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| Officers and Directors |
| President Donna Marie Schardt Email: d.schardt@sbcglobal.net  Donna Marie began her singing life by joining her church choir during high school. Subsequently she was accepted into her collegiate choir, the Southwestern Singers, and traveled with that group to Russia and Poland . It was in college that she first performed and fell in love with the Mozart Requiem. The Midland Odessa Symphony Chorus was her next musical home, and upon moving to the metroplex she joined the Irving Chorale. She has traveled with the Chorale to Canada, England, Scotland , Wales, Italy, and most recently Switzerland and France. In June 2006 she was able to join others from the Chorale and around the country and perform Mozart's Requiem at Carnegie Hall. It was with a Masterworks Festival Chorus conducted by Ann Howard Jones, and "an absolutely incredible life experience!" In her non music life, Donna Marie has been a licensed, practicing attorney since 1985.
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PRESIDENT: The president is the leader of the Chorale Board and serves a two year term. The duties of this office include presiding as chair at all Board meetings; appointing at- large Board members and committee chairs; working closely with the Artistic Directorto coordinate the current and future performance year calendar and representing the Chorale in the community. |
| Past President Carol Sullivan Email: c.sully8@verizon.net  Ms. Sullivan is an Elementary Music Specialist at M.C. Lively Elementary in Irving. She has been a music teacher for more than forty years. Carol has won numerous teaching awards, including Elementary Teacher of the Year, Irving Elementary ATPE Teacher of the Year, Region 10 ATPE Teacher of the Year, and Walmart Teacher of the Year. She has served as Elementary Lead Music Teacher for Irving ISD and helped coordinate the joint concert with the elementary honor choir last spring. Ms. Sullivan received her B.S. in Music Education from State University College at Potsdam, New York. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education from State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.
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PAST PRESIDENT: The Immediate Past President serves a two-year term as Board Member at Large, and serves as an advisor to the President. |
| PRESIDENT ELECT & COSTUME CHAIRPERSON: Lita Strubhar Email: litak@verizon.net  Lita was born in Dallas, and has lived in Irving most of her life. She began singing at Travis Jr. High and in FUMC Irving’s youth choir (continuing throughout high school), and she sang three years in MacArthur High’s Acapella Choir. While a marketing major at Texas Woman’s University, Lita sang in the chorus and made a tour to Romania with that group. Continuing to sing as an adult, she spent one season with the Mesquite Civic Chorus, then joined Irving Chorale in the late 80’s. Over the next few years, Lita served on the board, traveled with IC to England and Toronto, and was employed as Managing Director until 2002. Several years of traveling in the furniture business kept Lita away from the Chorale for a while, but in 2010 "old" Chorale buddies invited her back. Lita is currently searching for a company that can make good use of her varied skill set. In the meantime, she enjoys getting to know her new granddaughter.
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PRESIDENT ELECT: The president elect is a two year position which trains the holder to succeed the current Chorale president. The president elect presides at Board meetings if the president is absent and is chairperson of the fundraising committee. This person is also a member of the program and budget committees, and is in charge of appointing a nominating committee when needed. |
| VICE PRESIDENT Crystal Kreitzer Email: kieris@sbcglobal.net  Born 12/12/47, raised in Kirkwood (St. Louis), Missouri. AA from Stephens College, and BA from U of Missouri - both Columbia, Mo. Came to Texas in January of '70, moved to Dallas in 1982. Graphic Designer by profession, currently working for the Dallas Public Library: will be retiring in October of this year. Married to Dr. Christopher S. Gallup for a goodly number of years. No kids, only cats, which is quite enough to deal with. Member of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), sing in the choir, chair various committees as needed, currently leader of Elders. Joined the Irving Chorale in the year of "Elijah", and haven't stopped since.
