great influence across the nation.
Prior to joining Encore, Vickery served as Executive Director of Central Florida Community Arts (CFCArts), an organization which he founded in 2010. This organization consists of thousands of artists in multiple choirs; an adult and youth symphony orchestra; children/youth arts program; theatre; School of Performing Arts and programs for seniors, vulnerable communities and arts and wellness. Vickery is a vocalist, actor, teacher, producer, musical director, arts administrator, and conductor. His love of music and the arts has allowed him to have an extraordinary career thus far.
He holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Vocal Performance, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Education/Music. Vickery has been a featured soloist in countless venues, produced musical recordings, and has been a director of numerous productions. He has been an entertainment leader, casting director, and vocal coach for Walt Disney Entertainment. He also serves as a consultant for other arts organizations in their beginning stages and a voice for local, state, and national arts advocacy. Vickery has received numerous leadership and community accolades and serves on multiple state and national boards.
Joshua is excited to be with Encore, to honor the incredible legacy of Founder Jeanne Kelly, and to build on its foundation for impact into the future.
To contact Joshua directly, send an email to joshua.vickery@encorecreativity.org!

Brian Fontaine-Isaac
Artistic Director
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Brian was most recently the Managing Director for Arts Laureate, a recording team which delivered over 1500 virtual performances across the country during the pandemic. Previous appointments include: Artistic Director of the Williamsburg Choral Guild (Williamsburg, VA), music faculty at Encore University, Interim Director of Choral Music at Thomas Nelson Community College (Hampton, VA), adjunct music faculty at Tidewater Community College (Portsmouth, VA) and Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA), Assistant Conductor with the Washington Master Chorale (Washington, D.C.), and Director of Choirs at Damascus High School (Damascus, MD).
Brian’s professional and community ensembles have commissioned and premiered new works by composers such as Tawnie Olson, Lori Laitman, Christopher Hoh, Jonathan Kolm, and Ola Gjeilo.
Reviews include: “perfectly brilliant” (composer Dr. William Averitt, Shenandoah Conservatory), and having “fine balance” and “delivering sounds that ranged from sensitively soft to knock your socks off soaring” (Virginia Gazette).
In addition to conducting, Brian maintains an active professional singing schedule and has performed with organizations like the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Chorale, and the Washington Master Chorale, among others.
Brian holds a Master of Music in Music Education from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Music Education from Old Dominion University. A former Marine, Brian also holds a Bachelor of Science in English from the United States Naval Academy.

Dr. Mary Ann East
Director of Arts for Life
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Mary Ann has taught music to ages 3-93. She is a former Fairfax County Public School music teacher where she taught elementary general music through high school choir and former adjunct professor at George Mason University.
Mary Ann is currently the Music Director at Community of Faith UMC in Herndon (VA) and Co-Founder/Artistic Director of Capital Harmonia, a local women’s chorus whose mission is to bring music composed by women and for women’s voices to the DC area through partnerships with local women’s organizations.
Mary Ann holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from George Mason University, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana University.

Emma Spicknall
Marketing and Membership Coordinator
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Ethan Lolley
Artistic Operations Coordinator and Conductor
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Loretta Fredrich
Interim Business Administrator
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A dynamic administrative professional, she retired and relocated to Silver Spring MD in November 2022 to become more involved in Encore both as a singer and as a volunteer. She is excited to partner with Encore in its mission to bring the arts to older adults, particularly to those in underserved populations throughout the country.

Jeanne Kelly
Founder, Retired
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Jeanne Kelly’s career of over forty years has produced a unique blend of experience as a vocal performer, teacher, conductor and music administrator. She earned an undergraduate degree in voice performance and piano from the University of Findlay and a master’s degree in voice performance from the Peabody Conservatory.
As a performer, Ms. Kelly made her professional operatic debut with the Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center as Elizabetta in L’elisir d’amore. She has also performed major roles with the Baltimore Opera, Opera Delaware, Central City Opera, Tulsa Opera, Annapolis Opera where she performed the first opera the company produced, The Medium, and the New York City Opera Education Department. She appeared in the world premiere of Rappaccini’s Daughter with the Pennsylvania Opera Theater. Ms. Kelly has sung on the concert stage with the National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Delaware Symphony, Allentown Symphony and Annapolis Symphony. Additionally, she has sung with the Berlin Brass Quintet, Bach Aria Group, St. Louis Bach Society, Bethlehem Bach Festival, Richmond Choral Arts Society, Annapolis Brass Quintet, Washington Bach Consort and the Monumental Brass Quintet.
Ms. Kelly’s expertise in vocal technique has been of benefit to students ranging from those preparing for professional vocal careers to those who simply enjoy music as a hobby. Ms. Kelly has served on the faculties of the Baltimore School for the Arts; Hood College in Frederick, MD; the United States Naval Academy and the Levine School of Music in Washington, DC. Ms. Kelly has also conducted workshops for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
Conductors

