We have a fantastic group of seven arts education leaders up for election to the Guild board of trustees. We offer five new Guild trustees for your consideration- three at-large candidates and two directors of Full Member institutions- in addition to two current at-large trustees seeking re-election.
As a Full Member of the National Guild, organizations may cast one vote in the election of the 2018 slate of National Guild trustees. Online voting will close on Wednesday, November 14, at midnight EDT. Members can use the following link to cast their vote: VOTE!
Below are the bios of New Board Candidates – November 2018
Directors of Full Member Institutions seeking first three-year term:
Eric Delli Bovi, Executive Director, Urban Gateways, Chicago, IL
Eric joined Urban Gateways in 2012 to lead a significant expansion of arts programs and services for Chicago’s youth and communities. He has directed the organization through a growth and innovation plan that includes two organizational acquisitions, Art Resources in Teaching (A.R.T.) and Street-Level Youth Media, in addition to numerous successful projects and partnerships. Eric also serves on the Arts Education Network Council for Americans for the Arts to support national initiatives in the field. Prior to working at Urban Gateways, Eric led the Old Town School of Folk Music’s capital campaign for a new arts education facility and oversaw unprecedented growth in fundraising to support a wide array of education and performance initiatives. Over his 12-year tenure at the Old Town School of Folk Music he served as Interim Executive Director, Director of External Affairs, Director of Education Outreach, and as a percussion faculty member. Eric was named a Chicago Community Trust Fellow in 2010 and was elected to the Emerging Leaders Council for Americans for the Arts in 2005. Eric holds an M.A. from DePaul University with a focus in directing and developing community arts education organizations, and a B.A. from Ithaca College in Social Studies/Secondary Education. A professional musician, Eric also continues to perform in the local music scene.
Chad Cooper, Executive Director, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Brooklyn, NY
Chad Cooper joined the BKCM’s Board of Trustees in July of 2014 and served as its Treasurer before joining the staff as Executive Director in August of 2016. Before BKCM, Chad was a Managing Director in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group at Deutsche Bank Securities where he worked for over 15 years covering public and private real estate companies, investment managers and private equity platforms. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Chad worked for four years at the St. Louis Development Corporation, the economic development agency of the City of St. Louis, Missouri. There, he designed and implemented community and economic development programs targeted towards alleviating poverty in some of the most economically distressed neighborhoods in St. Louis and East St. Louis. During his time in St. Louis, Chad also co-founded a project-based grassroots non-profit organization called Metropolis Saint Louis, whose mission it was to foster greater engagement of young people in city revitalization efforts.
At-Large Candidates seeking first three-year term:
Roma Calatayud-Stocks, Minneapolis, MN
Award-winning novelist and composer Roma Calatayud Stocks holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Psychology, a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, and post-graduate studies in creative writing from the University of St. Thomas. Roma is the author of two historical novels, A Song in My Heart, and the recently released, A Symphony of Rivals. She’s currently working on the third installment of the series, An Ode to Joy. And in line with her life passion and commitment to bring forth the contributions of all cultures through the arts, Roma’s narratives, set to music, provide a window to locations across the world, while also addressing poignant issues, politics of the era, and history. Calatayud-Stocks released two albums, “A Song in My Heart,” to accompany her debut novel, A Song in My Heart, and “Carnival of Life.” With classical, jazz, and Latin musical influences, the albums, performed by an acoustic ensemble, showcase her original songs and instrumental compositions. Roma has twenty years of experience in various roles at arts organizations, including Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra, Film Society of Minneapolis St Paul, MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Vocal Essence, and Walker Art Center. She has toured the United States to present her work at universities, libraries, women’s clubs, and book fairs. Roma lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Tom.
Darren Isom, Executive Director, Memphis Music Initiative, TN
As MMI’s Founder and Executive Director, Darren both developed and leads the $20M philanthropic initiative that uses high-quality music engagement programs and activities to drive student, youth, and community outcomes here in Memphis. A proven strategic leader and nonprofit professional, his career demonstrates his commitment to amplifying community voice and engagement in developing and leading innovative, high-impact youth and community programs, practices, and philanthropy. Prior to MMI, Darren was a manager at The Bridgespan Group where he was a strategic advisor to nonprofit and foundation leaders in youth and community development, foundation strategy, and education policy. Before Bridgespan he worked as the Art, Design, and Public Programming director for Times Square Alliance, planning and implementing programming for public art and performance initiatives throughout the Times Square District. Prior to working at Times Square Alliance, Darren served as VP of Programs for Groundwork, a start-up youth services organization in East New York, Brooklyn, helping young people in underserved communities develop their strengths and skills through experiential learning and enrichment programs. Before joining Groundwork, Darren worked as the director of Global Logistics for CSI, an international trade finance group, where he managed strategy, organization, and change management projects in Belgium, Spain, France, The Netherlands, and Germany. A seventh generation New Orleans native, Darren is a graduate of Howard University, Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris, and Columbia Business School’s Institute for Nonprofit Management. An activist for disconnected youth and LGBT communities of color, he has served as an advisor to the leaders of several Bay Area and national foundations and currently serves on the board of Beloved Community, Collage Dance Collective, and Creative Works.
Peter Simon, President & CEO, Royal Conservatory, Toronto
Dr. Peter Simon has served as President and CEO of the Royal Conservatory since 1991. Under his leadership, the venerable Canadian institution has undergone a dynamic and dramatic transformation, culminating in the completion of the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, the opening of Koerner Hall in 2009 and the formation of a new Performing Arts Division. Dr. Simon also created Learning Through the Arts in 1994, an acclaimed program used in hundreds of schools nationwide to advance the effectiveness of public education and to offer youth at risk a more meaningful learning environment. In 1997 he founded The Glenn Gould School an internationally recognized training centre for gifted young musicians and in 2002, the ARC Ensemble the RCM’s Grammy nominated Ensemble in Residence. Most recently the Marilyn Thomson Early Childhood Education Centre was inaugurated with the aim of designing developmental programs in conjunction with the RCM’s neuroscience Research Centre. Today approximately 500,000 students across Canada and the United States utilize the RCM curriculum and assessment system to study a musical instrument and develop an appreciation of creative activity. More than 30,000 independent music teachers and schools are supported by an array of materials and learning platforms provided by the RCM. Dr. Simon’s began his musical studies at the RCM as a student of Boris Berlin. He subsequently studied at the Juilliard School, in London England and at the University of Michigan with the legendary pianist Leon Fleisher. Dr. Simon is married to the Canadian pianist Dianne Werner. They have two children, Nicole and Justin.
Published: November 12, 2018