- Come to Concerts
- Learn About Us
- Meet the Players
- Discover Our Outreach
- Support Our Work
- Contact Us
- SymphonyNotes
Hear a LIVE clip
Join Our Email
Player's Login
Forward to a Friend
Follow Us
Board and StaffClick on name to view bio. |
||
   |
OfficersEpp Sonin, President Board of DirectorsPeter Charig Sustaining Members |
StaffSamantha Wade, Operations Manager Karen Sampson, Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations Director Elizabeth Whitfield, Ticket Sales, Outreach Coordination Susan H. Griffith, Program Booklet Management and Design Diane Sperandio, Videography
|
Board of Directors, Officers |
|
 |
Epp Sonin, President Epp has taught piano for 30 years in NY and Boston. In 1985, she founded the Lexington Music School and has since led the school in providing quality piano classes for children, private instruction by awarding-winning music faculty, and community outreach in the way of benefit concerts, scholarships, mentorship, and inspiration to musicians and music appreciators. Epp remains an active performer and frequent soloist with orchestras and choruses in oratorios, masses and cantatas, most recently with the Lexington Symphony and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. She has given recitals in major cities in the US, Canada and Europe, has premiered new works at Lincoln Center, MIT, Harvard, Tufts and UMASS-Lowell and performed in numerous Boston-area operas. She is a member of the Cantata Singers. Her performances have been heard on radio and recordings. She was soloist with the Vancouver Symphony and with the Estonian State Symphony in a gala celebrating Estonia’s newly re-established independence. |
 |
Fred Johnson, Vice President Fred is a semi-retired business executive with a long career in both the entertainment and publishing industries. He held senior management positions in both educational media start-up The Center for Humanities (founder and president), and Sundance Publishing (president). He also worked for a number of years as an independent consultant to clients including CBS Records, Times Mirror, Time-Life, Scholastic, Jim Henson Associates, Cherry Lane Music, Silver Burdett Ginn, Harcourt, Scott Foresman, Lorimar Video, Saddleback Publishing, and Kids Discover. He currently serves on the board of directors of California-based educational publisher Evan-Moor. His pro bono work has included projects for the Rockefeller Foundation and the Association of Educational Publishers, and board service with the Boston Center for the Arts. In addition to chairing the Lexington Symphony board, current pro bono work includes service on the Lexington Center Committee (an agency of local government), and governance of Follen (Unitarian-Universalist) Church. Fred grew up in Somerville (MA), earned his bachelor’s degree at Harvard College, and master’s degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He lived for many years in New York City and suburban Connecticut but now makes his home in Lexington. |
 |
Susan Griffith, Treasurer Born & raised in the Philadelphia area, Susan started playing cello in the third grade. She received her BA from Cornell University in 1980, majoring in Economics and Music, and her MM in Cello Performance from the Hartt School (Univ. of Hartford) in 1996. She worked as Personal Assistant to David Finckel (Emerson String Quartet) and Wu Han (piano) from 1996-97. Susan relocated to Boston in 1997 to work for the Celebrity Series. Susan joined the Lexington Symphony as a cellist in 2000. She has served on the Board of Directors, and as Treasurer of the Symphony, since 2003. In addition, Susan does the layout of all of the Symphony’s printed programs. She lives in Arlington with her husband Philip and sons Carlos & Christopher. |
 |
George Gagliardi, Clerk George is the Clerk of the Lexington Symphony Board of Directors, and has been a Board member since 2008. He is the founder and Principal of Coromandel Wealth Management in Lexington, MA, a financial planning and investment advisory firm. George has a broad background in business, and in management and technology consulting, having worked in senior management roles for a broad range of companies, including one that he co-founded and ran as CEO. He is also experienced working on non-profit boards as both an officer and board member, having served on the board of the Yale Science & Engineering Association for 29 years, including terms as President and Treasurer. He also served as a Board member of the Yale Club of Boston, managed First Parish in Concord’s Annual Appeal, and is a member of the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee. A graduate of Yale University and Babson College (MBA), George resides in Lexington with his two sons. |
Board Members |
|
 |