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VICE PRESIDENT: The person holding this office is in charge of coordinating all marketing activities for the Chorale and is chair of the publicity committee. This position has two year term. |
| RECORDING SECRETARY Pam Engman Email: bahbeee@msn.com  Native Irvingite; graduate of Irving High School where I was a member of the a Capella choir; attended UTA. Have sung in church choirs since jr high. Joined the Irving Chorale in the fall of 1990. Have held several offices, but have been the recording secretary for several years. I have traveled to England, Wales, Scotland, Austria, and Toronto, Canada with the Chorale, singing in several magnificent locales. Have been married to Ken Engman since 1999. I have three grown daughters, 3 granddaughters and one grandson and a new baby on the way in April.
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RECORDING SECRETARY: Maintains and records minutes of all Board and general membership meetings and keeps them in a permanent file. This officer is responsible for maintaining accurate attendance records for all Chorale functions. Duties also include disseminating Chorale information via email as needed and keeping an updated roster of members. |
| Treasurer Robert Boyer Email: reb1@att.net  Mr. Boyer holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Dallas and a Master's degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky. He has worked in public library technical services and library administration in the North Texas area for thirty-four years. Robert was a founding member of the Arlington Civic Chorus. Mr. Boyer is currently a Data Specialist for Library Integrated Solutions & Associates and also serves as the music librarian for the Dallas-based baroque ensemble the Orchestra of New Spain.
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TREASURER: Handles all aspects of the Chorale's finances including maintaining the checking account and providing the Board with monthly updates. Chairs the budget committee and coordinates the filing of yearly income tax forms. |
| Corresponding Secretary Judy Gibson Email: southernglobal01@yahoo.com  Began singing on a weekly radio broadcast at age 6 with sisters. Grew up in Louisiana, continued singing in church choir, school choir and ensembles, All.State Choir, and was accepted into Alexandria Oratorio Choir during high school years. College years were spent at Louisiana Tech and LSU. Spent 25 years teaching children's handbells in several churches, as well as .elementary music teacher and clinician. Have traveled and sung with choirs and ensembles in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Bermuda and London. Administrator for retiree benefits and health insurance for Lehigh Hanson, Inc. in Las Colinas.
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CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: This officer is responsible for managing all of the Chorale's correspondence and mailings. Coordinates with the vice president of marketing regarding advertising follow up and serves as the historian during their term. |
| Librarian Terri Bembenek Email: bigfatdiamond@verizon.net  Native Irvingite, Graduated from Nimitz High School and toured Europe with Bill Davis and the Nimitz Chorale in 1973. Graduate of Executive Secretarial School and Northlake College - business degrees. Sang in church choir at St Mark's Episcopal Church - forever - 30+ years.
Joined Irving Chorale in 1994 and served as secretary and fund raiser chairman (garage sale, Christmas wreaths, and pie sales) Traveled to England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Austria, New York and Ireland with Chorale. Spent 17 years with Sun Oil/Oryx Energy and have been with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network (Strategic Employee Benefit Services) for the last 15 years.
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LIBRARIAN: Responsible for the distribution and storage of all Chorale music and folders. Keeps accurate records of member possession of Chorale property. |
| Additional Board Members Voting Members Members at Large are appointed by the president to assist the Board in running the Chorale. |
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| Member at Large Jene Gravley Email: jenegravley@verizon.net  Ms. Gravley has forty years of accounting and administrative experience in for-profits and non-profits. She served Bankers Commercial Life Insurance Company for over thirty years in various executive positions, and retired as President in 2001. At St. Mark's Episcopal Church, she is treasurer of the church, Women's Guild treasurer, member of the choir, and facilitator of a Bible study class. Jene is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Episcopal Foundation of Dallas. She has been a member of Irving Chorale since 2001 and was Chorale treasurer board member from September 2004 through August 2008. Ms. Gravley received her undergraduate education from the University of Texas at Arlington.