Angela Burns
Conductor
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Ms. Burns’ diverse musical background has afforded her the opportunity to solo and work with vocal masters such as Renee and Rachelle Fleming on classical and Broadway techniques for professional singers and up and coming students. Having recently moved from Washington DC, she now resides in Wilmington NC, of which she is a native. Angela continues to perform with the Grammy award winning professional choir, Conspirare, in Austin, Texas as a choral member and Mezzo Soprano soloist. She is currently the choir director at St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wilmington NC. In addition, Angela is the founder and Artistic Director of Wilmington Voices, New Hanover County’s premier professional vocal ensemble. The talented group performs various styles of music while bringing musical excellence to the local community and beyond.
In her downtime she enjoys hiking, traveling, gardening, and going to the beach with her husband Cory and their dog Linden.

Jeff Dokken
Director of Encore Rocks
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Jacquelynne Fontaine-Isaac
Conductor
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In her singing career, most notably she was the Italian Opera Diva Carlotta in the Broadway National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera, for over 1,000 performances, throughout the US and Canada. Favorite roles include Donna Anna and Pamina (Don Giovanni, Viterbo, Italy), Violetta (La Traviata) and Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro, both at Rogue and Tacoma Opera), and Musetta (La Boheme, Downtown Los Angeles).
As a concert soprano, she has performed live on KUSC Classical radio, with the South Coast Symphony, Marina Del Rey Orchestra, Orchestra del’ Lazio in Italy, at the Redlands Bowl, among others.
In the competition world, Jacquelynne was a Western Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a winner of the Loren Zachary Grand National Finals. She was a semi-finalist in the International Competizione del’Opera in Dresden, and winner of the Palm Spring Opera Guild Competition, Burbank Phil, Rio Hondo, and National Association of Teachers of Singing’s “Singer of the Year”.
An award-nominated stage actress, Jacquelynne’s favorite roles include Anna (The King & I, Opera North), Charlotte (A Little Night Music, Indiana Repertory Theater), and Elsa (The Sound of Music, North Shore Musical Theater). Most recently, she was as Sister Claire in Bad Habits in Santa Monica, CA with the late Orson Bean.
Jacquelynne has also been a private voice instructor for the past 20 years. Her students range from 14 to 75 years old, and from absolute beginners and matching pitch to seasoned professionals at the top of their game. Most notably, she was the voice teacher for the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul while on the road. In addition to private voice lessons, Jacquelynne has given dozens of masterclasses to high school and college aged students, throughout the United States.
Fun fact: In 2006, she was awarded Miss California and placed in the top ten at Miss America 2007, winning the talent competition for her performance of “Vissi d’arte.”
Jacquelynne received her BA magna cum laude from California Lutheran University and Masters in Music from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, completing two years of Doctoral study. While at USC she co-directed the USC Chamber Opera, and taught a children’s choir and music lessons to local elementary schools. She is delighted to continue her relationship with Encore Creativity and work with the wonderful singers in making beautiful music!

Louise Foster
Conductor
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Ms Foster has served as President of the Association of Disciples Musicians as well as program chair for their annual conference. She has taught liturgical dance as a clinician throughout the US. Louise has directed choirs for 40 years, in schools, churches and communities. She was the community director for Leisure World’s musical theatre group for many years. She has worked with professional orchestras and choirs and her own group, the Louise Foster Singers performed at the Barns at Wolf Trap. She has also served as guest conductor for County choirs in New York State.
Her joy (and icing on the cake) was being the Department chair and choir director at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes DE. Her Cape Chorale performed throughout the Eastern States to achieve high regard and performed at one of the inaugural balls for President Obama.
She enjoys travelling, reading, gardening and cooking as well as having a private studio where she teaches about 25 students of all ages. She is also director of music at Coolspring Presbyterian church in Lewes.

