Board of Directors and Committees

Executive Officers

President – Kevin Pearson
President Elect – Tom Michalek
Vice President – Katie Robertson
Secretary – Holly Eberhardt
Treasurer – Bryan Wilkins

Ex Officio Directors

Deputy Treasurer – Sarah Martinez
Immediate Past President – Donna Menhart
Executive Director – Lauren Hirsh
Parliamentarian – Nick Mercier

Members at Large

Member at Large – Carrie Nicholas
Member at Large – Jana Martin

National Advisors

Higher Education Advisor – Loneka Wilkinson Battiste
Instrumental Advisor – Roberto Castro
Secondary Education Advisor – Matthew Hanne

Division Presidents

Eastern Division President – Carol Forward
Midwestern Division President – Crystal Henricks
Southern Division President – Kristin Vogt
Western Division President – Shelly Suminski Mahpar

Regional Representatives

Eastern Division 1 Regional Representative – Katie Bach
Eastern Division 2 Regional Representative – Rebecca Dellinger
Midwestern 1 Regional Representative – Melissa Stouffer
Midwestern 2 Regional Representative – Benjamin Rivers
Southern 1 Regional Representative – Rebecca Lakes 
Southern 2 Regional Representative – Michael Perryman
Western 1 Regional Representative – Juanda Marshall
Western 2 Regional Representative – Ginger Littleton


OAKE Employees

Executive Director – Lauren Hirsh
Administrative Coordinator – Colleen Graves


Please see the Board Meetings page to find out more about the Board Meeting schedule, meeting agendas, submitting member comments, and more. 


OAKE Committees

To see the full committee roster list, please click here

Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is comprised of Chapter and Division Presidents and Treasurers.  It serves as a network among local leaders.  Additionally, it advises the OAKE Board on issues that occur at the local and regional levels.

Advocacy and Public Relations
The Advocacy and Public Relations Committee works with the OAKE staff to develop publicity materials and advocacy tools for the Kodály approach.

Bylaws
The Bylaws Committee maintains OAKE’s bylaws and governing documents.

Conference Sites and Steering
The National Conference Sites and Steering Committee oversees decisions that affect the ongoing structure of the OAKE Conference system.  This committee is also in charge of the selection of individual sites to host the OAKE National Conference.

Envoy Editorial Board
The Editorial Board works under the direction of the Envoy Editor to review, edit, and curate the content of the Envoy, OAKE’s peer-reviewed publication.

Equity
The Equity Committee works to develop actions of inclusion of all voices and experiences within OAKE and to promote and ensure equity and equitable practices throughout all areas of the organization.

Fiscal Advisory Council
The Fiscal Advisory Council works with the Treasurer and the Executive Director to advise on matters of fiscal policy that are outside the general area of expertise of OAKE’s Board of Directors.  Typically, the members of the Fiscal Advisory Council are not members of OAKE, but rather, occupy positions in the public and private sectors (accountants, attorneys, etc).

Fiscal Planning
The Fiscal Planning Committee develops the OAKE budget and provides oversight for all financial and fiscal activities of the organization.

Fundraising
The Fundraising Committee works with the Board of Directors to steer OAKE’s fundraising efforts, including capital campaigns and annual giving initiatives.

History and Archives
The History and Archives Committee works with the OAKE Archivist to collect and compile materials and develop protocols for materials to be submitted to the OAKE Archives at the University of Maryland.  This committee maintains a chronological record of OAKE and plans for special historical events in the organization, such as major anniversaries.

Instrumental and Secondary Choral
The Instrumental and Secondary Choral Committee works to expand OAKE’s influence in the worlds of instrumental and secondary choral music education, through the programming of tracks at the OAKE National Conference, publication of articles in the OAKE Envoy, and various outreach initiatives.

Leadership Training Task Force
The Leadership Training Task Force is a newly-formed ad hoc committee working to develop training to support OAKE chapter leaders, committee members, and the Board of Directors.

Leaf Fund
The Leaf Fund Committee oversees the OAKE Leaf Fund, which awards grants that support the mission of OAKE and the Kodály movement in the United States.

Membership
The Membership Committee spearheads member recruitment efforts for OAKE and leads member and chapter support activities.

National Conference Choirs and Choir Scholarships
The National Conference Choirs Committee oversees rehearsals, auditions, and the organizational processes of the National Conference Choirs.

National Conference Program Team
The National Conference Program Team spearheads the organization and development of all OAKE National Conference events and programming.

Nominations
The Nominations Committee reviews all nominations for the OAKE Board of Directors, researches potential candidates, builds the electoral slate, and oversees OAKE elections.

Personnel
The Personnel Committee maintains and develops procedures and policies for all OAKE employees.

Planning and Development
The Planning and Development Committee works to foster the growth, success, and sustainability of OAKE.

Recognition & Research Awards
The Recognition and Research Awards Committee(s) develop and implement criteria for the recognition of outstanding contributors to the work of OAKE and Kodály-inspired music education, reviewing all nominations for OAKE’s annual awards, and making selections based upon those nominations.

Research and Publications
The Research and Publications Committee supports the research of OAKE members and those interested in the Kodály philosophy and has historically overseen all OAKE publications.

Scholarships
The Scholarships Committee administers OAKE’s professional scholarships, including the annual Jenö Ádám, Denise Bacon, and Katinka Daniel Scholarships.

Teacher Education
The Teacher Education Committee oversees the Endorsed Teacher Training Certification process, reviewing all endorsed training programs annually, updating standards for continued endorsement, and providing support to teacher education institutions attempting to establish Kodály training institutes.

President, Executive Committee liaison

To apply to serve on a committee, find the OAKE Committee Application found on the ‘Get Involved’ page