Peter Charig Peter joined the Lexington Symphony Board in 2010, and has performed with the symphony as principal trombonist since 2004. In addition to performing as a freelance artist with numerous ensembles throughout the northeast, Peter has been the Exhibition Manager and Orchestra Manager for the Boston Early Music Festival (BEMF) since 2007. The Boston Early Music Festival is America’s preeminent presenter of historically informed performance, introducing national and international early music ensembles to Boston during a season concert series and a week-long biennial Festival. As BEMF’s Exhibition Manager, Peter directs and oversees the implementation of the Exhibition/Trade-show component of the Festival, enlisting period instrument builders, music conservatories, and other early music organizations from around the world. As BEMF’s Orchestra Manager, Peter acts as artist liaison, music librarian, and on-site assistant for BEMF’s self-directed orchestral and operatic productions. Additionally, Peter has represented BEMF at early music conferences world-wide, including the Berkeley Early Music Festival in California, the Greenwich Early Music Festival & Exhibition in England, and the Festival Oudemuziek (Utrecht Early Music Festival, Utrecht, The Netherlands). |
 |
Richard Fields Richard is sole proprietor of Richard S. Fields Associates LLC, is a consultant specializing in consumer products. He has worked as Chief Strategic Officer of Unique Settings, a New York-based company, and has participated on Advisory Boards of three other companies. His work involves marketing to retail establishments in varying channels of distribution and requires extensive domestic and international travel. He is involved in Lexington’s Follen Church, BSSC athletic organizations, and has served as Vice President of Lexington Symphony since 2008. Past affiliations include the Massachusetts Committee for Children and Youth and the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse. He is married to Kathryn Fields, owner of Crafty Yankee in Lexington, MA, and together they have raised one daughter and are proud grandparents of twins. |
 |
Christina Gamota Christina Gamota was born in Eastern Europe, raised in Western Europe and educated in Argentina. A self-termed “homemaker and professional volunteer,” she has lived in Lexington for 24 years and has been on the boards of University of Michigan Art Museum, National Heritage Museum, Lexington Historical Society, and Lexington Field & Garden Club. She is interested in people of all ages and enjoys helping others. She has been an active participant in the International Host Family program at the University of Michigan and at MIT, and has also worked with pre-school children at Langley School, a private school in McLean, VA. She has participated in many community fundraisers as chair/co-chair, benefiting University of Michigan Museum of Art, Lexington Field & Garden Club, Morning Study Group, Lexington Historical Society, Lexington Symphony, and Munroe Center for the Arts. Also interested in community beautification, she organized and has been responsible for the maintenance of Emery Park (Depot Square) in Lexington. Her interest in design, which she showcases in the decor of her own home, has made her home the subject of three national magazine articles, house tours, and garden tours. She is also interested in entertainment and her table settings have been published in Table Decor (2006). As a wife and mother, Christina has been always active and has participated in many school-related organizations. Christina is founder and member of the Lexington Symphony Concert Fund Partnership, which was established in 2007 and has graciously hosted many fundraisers for the Lexington Symphony’s outreach and other programs in her elegant home. |
 |
Sandra Gasbarro Sandra is a graduate of The Lincoln School, the only all girls Quaker school in the US. She has a degree in education from Wheelock College in Boston and taught third grade in the Johnston, Rhode Island public schools and fifth grade at The Langley School, a small private school in McLean, Virginia. In her years as wife and mother, she served as President of the PTL and Board member of the Rocky Hill School, President of the Alumnae Association and Board Member of The Lincoln School, and Board member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Red Cross. She has also volunteered at Rhode Island Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Kent County Hospital, and Miriam Hospital. She has been a Lexington resident since 2005 and presently volunteers at the Lahey Clinic and Lexington Historical Society in addition to serving on the Board of the Lexington Symphony, a position she has held since 2008. She is a very proud mother and grandmother and especially loves to travel to faraway places with her family. |
 |
Joseph Hansen Joe has pursued a dual career in education and in business. He joined the Northeastern University faculty in 1960, teaching mathematics in undergraduate programs in engineering, business, health sciences, and liberal arts. He served as mathematics department chairman from 1963 to 1987 and as acting chairman in 2001-2002. He pioneered the introduction of on-line and hybrid mathematics courses at Northeastern, for which he received the special Award for Innovative Use of Technology in Teaching from the university provost in 2004. Concurrently with his educational career, Joe worked in management positions at LFE, Teradyne, and Raytheon, where he served as director of strategic planning. He later formed the consulting firm Lexington Strategic Associates, which serves clients in the telecommunications and industrial process control industries. Joe serves as chairman of the finance committee of Lexington Symphony, a position to which he was appointed in 2011. Joe holds AB and MBA degrees from Harvard. He and his wife Betsy live in Lexington and have three children and five grandchildren. |