Stephen Harouff
Conductor
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Kathryn Harsha
Conductor
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Kathryn began her international career as Assistant Conductor of the Chorale des Étudiants Etrangères while at the Sorbonne in Paris. Kathryn completed her Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and an undergraduate degree at Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio, majoring in Piano Performance and Humanities. For ten years she served as Music Director and Conductor of the Lakeland Civic Orchestra in Kirtland, Ohio, and as the Music Director at Bethany Covenant Church in Lyndhurst. She also served as the Music Director at Disciples Christian Church in Cleveland Heights and as the Music Director of Opera per Tutti, now the Cleveland Opera Theater.
As Executive Director, Kathryn transformed the visionary Carroll County String Project into a thriving studio serving more than 130 students in suburban Baltimore, Maryland. The Opus Community Music School flourished under Kathryn’s leadership through successful grant writing, strategic planning and nurturing relationships.
Kathryn has been the Music Director of the Sing Out! for Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Benefit Concerts since 2002, where the Visionary Voice award was named in her honor in 2018. She is invigorated by working with Cleveland’s leading citizens in this vital civic effort, and is inspired by the staff and survivors of the CRCC.
Kathryn currently serves as Associate Director, Accompanist, and Chorus Manager of the Peabody Children’s Chorus.

Bernadette Hoke
Conductor
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For nine seasons, Ms. Hoke was the assistant conductor of the Dalton Chorale, leading sectionals and accompanying the choir on the organ or piano for their spring concerts. She holds an MM in piano performance, the Associate Certificate of the American Guild of Organists (A.A.G.O.), and has participated in conducting intensives with Dennis Keene and Simon Carrington. She is the conductor of the New York City Encore Chorale.

Deborah Int Veldt
Conductor
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Ms. Int Veldt directed the Buckingham’s Choice Singers from 2002-2009 and recently gave a presentation on the aging voice to the Frederick chapter of the American Guild of Organists. When she is not making music, Deb can be found in the garden. She grows much of the food she and Nick consume as well as beautiful flowers and herbs. She also enjoys sewing, quilting and other creative crafts. In her younger days she danced on a professional clogging team for ten years, and still enjoys square- and contra-dancing. She and Nick live in Hagerstown with their small flock of laying hens.

David Lang
Conductor
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Mr. Lang previously served as director of music and master of the choristers for Saint John Catholic Church in McLean (2005-2014); as director of music for Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Great Falls and as organist for Saint John’s Episcopal Church – Lafayette Square (The Church of the Presidents).
A native of Burlington, NC., Mr. Lang served as director of music / principal organist for the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption (1983-2000), and as artistic director for The Louisville Youth Choir.
Mr. Lang received a Bachelor of Music degree in choral music education and sacred music from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, and a Master of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Louisville. He has studied under such keyboard luminaries as H. Max Smith, Melvin Dickinson, Marilyn Keiser, and Bruce Neswick. Mr. Lang has been a featured performing artist and guest conductor for conventions of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and National Pastoral Musicians (NPM).

Dr. Ingrid Lestrud
Conductor
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She spent three years as the Voice Department Chair of the Merit School of Music, a community music school that serves over six thousand students with a focus on underserved communities.
Collaborating with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, she worked with Renée Fleming to develop curriculum for Merit’s Solo Voice Program, and her choir performed both for and with Ms. Fleming for special events.
Dr. Lestrud has served on the faculty of several colleges in the midwest and on the east coast, leading both choral and orchestral programs. Formerly the Principal Associate Conductor of the Grammy award-winning National Children’s Chorus, she worked with some of the finest young singers in the nation, preparing them for concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Kennedy Center. Dr. Lestrud is currently the Artistic Director of the Arlington Chorale, an auditioned community chorus in Arlington, VA. For Encore Creativity, she conducts the Arlington Encore Chorale and the Glen Echo Chorale.