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| Member at Large Don Bianchi Email: drbianch@sbcglobal.net  Don started singing in his church choir and has been involved in vocal and instrumental activities in school and churches his entire life. He is a retired executive from Mobil Oil Corporation and was responsible for building and administrative operations in the Southwest. He holds a Bachelor's degree in chemistry from Rutgers University, an MBA in finance from Columbia University, and is a Board member of the Pegasus Community Credit Union.
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| Member at Large Jennifer Buchanan Diaz-Arrastia Email: jbdiazarrastia@verizon.net  The Irving Chorale is a family affair for Irving resident, Jenny. Both of her parents and one of her sons also sing with the ensemble. She has enjoyed singing with choruses since school days in Kansas City and during college toured with the Oberlin College Choir. She also has long played double bass and sung with various church groups over the years, currently at Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Parish in Irving. She is married, the parent of 4 young people, and has been a practicing pediatrician for 25 years.
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Non-voting Advisory |
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| Webmaster Bert Gravley Email: BertGravley@yahoo.com  Bert Gravley is the current website content manager for the Irving Chorale. He is the son of Jene Gravley, former Irving Chorale Treasurer and current Member at Large. He keeps busy with several other web sites, coaching fastpitch softball and playing racquetball.
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| Usher Coordinator Marge Flowers Email: mrgflowers@aol.com  Ms. Flowers retired from the Irving Independent School District after twenty-two years as a School Nurse. Marge is currently a member of the Church of the Incarnation at the University of Dallas, where she sings in the choir. Ms. Flowers graduated from The University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing.
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| Tour Director Judy Garza Email: jgarza@dcccd.edu  Having traveled on all of the singing tours both at home and abroad, Ms. Garza is currently serving as travel coordinator for the Chorale. A veteran of 22 years in adult education and training with the Dallas County Community College District, Judy is currently working as a Project Manager/Grant Manager in the Contract Training Division of the Community College System.
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| Grant Writer Sherry Johnson Email: sherrjoh7@yahoo.com  Ms. Johnson is retired from her position as Library Media Specialist with the Irving Independent School District after twenty-one years and currently works part-time for the Dallas Public Library. She is a church choir member and parish librarian at St. Mark's Episcopal Church and is the grant writer for the Irving Chorale. Ms. Johnson received her bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman's University and her Master of Library Science degree from the University of North Texas.
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| Artistic Director Harry Wooten Email: hwooten@royallane.org  Harry Wooten is Minister of Music at Royal Lane Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. A native of Arkansas, Mr. Wooten holds degrees from William Jewell College, Vienna International Music Conservatory, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served churches in Tennessee and Alabama as Minister of Music and appeared as guest soloist, conductor, and presenter for numerous workshops and music events. His choirs have participated in the International Church Music Festival (Coventry Cathedral 1994 and 2000 and Bern, Switzerland 1997) and the Manhattan Festival of Sacred Music 2001. His wife Debi is a music educator in the Plano Independent School District. They have three beautiful, busy children: Brittany, Barrett, and Blair.
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| Accompanist Eunice Tavaglione Email: etgrand@juno.com  Eunice Tavaglione completed her Master of Music degree in piano performance at the University of North Texas under the private instruction of Artist in Residence Stefan Bardas. Prior to this, she studied with Ronald Boud and Janet Hutchinson in Philadelphia, receiving her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. It was here that she gained valuable training in performing, accompanying, and arranging. Ms. Tavaglione has traveled throughout many parts of the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America accompanying various choral groups and performing as piano soloist. Since coming to Dallas in 1976, she has taught extensively at all levels and continues to maintain a large teaching studio. Ms. Tavaglione is widely recognized as an adjudicator in piano throughout the state of Texas and remains an active
Accompanistfor national voice and instrumental competitions. Her work in the field of sacred music for the piano has been significant. She is the
Accompanistfor the Irving Chorale and a member of The Elysee Piano Quartet. In 1984, Ms. Tavaglione became part of the music faculty at Eastfield College in piano and theory, where she presently serves.
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