 |
William Kirkley As Principal Clarinet, Bill is a founding member and a current member of the Board of Directors of the Lexington Symphony. He has been a featured soloist twice for the orchestra. Bill is also the Principal Clarinetist for the Cape Ann Symphony, Boston Musica Viva, and the Gordon Symphony. Additionally, he is a member of the Orchestra of Indian Hill, and is a substitute clarinetist for the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops. He has taught on the music faculties of UMASS Boston, Harvard University and Brandeis University. He is currently on the music faculty of Gordon College. |
 |
Patricia Manhard Patti joined the Lexington Symphony board in June 2011. An educator with long tenure at both secondary and college levels, she holds degrees in World History and Russian Studies from Syracuse, Political Theory from the University of Virginia and is working on a combine degree at Oxford. Recently retired after 30 years on the faculty of Brookline High School, she brings to the board substantial volunteer experience with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as Chair of the Junior Council of the BSO and Overseer of the BSO in the 1980’s. She was also National Chair of all Orchestra Junior Councils as a Board member of Amsov, ( American Symphony Orchestra Volunteer’s Association). She has served on the Board of the Council of the the Museum of Fine Arts and most recently Director of Sustainer’s for the Junior League of Boston. Married to math professor Warren (Biff) and mother of two sons, author/illustrator Christopher Bing, and Peter, she is a longtime resident of Lexington. |
 |
Marlene Stone Marlene has been a Lexington resident since 2004 and is a very active volunteer in local Lexington organizations. In addition to her work as a Board member of Lexington Symphony, she serves on the Board of the Merriam Hill Association, was past President of the Lexington High School PTSA, and is a lay minister for Follen Church, where she is on the Parish Council Board. She has been in charge of many fundraising activities, including at Follen Church and at Lexington Symphony and has set record sales at these events. She is a full-time working mother of a college student who graduated from Lexington High School in 2010. Marlene has worked in industry as a recruiter/human resources director for over 30 years for companies including Digital Equipment Corporation (now Hewlett Packard), Fidelity Investments, Millipore, Novartis, and smaller start-ups in biotech and high technology. She is presently the recruiter for one of the top 25 fastest growing defense contractors in the country, Oasis Systems, Inc., located on Hartwell Avenue in Lexington. Marlene loves classical music and started playing piano at 6 years old. She went to many Broadway productions in her childhood and grew up near New York City. Marlene has a Bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University, a Master’s degree in social work from Smith College and a Master’s in business from Clark University. |
Sustaining MembersOur Sustaining Members are people who have consistently provided significant organizational support to Lexington Symphony. They have a special role within our organization as voting members and are appointed by the Board. We are extremely grateful for their dedication to the orchestra and its mission. |
|
 |
Dan Fenn Dan moved to Lexington in l949 and has been active in many areas of the town’s life. A former member of the School Committee and of the Board of Selectmen, he was the founding president of the Lexington Education Foundation, Vice Chair of the Cary Memorial Library Foundation, and founder of the Fund for Lexington. Currently he is a Board Member of the Munroe Center for the Arts, active at First Parish, a member of the Lexington Minute Men Company, a Town Meeting Member and on the Board of the Council on Aging, among other activities. Professionally, he was the Founding Director of the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, a member of President Kennedy’s staff in the White House from 1961 to 1963, a Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the US Tariff Commission and a teacher at a number of universities. Currently he is Adjunct Lecturer in Executive Programs at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. |
|