Siobhan Maguire
Conductor
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Ms. Maguire teaches choral music at Henry E. Lackey High School in Charles County Public Schools where she directs Women’s Choir, Concert Choir, Men’s Choir, Chamber Choir and teaches Class Piano. In addition, Ms. Maguire currently serves as department chair for performing arts at Henry E. Lackey High School and is in her seventh year overseeing all vocal teachers as Coordinator and Lead teacher for performing arts in Charles County Public Schools. She also partnered with Anne Arundel County Public Schools to rewrite the curriculum for middle and high school choral music. She has had the pleasure of serving as an adjudicator and guest clinician in several counties around the state including Anne Arundel, Baltimore County, Calvert County, Charles County, Montgomery County, St. Mary’s County and is proud to have been nominated for the 2019 Washington Post Teacher of the Year.
In addition to her role with public education, she serves as an adjunct professor at the College of Southern Maryland where she directs the Chamber Choir, Chorale and teaches Music Appreciation. Ms. Maguire also taught Middle School choir for several years. Under her leadership, her choirs have received first place, overall highest score, and consistent superior ratings at local, district and state Festivals and Assessments. She is honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as a director for Encore!

Alex Nizzoli
Conductor
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He then began accompanying the vocal jazz choirs at College of the Canyons and played various musicals with the Canyon Theater Guild in Santa Clarita.
He now works with both the musical theatre and choral departments of College of the Canyons and has accompanied other local choirs as well.
Alex also leads the music department at St. Euphrasia School in Granada Hills where he sings and plays with the choir for Mass each weekend. He began as the accompanist of the Santa Clarita Encore Chorale in the Spring of 2022 and is thrilled to lead the first West Coast Encore group!

David Simmons
Conductor
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He served as Director of Music for both Ascension Lutheran Church and Ascension Lutheran Day School in Landover Hills, MD from 1995 to 2012. From 2006 through 2019, he served as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the 100-voice Congressional Chorus in Washington, DC. He became the Founding Artistic Director of American Youth Chorus in 2008 and the founding director of the 24 member a cappella Congressional Chamber Ensemble in 2012, the same year he assumed the leadership of the NorthEast Senior Singers. From 2017 through the summer of 2021, David served as the Organist and Choir Director for Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, DC. From September of 2019 through August of 2021, David served as an Encore conductor in the DC region and then as the Associate Artistic Director of Encore Creativity. In September of 2021 accepted the appointment as the Director of Music for the historic Trinity Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware. An accomplished pianist and church organist, David has been playing professionally since the age of 14. David conducted for many DC area companies including the Washington National Opera, The Capital City Symphony and the Washington Savoyards, at numerous venues, including The White House, US Capitol Building, State Department, Library of Congress, National Archives, The National Building Museum, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Round House Theater, the Harman Center for the Arts, the National Theatre, the Alden Theater, the Gildenhorn Theater, The Katzen Center for the Arts, Arena Stage, and the Atlas Performing Arts Center. In addition, he worked in the education and outreach programs of numerous choral organizations, including The Washington Chorus and the Choral Arts Society of Washington. David is excited to be returning to the Encore roster of conductors as he establishes Encore’s inaugural presence in “The First State.”

Erin Tennyson
Conductor
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Michaela Wood
Conductor
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Her personal philosophy is that music is not just meant for enjoyment, but also for connection, connection of mind, body, and spirit, and connection with ourselves, our loved ones, and our community. She brings this philosophy into her work as a music therapist and conductor of the Cape Fear Sentimental Journey Singers. She is also a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to create an environment where all people are welcomed without hesitancy or conditions and to amplify the voices of musicians from marginalized communities, performers and composers alike.
In her free time, Michaela participates in community music ensembles and enjoys opportunities for creativity such as songwriting, crocheting and embroidery. She also enjoys spending time exploring the city of Wilmington with her fiancé Kyle and their dog Raja.
Board of Directors

Anthony Tambasco
President
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He moved to Goodwin House Life Plan Community in Bailey’s Crossroads, where Encore Chorale had one of its roots, and has sung with the Chorale there since 2010. He also traveled with the Chorale on its Danube Cruise in 2014 and enjoyed a singing weekend at The Homestead in 2017, followed by a week with Encore Chorale in Chautauqua that same year.
Since retirement, Tony has been a member of his church choir. He is also involved with his wife, Anne Stewart, in other activities at Goodwin House. Among other things, Tony is the only resident on the Goodwin House Board of Directors and also serves with his wife on the Board of Directors of Goodwin House Foundation, the charity-giving arm of Goodwin House.

