Staff & Volunteers
Staff
Administrative Staff:
(To email a member of the staff, click on their name)
Denice Beights, Executive Director
Mrs. Beights joined the FWCC November, 2009, as the Executive Director. She has many years of experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors and has a diverse background in fundraising, training, management, and volunteerism. Mrs. Beights is an active community volunteer, serving on the Board of Directors for Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home and as Brass Ensemble Director at her church. She is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne and a 2006 Future 40 Award winner. She is a saxophonist, and graduated from IPFW with a degree in secondary music education. Mrs. Beights is married to Mike and has a three-year old son named Joey.
Janet Treadway, Director of Operations
Mrs. Treadway has been dedicated to the choir for over fifteen years, both as a volunteer and an employee. Her two daughters are alumni of the Fort Wayne Children's Choir. She holds a degree in management from Akron University. She is an active participant in the Northrop Choral Association Parent Board and is a member in the Junior League of Fort Wayne.
Donna Haywood, Financial/Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Haywood recently started on staff with the Fort Wayne Children's Choir on a part-time basis. She has a BS in Marketing from Michigan State University, and an accounting degree from IPFW. She plays the flute in her church choir at Our Lady of Good Hope, and she is a member of the IPFW Community Flute Choir. She has three children who all sing in the FWCC.
Artistic Staff:
Brian Clissold, Artistic Director
Director of Concert Choir and Youth Chorale
“Mr. C,” as the kids call him, attended Western Michigan University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music education. After graduating, Mr. Clissold became the Music Director of the Battle Creek (MI) Girls’ Chorus and, a year later, also for the Battle Creek Community Chorus. While working in Battle Creek, Brian saw the Girls’ Chorus program triple in size, maintained an active and vibrant performance schedule with both programs, and prepared the Community Chorus for numerous choral/orchestral concerts. After 11 years in Battle Creek, Mr. Clissold, his wife Abbi, and their two daughters relocated to Indianapolis. There he obtained his Master of Music in choral conducting from Butler University. Mr. C LOVES spending time with his family, and when he’s not on the podium, can usually be seen riding a bicycle! The entire family is excited for the move to Fort Wayne and can’t wait to meet so many new and wonderful people!
Irene S. Ator, Assistant to the Artistic Director
Accompanist for the Youth Chorale and Concert Choirs
Mrs. Ator traveled to Shrewsbury, England in 1999 as the accompanist to the Concert Choir, and she has enjoyed tickling the ivories for the FWCC ever since! She has a Music Education degree from Indiana University, Bloomington and has been the organ instructor for IPFW for over twenty-eight years. Mrs. Ator also teaches organ for the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend and is actively teaching organ and piano privately. For twenty-eight years she has performed as organist/harpsichordist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. She is in demand as an accompanist and as a substitute organist, having completed twenty-five years in full-time music ministry. She is married to Dr. James Ator, retired Professor of Saxophone, Composition and Theory at IPFW and one of our 2008-2009 FWCC commissioned composers.
Susan LaCroix, Director of Apprentice Choir
Mrs. LaCroix is in her 15th year with the FWCC. A native of Minnesota, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Concordia University in River Forest, IL. She received additional training in the child’s voice, conducting, and Level One Kodály Certification at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She has operated a private piano and flute studio and taught music education at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Unity Lutheran School, and with Southwest Allen County Schools. She is currently a music education specialist and band director at Holy Cross Lutheran School. Her three daughters are members of the FWCC.
Phyllis Boester, Director of Lyric Choir
Mrs. Boester received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. She teaches choir and general music at Lakeside Middle School. At First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, Mrs. Boester is the Associate Choir Director and Director of Children's Music. She has completed Levels I & II of Orff-Schulwerk and is a member of the NIOSA Chapter. She completed three levels of Kodály training at Capital University. She is the Area 2 Middle School Coordinator for the Circle the State With Song Festival and a dedicated member of Heartland Chamber Chorale. Her two sons are both alumni of the FWCC program.
Kathy Coulter, Accompanist for Apprentice Choir
Mrs. Coulter has been with the FWCC for five years. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from the College of Wooster in Ohio and a Masters of Arts in Music Education at Montclair State University in New Jersey. She is the Lower School music teacher and director of the Children’s Choir at Canterbury School, Fort Wayne.
Lois Foote, Accompanist for Lyric and Treble Choirs
Mrs. Foote has been an accompanist for FWCC for six years. In addition to being a wife to Greg and proud mom of three college students, she keeps busy playing piano in various capacities, especially for students and school groups. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English at Wheaton College. Lois learned to love classical music as a child and took piano lessons throughout her school years. She also enjoys choral music very much and is a founding member of Fort Wayne's Bach Collegium.
Board of Directors
| President: | Rosemarie Bostelman, Bostelman Insurance Services |
| Vice President: | Joshua Neal, Barrett & McNagny |
| Treasurer: | Heather Teagarden, Steel Dynamics |
| Assistant Treasurer: | Jenny Lemmon, Andorfer and Co, LLP |
| Secretary: | Stacy Need, Franklin Electric |
| Board members: | Diana Bartscht, Community Volunteer |
| Jim Bordner, Gravity Music | |
| Leslie Carmin Hammer, Embassy Theatre | |
| Jeff Fritz, Dupont | |
| Adam Green, Lupke Rice Associates | |
| Daysha Jackson, IPFW | |
| Barbara Resch, IPFW | |
| Stacy Somers, Beers Mallers Backs and Salin |
Advisory Board:
| Advisory Board: | Randy Brown,Allen County War Memorial Coliseum |
| Suzon Motz,Community Member | |
| Barb Richardson,WAJI Majic 95.1 | |
| Bob Roets,Wooden Nickel |
Music Advisory Board
East Allen County Schools
Joan Phillips, President, Leo Jr/Sr High School
Fort Wayne Community Schools
Erin Bean, Weisser Park Elementary
Wendy Bloom, Haley Elementary
Amy Maupin, Price Elementary
Janet Piercy, Arlington Elementary
Kay Bishop, Towles Intermediate School
Jane Zwienink, Holland Elementary
Antwerp Local Schools
Mary Smith, Antwerp Local Elementary
Northwest Allen County Schools
Diane Barton, Hickory Center Elementary
Shelia Gagen, Arcola Elementary
Southwest Allen County Schools
Anita Kowalski, Summit Middle School
Donna Lehman, Aboite Elementary
Parent Organization
| President: | Open |
| Vice President: | Open |
| Treasurer: | Karen Zawodni |
| Secretary: | Open |
| Fundraising Chair: | Heather Case |
| Social Chair: | Open |
The Parent Organization was formed to support the social activities of the choir and help provide fund raising opportunities to defray tuition costs and tour expenses for the singer and the organization. The success of the Parent Organization depends on volunteers to serve on the social committee, fund raising committee, committee chairs and choir representatives.