Christina Gamota Christina Gamota was born in Eastern Europe, raised in Western Europe and educated in Argentina. A self-termed “homemaker and professional volunteer,” she has lived in Lexington for 24 years and has been on the boards of University of Michigan Art Museum, National Heritage Museum, Lexington Historical Society, and Lexington Field & Garden Club. She is interested in people of all ages and enjoys helping others. She has been an active participant in the International Host Family program at the University of Michigan and at MIT, and has also worked with pre-school children at Langley School, a private school in McLean, VA. She has participated in many community fundraisers as chair/co-chair, benefiting University of Michigan Museum of Art, Lexington Field & Garden Club, Morning Study Group, Lexington Historical Society, Lexington Symphony, and Munroe Center for the Arts. Also interested in community beautification, she organized and has been responsible for the maintenance of Emery Park (Depot Square) in Lexington. Her interest in design, which she showcases in the decor of her own home, has made her home the subject of three national magazine articles, house tours, and garden tours. She is also interested in entertainment and her table settings have been published in Table Decor (2006). As a wife and mother, Christina has been always active and has participated in many school-related organizations. Christina is founder and member of the Lexington Symphony Concert Fund Partnership, which was established in 2007 and has graciously hosted many fundraisers for the Lexington Symphony’s outreach and other programs in her elegant home. |
 |
Annette Moores Bob (my husband) and I were close friends of Hisao Watanabe, the founder of the Lexington Symphony. It was through Hisao that I became involved as a supporter and volunteer in 1995. It was at a time when all that was needed was a few hours and a willingness to do anything for the performance. That I had; the readiness to serve. So for many years, I worked behind-the-scenes doing all sorts of jobs including ticket sales, set-up and refreshments and even transportation and storage of the 40 or so music stands. Whatever was needed!By volunteering for the Lexington Symphony, I was able to see the dream became a reality. I have had the opportunity over the past fifteen years to connect with the many wonderful performers, supporters and volunteers as well as the local arts community in a very real and tangible way. In addition, I was able to work side by side with Bob, my husband of 53 years. Bob had always been a real enthusiast of classical music and sharing this passion of his was truly a blessing. It was with sadness that Bob and I had to limit our volunteering efforts when he became too ill to continue but he still enjoyed attending the performances until his death last June.It’s very inspiring to be involved in a new adventure late in life, especially involving the gift of music. It has been amazing to see Lexington Symphony grow from that first concert in the National Heritage Museum with just a few hundred family and friends, to an award winning orchestra with many collaborative events and over seven hundred loyal fans per performance. I am truly thankful to have shared in it. |
 |
Elsa O. Sullivan Elsa Sullivan is a longtime supporter of the Lexington Symphony and has sponsored many of the orchestra’s endeavors including a performance of the Amy Beach Piano Concerto in 2005. In her early years, she studied piano with Edith Gault and voice with John Kenneth Bainbridge, and says, “Those were the two people that made me understand that if you have a talent, you should use it.” Elsa was awarded a scholarship to Juilliard in her high school years and was also selected to participate in concerts by talented youth in New York City. Ever quick on her feet, she performed regularly on a radio call-in show on WCLV in Montgomery, Alabama, where she would arrive at work and sing solos, live and impromptu, from a list of songs requested by callers. Not long after moving to Lexington over 50 years ago, the Town Celebrations Committee asked her to write the libretto for a musical to celebrate the town’s 250th anniversary, “They Nobly Dared.” Elsa not only wrote the libretto, which can be found in Lexington’s Cary Library, but was actively involved in the production. The performance, with its cast of 268 players, was held April 19th, 1963, and excerpts were performed at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Elsa continued her musical pursuits and was invited to sing Kurt Weill songs in supper clubs all around Boston. An active fundraiser for the National Heritage Museum’s Seeds of Liberty exhibit, Munroe Center for the Arts and Lexington Symphony, Elsa has been involved with numerous town institutions, including the Chamber of Commerce, Council of Aging, National Heritage Museum, Lexington Historical Society, First Parish Church, and Lexington Field and Garden Club. As a docent at Lexington’s Munroe Tavern for 26 years, she trained many guides and wrote the book Time in the Tavern about the Munroe family. In 2005, Elsa was selected as recipient of the White Tricorn Hat for her commitment to the town. She is presently working on a book about Anna Smith Munroe, the wife of the tavern-keeper. |
| top of page |