Frank Burgess
Vice President
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Prior to joining the bench, Frank was a staff attorney at the District of Columbia Public Defender Service, and served for one year as the Chief of its Appellate Division. Before joining the Public Defender Service, he was an associate at the firm of Palmer & Dodge in Boston, Massachusetts. He was law clerk to the Honorable Levin H. Campbell when Judge Campbell was both a United States District Judge and United States Circuit Judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Frank holds a B.A. from Princeton University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Frank is married to Diana Martin. M.D., and has two adult children, Sarah and Tom. His hobbies and interests are piano, singing, golf, reading and playing keyboard in a rock band. He serves as a volunteer tutor at the Academy of Hope, a District of Columbia charter school for adults who have not completed high school. He is a parishioner at Grace Episcopal Church in Georgetown, where he sings in the choir.

LaTasha R. Barnes
Treasurer
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LaTasha joined Orlando Health in February 2018 serving both Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies and Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children as Chief Financial Officer.
Prior to joining Orlando Health, LaTasha worked for nearly 15 years with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in Nashville, TN and Florida and is a former auditor for Arthur Andersen, LLP and Deloitte & Touche, LLP (Chicago, Illinois).
LaTasha holds CPA licenses in both Florida and Tennessee and holds a BBA in Accounting from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Central Florida Community Arts Symphony Orchestra (CFCArts). LaTasha currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the St. Pete Innovation District, Executive Committee member of the Board of Directors of St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, Advisory Council member of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, Inc. and Advisory Board member of Dress for Success Chattanooga.
A consummate professional with demonstrated business acumen, LaTasha has been honored for her achievements by the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum as a First Lady in African American History (2021), ONYX Magazine’s 2020 Woman on the Move, Women’s Executive Council of Orlando, Women’s Achievement in Finance and most recently named a 2022 BusinessWoman of the Year Honoree by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
In her spare time, she enjoys practicing the flute, reading, writing, playing softball, walking her beagles Mindy and Sallie and traveling with her mom.

Janie Powers
Secretary
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At age 50, Janie chose to begin a career as a Mediator. Janie is a Harvard Law School trained Mediator and holds a Certification by the Maryland Council for Dispute Resolution. To augment her mediation skills, Janie earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. For the last 22 years, Janie has maintained a private Mediation practice focusing primarily on property, financial, and domestic disputes and serves on the Circuit Court Panel of Mediators.
Janie brings a sincere love for Encore and the desire to maximize and enhance each singer’s Encore experience through the process of lifelong learning. Janie places a high value on the opportunity to contribute to the Board and, more importantly, serve each Encore singer.

Jan Augustine
Board Member
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In addition to Encore, Jan keeps busy volunteering with the Smithsonian’s American Art/Portrait Gallery Museums, Ford’s Theatre, Chevy Chase At Home (a community-sponsored “senior village”), and most recently with the Capital Area Food Bank where she helps load emergency food relief boxes in a setting reminiscent of “Lucy and the Chocolate Factory.” When not in lockdown, Jan travels extensively and has visited all 7 continents.
After graduating from the University of Maryland with a BS in Mathematics, Jan began her professional career at the U.S. Department of State with assignments in DC, Tokyo, and Montevideo. She then moved to the private sector working on USAID and World Bank projects around the world, lending her computer and project management skills to various governments. Ultimately she ended up in the education sector in international operations, setting up computerized testing centers for the GRE, GMAT, and various professional licensure exams. Her career allowed her to live and work in Cairo, Hyderabad (India), Manchester (UK), and Mexico City, with short term assignments throughout Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia.
Jan is pleased to support Encore during this transition period by serving on the Board.

Jackie Barbarito
Board Member
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As Assisted Living Administrator for Goodwin House Alexandria, Jackie Barbarito provides leadership, management, and overall regulatory compliance responsibility of the assisted living and memory support household.Jackie fell in love with the senior living industry at an early age. Jackie pursued her passion throughout the years by advocating and serving older adults. She seeks to improve the quality of life of her residents, one day at a time. Jackie is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She holds a B.S. degree in Health Promotion from the American University and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from The George Washington University.

Jan Bloom
Board Member
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Before her retirement in 2009, she was an elementary school teacher for 28 years. She taught all the grades from one to six. Teaching was all she ever wanted to do since she was a child herself.
Jan has given many volunteer hours throughout her teaching career and in her retirement. She has held leadership positions in her synagogue, in the Brandeis Women’s Committee, and in Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America.
Jan is the current president of the White Oak chapter of the Friends of the Library and chairman of the Library Advisory Committee. These groups raise money to help the library provide programs for the very diverse White Oak community it serves. She is also an active volunteer with The Metropolitan Washington Ear reading orally and recording print publications for their blind clientele to dial-in and access the news of the day.
Jan welcomes the opportunity to serve on the Encore Board of Directors and to participate in helping to create the future of Encore Creativity.

