Thanks to Retiring Board Members

Randy Parker-Outgoing President

In June we bid a fond farewell to five wonderful board members who had put in a combined 20 years helping to govern and financially support the GECC. Randy Parker had been with us since 2001 and served as board president for 4 years. His able leadership took us through our 40th anniversary season and into a new era of financial stability and accomplishment. We also said so long to Hank Marshall who had served on the board for seven years and had been our attorney in residence, as well as being a lot of fun! Melanie Lakin was a member at large of our Executive Committee and provided us with Human Resources expertise and a wealth of knowledge in other areas as well. Her quiet wisdom will be missed. Jim Theiss joined the board in 2003 and helped us through the update of our bylaws. Sally Nagel chaired the enrollment committee and worked tirelessly to keep the board on mission, reminding them of the real reason we were meeting, the children.

Dave Fox, our VP has taken on the reins of the Presidency for 2006-2007 and Amy Hohulin  has accepted the VP position.

Dave Fox-Incoming President

We are thrilled to welcome five new members to the board and wish them the best of luck in their endeavors Please meet:

LYNN BARNETT and her husband, Arden live in Glen Ellyn with their two daughters, Maria and Cara.  Lynn graduated from Illinois State University and De Paul University College of Law. She was a law clerk for the Honorable Dom J. Rizzi of the Illinois Appellate Court and then practiced litigation for six years before retiring to have her greatest joys, Maria and Cara.  Lynn volunteers for the GECC, Abraham Lincoln School and her church. 

RICK DAVIS and his wife Linda have lived in Wheaton and Glen Ellyn since 1984. They have four children. Rick is a Dartmouth College graduate and received his law degree from Capital University Law School. He has split his career between the corporate world serving in various Human Resources leadership roles and the consulting world. Rick is now a Human Resources and Employee Benefit Plans consultant with the Benefit decisions/ Black Mountain Group whose offices are in Chicago, Hong Kong and New York. Rick and Linda have served in many volunteer capacities over the years, including School Board and Parent Organizations and coaching sports.

LAURA LEE is a long time resident of Glen Ellyn and a former GECC chorister.  She and her husband Nik have two children: Madeleine and Nate. Laura is a full-time teacher at Forest Glen Elementary School. She has a master's degree in education along with 45 hours of additional graduate level coursework in specialized fields of gifted education, math and language arts. Laura sang with the St. Clement's Choir of Chicago, touring Europe twice. Laura has also participated in many community committees and organizations including a term as president of the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn.   

MOLLY LINDBERG and her husband Steve are residents of Elmhurst, IL.  They have four children. Molly is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor School of Music, where she received her Bachelor Degree in Vocal Performance, and K-12 certification.  Molly sang professionally with the Chicago Symphony Chorus from 1990-2000, with the Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and the William Ferris Chorale. Molly is the Music Director at Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Elmhurst.

JANE MELVIN and her husband, Rick Mattoon, live in Glen Ellyn with their son, Charlie. Jane founded Strategic Innovations Group, Inc. and works with clients of all shapes and sizes to uncover, discover and create ideas that help build their brands and drive their businesses. Prior to starting her own company, Jane was Senior VP of Innovation at Olive Garden Restaurants, led international marketing for Starbucks Coffee and worked for many years in account management at the Leo Burnett Company. She is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, Trinity College and holds an MBA from Yale University.  She was the recipient of the prestigious Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs.  She volunteers at First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn and now the GECC.

Our summer "off" has been full of music-making! The month of June had the Touring Chorus singing at a very musical private wedding and at Chicago Theater  for the launch of a promising new vaccine for cervical cancer. We also had our annual week-long camp for potential new choristers and a full Musical Experience for Children class for kids in grades K-2. By early July, we were appearing at the national conference of the American Guild of Organists in American composer Frank Ferko's Psalm Cantata, with a fine choir from St. Paul, Minnesota. And we ended our summer season with a bang:  30 of our Concert and Touring choristers sang Carmina Burana with the Grant Park Symphony and Chorus at Millennium Park in Chicago.  Our first appearance at this gorgeous new venue was met with great reviews. Our singers should all be so proud of their efforts!

We're now taking a bit of a respite to enjoy the last days of summer and prepare for an amazing season ahead.  Rehearsals begin early for a group of Touring choristers who will take part in our first collaboration with Music of the Baroque - one of Chicago's premier musical organizations. In the meantime, may the last "dog days of summer" be filled with cool breezes, lemonade, backyard barbecues, and quality family time for each of you!

Ashley Damron

We are pleased to announce a new scholarship program at the GECC. The scholarship was established by Jim and Carolyn Damron in honor of their daughter, Ashley, who was a member of the GECC from 1990-2000. Because the GECC experience was so meaningful for both Ashley and her parents, they wish to assist other choristers in enjoying the benefits of a quality musical experience and encourage other parents and GECC alumni to join them in strengthening the wonderful GECC mission through their generous contributions.

The Ashley Damron Scholarship joins our existing Kay J. Kehoe Scholarship in helping to provide funds for choristers who would not otherwise be in a position to enjoy the amazing opportunities available at the GECC.

Please contact the GECC for information on how you can contribute.

Hats off to a wonderful concert at Millennium Park where the Sun Times proclaimed "Every time the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus sang, the stage lit up. ...(in part due to) the clarity and verve with which the children sang" The Tribune was equally efusive in comparing the GECC to the adult chorus "the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus matched their elders' acumen note for note" Congratulations to everyone involved!

For more information about the GECC contact info@gechildrenschorus.org or visit our website at www.gechildrenschorus.org