The selection of a Board of Directors is one of the most important aspects of forming a new organization. One must look for people who share the same goals, have vision, energy, wisdom and are ready to ‘jump into the fund-raising world. The people on the Board are like the legs of an octopus (and actually we are eight to date). The legs are dangling and stretching out in all directions of the community and sharing the common center. The Board helps to formulate policy and is ultimately the entity that will carry out the visions and dreams for the future.
Looking for board members is a long process that involves many discussions, phone calls, and personal meetings. One looks for people with different skills that are necessary in running a non-profit corporation.
The String Academy has a board comprised of eight enthusiastic people. John Austin, an original founding member from the law firm of Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach, is the lawyer that negotiated our contract with UWM, wrote the application for our tax-exempt status (this involves much paperwork) and is our advisor on all legal matters. It turns out that he played the trumpet (and was a music major in college) in the Army Band in Germany during the 1970’s.
Julilly Kohler is also a lawyer who worked at the DA’s office and runs her own private practice. (She is currently on leave from her practice.) She fell in love with the students at a recital and has worked very hard to establish our network of supporters. She is a warm and wonderful person and I hope that all of you will have the chance to meet her.
Don Wallace, a realtor from First Realty, has been a music lover all of his life. He has a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has made Milwaukee his home for many years. He has a special interest in supporting our program that provides training for our inner city youngsters.
Dr. Erwin Hirsch is no stranger to the String Academy. As a pianist, he has been a sonata partner with our students for the past few years. He is a retired MD (formerly Dean of Students at the Medical College of Wisconsin) and has a special interest in watching young people develop into enthusiastic and self–confident musicians and young adults.
Every year there will be a parent representative on the board. This year Astrid Beroukhim is taking this responsibility. She works as a realtor with the Ogden Co. Astrid has limitless energy and knows the dedication our students have to their instruments. (Cyrus especially knows this.)
The board will also have one representative from the SAW faculty which will rotate on a yearly basis allowing all faculty members to be involved in the decision making process. This year our faculty representative is Sara Edgerton. Sara is one of our cello teachers and has been teaching in Milwaukee for 3 1/2 years. She came to Milwaukee from Cornell University where she completed her DMA in Music.
Jerry Horner is the violist of the Fine Arts Quartet and Professor of Music at UWM. He records and performs conceits throughout the world. He is very familiar with the workings of a music school and is in touch with musicians around the world. This years he is coaching the SAW String Quartet.
Mimi Zweig is the last member of the board. This year she is on sabbatical from Indiana University where she is Professor of Music. She is a tireless worker and determined that the String Academy will be a successful presence in Milwaukee which will enhance the level of string playing and develop the next generations of music lovers.
It is with regret that we announce that Daniel Kapustin has resigned from the board. He was the force behind the setting-up of SAW during the summer and early fall. It is because of his dedication and work that we are on sound footing and our future looks very bright.
Leave a Reply