James L. Brooks
Board Member
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Molly Cashin
Board Member
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She holds a Master of Arts with a concentration in Theory and Practice of American Democracy from Georgetown University and a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Financial Management for Public and Non-Profit Organizations from New York University. She is a the published author of Sustaining the League of Women Voters in America and previously served as a board member at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, and the League of Women Voters Education Fund. She is a lifelong singer in the tenor section.

Howard Gradet
Board Member
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After graduating from the University of Maryland (Diamondback drama critic), Howard got married and went to work teaching middle school English in Baltimore (English teacher, English department chair), which he did for 22 years until he finally graduated to high school in 1990. Along the way in the 20th Century, he also taught English and World History (Ner Israel Rabbinical Academy, Baltimore), and Freshman Writing (Catonsville Community College); wrote theatre reviews for the Baltimore Chronicle; got two masters degrees (Loyola College, Johns Hopkins University); helped raise two great kids who, as adults, were smart enough to move to California; and acted as a supernumerary (non-singing soldier, priest, waiter, servant, whatever) in 25 Baltimore Opera productions.
After retiring from teaching in Baltimore City, Howard’s second career began in 1999 at the Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Social Organization of Schools, as the writer of Freshman Seminar, a 9th grade academic and life skills curriculum, which was used in schools in over 20 states. After writing the curriculum, he and his team traveled the country training teachers to use this new curriculum.
When he wasn’t helping train teachers, Howard was singing with the ShowTime Singers, based in Ellicott City, for eight years, and traveling: by 2011, he and his wife had visited 20 countries on all six real continents (Antarctica? Oh please).
Howard and his wife Barbara, the CEO of Jewish Community Services, retired and left Baltimore in 2016, moving to Los Angeles to be near one of their children and one of their grandchildren. He continues to enjoy editing and writing for his neighborhood’s quarterly newsletter, visiting museums, subscribing to several theaters (yes, there is theatre in Los Angeles), traveling, and photography. He’s excited about his new role as co-chorale master of the now full-member Santa Clarita Encore Chorale, and singing the great repertoire Encore Creativity presents (as long as there aren’t too many E’s in the bass part).

John Morefield
Board Member
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John Morefield joined Morefield Communications as the Vice President of Data Communications in 1991. He became President of the company in 1996 and Chairman of the companies Board in 2010. During his tenure with the company, revenues have tripled to be in excess of $25 million, in 1995. The company also celebrated its 50th and 75th anniversary.
Prior to joining Morefield Communications, John worked for AT&T Computer Systems in Boston as a Data Sales Executive serving the financial industry. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1988) and Bates College (1983). In the early 80’s he worked for First Phone of New England.
John lives in Mechanicsburg with his wife, Catherine. Catherine is a Pediatric Palliative Care Hospice Nurse working for Capital Caring. They have two daughters. Annie is pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration at the Harvard Business School in Cambridge, MA, while Susan is a Content Editor at Amazon in Arlington, VA.
In addition to serving Morefield Communications, John serves as the regional chair for the MIT Educational Council and the Board of Harristown Development. John is also an active member of the Harrisburg Rotary Club. In the past he has served on the Boards of the Harrisburg Academy, WITF, the Essence of Humanity and the Harrisburg University.

Eileen Powers
Board Member
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Eileen Powers is winding down a 40-year legal career concentrating in land use, zoning, and property related litigation in Annapolis, Maryland. She has represented real estate developers, homeowners’ associations, and private property owners in residential and commercial land development projects and complex property disputes. She also serves as Zoning Counsel for Howard County, Maryland.
Eileen was a social worker before she became an attorney. She was a founding member and president of the Board of Directors of Anne Arundel County CASA, Inc., an affiliate of the national CASA organization that advocates for abused and neglected children in the foster care system. She earned her B.A. and M.S.W. degrees from The Catholic University of America, and a J.D. degree from the George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C.
Eileen has been singing since she joined the children’s choir of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York at the age of 10. She previously sang with the Arundel Vocal Arts Society and the Annapolis Chorale. She joined Encore in 2020 and sings alto with the Annapolis Rocks and Annapolis Chorale groups.

