Announcing 2023-2024 Poco Board Members
Poco a Poco, a music education nonprofit based in Streator, held its annual retreat at Tombaugh Farm to thank off-going board members and welcome the new. The organization would like to recognize all of its past board members, Jean Drendel, Terri McTaggart, Kevin Mangan, Gavin Finefield, Katie Swanson, and Cara Luckey Reynolds, for their service to the organization since its inception in 2017. They join a growing team of alums, community volunteers, and faculty members who have helped shape the 501(c)(3) into a thriving and well-run organization.
New members elected this fall strongly believe in and exemplify Poco a Poco’s mission to cultivate a more vibrant community through musical initiatives designed to educate and entertain. Board members all share a love and respect for music and represent several communities, backgrounds, and work experiences, bringing an important range of skill sets to the 9-member board. Board members, past and present, have hailed from numerous communities: Streator, Channahon, Decatur, Marseilles, Normal, Ottawa, and Pontiac.
The new class includes Ellen Yedinak, a music education graduate from Illinois Wesleyan University who teaches K-8 music and choir at ST. Mary’s School in Pontiac; Marty Payne, board Treasurer, who graduated from the University of Illinois in computer engineering, with a secondary focus on business and accounting and who recently retired from a director position at State Farm; Barb Ehling, Streator native and educator, a Millikin University music graduate with masters degrees in both Reading and Administration; and Michele Piel, an experienced choral singer who has performed with numerous Chicago-based ensembles and who has a diverse background in education, both behind the scenes and in the classroom, ranging from kindergarten to college.
Other current board members include Kathy Tombaugh, President, musician, and educator; Emily Schaumber, Vice President & Northlawn Junior High band and choir director; Reverend Jenny SUydam, Secretary; Scot Wrighton, Decatur city manager; and Robert Mangialardi, founder of Prairie Fire Theatre, musician, and IWU educator. Kate Tombaugh, a Streator native and professional mezzo-soprano, is the founder and Executive Director.
Poco a Poco recently completed its seventh annual Summer Music Fest in Streator, IL, this past June, hosting eight events in 8 days across Streator. Their flagship program - a week-long Young Artist program for 8th-12th graders - has served over 80 students from 30 schools. New in 2023, Poco a Poco launched a Jr. High training program, as well as a ‘Fun with Music!’ K-4 program, in collaboration with the Streator public library. Free and public concerts round out the festival week, culminating with a Community Concert that features the multigenerational talents of Poco students, faculty, guest ensembles, and volunteer musicians.
Poco a Poco’s programming in 2023 was made possible, in part, by the Illinois Art Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, Illinois Prairie Community Foundation (Mirza Arts & Culture Fund), Dieken Family Foundation, Streator Tourism, and the Voices in Harmony Fund. Numerous private donors and local in-kind donations also bolster their efforts; volunteer help with housing and food is crucial in making the festival a continued success.
For more information and a complete listing of the organization’s 2023 supporters, please visit www.pocoapoco.org/donors-supporters.