Jeffery Redding
Board Member
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Dr. Jeffery Redding, Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor is the 2019 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Recipient, is the newly announced Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Dr. Redding has led his choirs in performances at national, regional, and state conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). His choirs have earned first place awards at Heritage Festivals of Gold in California, Chicago, New York and at the Festival of Spirituals in Washington D.C. While participating in the International Music Festival in Verona, Italy, his chorus from West Orange High School received the Gold Award for best choir, with Dr. Redding honored as top director.
Nationally, Dr. Redding is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician. He has conducted the ACDA National High School Honor Choir, the Central Division ACDA Honor Choir, and the North Central Division ACDA Honor Choir, the Eastern Division ACDA Honor Choir and All-State and Honor choirs in approximately forty states.
In 2014, Dr. Redding was the only American adjudicator at the International Choral Festival, Verona, Italy. Additionally, he conducted at the TAISM Festival of Choirs in Muscat, Oman. He was the Artistic Director for Limerick Sings International Choral Festival in Limerick, Ireland in 2018. In 2019, he conducted the Alaska All-State Treble Choir, the NAfME Central Regional Elementary Honor Choir, the Morehead State University Honor Choir, and the Honors Young Adults Choir, at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. In 2020, conducted honor choirs and festivals across the country, including Carnegie Hall. He also held the position of Artistic Director for Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary in Vienna, Austria and was an adjudicator for the World Choir Games in Belgium, Germany.
Previously Director of Choral Activities at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Florida and West Virginia University (WVU), Dr. Redding has been featured as guest conductor at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Kennedy Center, and Orchestra Hall on numerous occasions. He was also honored to give the prestigious TEDx Talk. He is also one of the conductors for Walt Disney World’s Candlelight Processional at Epcot. Recognized for his achievements and service in the profession, Dr. Redding was awarded the R. Wayne Hugoboom Distinguished Service Award for dedicated service, leadership, and excellence by the Florida Chapter of ACDA.
Dr. Redding is founder and Artistic Director of the Garden Community Choir and Voci del Cuore (Voices of the Heart) in Winter Garden, Florida. Dr. Redding is also the Executive & Artistic Director of the Orlando Choral Society, founded in 2019. He also serves as the Director of Worship Arts for the First United Methodist Church of Orlando. Formerly with the Moses Hogan Singers, he remains active as a singer in the professional male singing group, “Brethren.” The Jeffery Redding Passion and Purpose Choral Series is a compilation of new choral music by various composers, published by Colla Voce Music, Inc.
Dr. Redding holds a Ph.D. in Choral Conducting/Music Education and a Master of Music Education, both from the Florida State University, and a B.S. in Music Education from Florida A&M University. He is a member of ACDA, NAfME, FVA, NATS, and Chorus America. He has served his profession in numerous capacities, as District 8 Chair for the Florida Vocal Association (FVA), as State R&R Chair for Ethnic Music/Multicultural Affairs, R&R Chair for Youth/Student Activities, and High School Mixed Honor Choir co-chair for Florida ACDA, and as R&R Chair for Community Choirs for Southern Division ACDA. Currently, he is R&R Lifelong Coordinator (Community, Music and Worship) for Florida ACDA.

Rich Taylor
Board Member
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Rich Taylor is an accomplished professional with career chapters as live entertainment executive, college dean andprofessional entertainer. He began his career as aprofessional vocalist, producer, director and teacher with Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians. He then joined Walt Disney Entertainment, and for the next 27 years advanced through executive leadership roles. Taylor transitioned to higher education as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma, and was adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida. Through RICH IMAGINATION, he now provides fresh eyes, sensible solutions and multi-faceted expertise to those seeking inspiration or enhancement of their creativity, communication, operation, or process.

Sylvia Winik
Board Member
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Sylvia Winik brings experience from dual careers in law and special education. After practicing law for 16 years, Ms. Winik shifted her professional focus and returned to school, receiving a master’s degree in learning disabilities from American University. Winik gained practical experience at the Lab School. There she worked with moderately to severely learning-disabled kids with average to high intelligence, and studied with Sally Smith, founder, and then-director of Washington’s Lab School. Ms. Winik has worked as a learning specialist at several Washington, D.C. area schools, primarily at the Washington International School. Ms. Winik currently is an educational advocate and consultant, working as an independent consultant at Winik Educational Consulting.