Since beginning cello lessons in fourth grade, being involved in a music ensemble has been an important part of my life.  Whether orchestra, choir or even marching band (I was a flag carrier!), being surrounded by music has always filled me with joy and provided me with lifelong friendships.  After receiving my BA in Music from Northwestern University, I went on to earn my MBA, also from Northwestern, with the intention of going into arts management.  I became a CPA, and now, 41 years later, I’ve never left the accounting field.  As the nonprofit tax partner for my firm, I have worked with hundreds of nonprofit organizations, including many in the arts, both professional and community based.

I currently sing with my synagogue choir and act as its administrator; I also serve as the synagogue’s Vice President of Finance.  I have been a member of the Illinois CPA’s Society Nonprofit Committee for the past ten years and currently am the chair of its tax subcommittee.  My husband and I have been series subscribers to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1981 and we love going to see the performances of our many relatives who perform various types of music.  I look forward to helping The Harmony Fund (and my sister-in-law, Nora) provide support to community music organizations so that others can enjoy this special experience.

I am not a musician, but I married one.  In fact, I met my wife, Nora, at her Park Ridge Chorale holiday concert in December 1991.  It was a blind date! We met after the concert, and I accompanied her to the party being held afterwards.  Though I never thought I would find myself at a choir party, there was something charming about the get togehter, and certainly something charming about my date!  We were engaged a year later, married and have two adult children and one grandchild.   Between Nora’s concerts and my daughter Allison’s concerts (she inherited the musical gene), I have been to hundreds of band, choir and theatre performances. 

I have spent my career in the printing/direct mail industry.   Most recently I have spent 18 years as VP of Sales at SG 360 in Wheeling, Illinois, looking to retire in early 2024.  My musical taste has always been more rock and roll and more recently contemporary country music.  When Nora decided to go ahead with The Harmony Fund, she asked me to help.  I have a natural ability to talk with people and a fascination with the music industry as a whole.  We both thought I would be a good fit for the fundraising side of the organization. Together look forward to helping make Nora’s dream a reality.

I started playing clarinet in 4^th grade.  In 7^th grade I joined the junior high choir.  From that point on, I have always been a member of a band or choir.  In high school, the music wing of Niles West High School in Skokie Illinois is where I “lived”.  I played, I sang, I made wonderful friends, and went on band and choir trips.  In college, I hung up my clarinet, but I sang and toured with the University of Illinois concert choir.  I treasure the memories I made with my school musical groups.  When I graduated with an accounting degree and became a CPA, I was in for serious culture shock.  I was lost without a choir.  I soon found the Park Ridge Chorale and began my adult musical journey.  I have been blessed with being a member of the Park Ridge Chorale and the Glen Ellyn Wheaton Chorale and have been active in my daughter’s musical life as well, both with the Palatine Children’s Chorus and the Fremd High School Choirs.  I found that by being the CPA among musicians, I was often called upon to be treasurer, fundraiser and tax preparer for the organization.  The one thing I found universally among all groups was the need for just a little extra money.  Money to hire musicians, money to provide a meal when hosting another choir, money to pay for the tour costs of director and accompanist, money to repair instruments, money to commission a piece of music, etc. etc. 

Early in 2023 I was having dinner with my family.  We were talking about what we would do if we won big in the lottery (which I do not play).  My son said he didn’t know what he would do with millions of found dollars.  I immediately said that I would use the money to benefit community music groups.  That I could live my dream by helping enhance the musical experience of others.  At some point I decided that I did not need to win the lottery to make this dream come true.  There had to be donors that would identify or at least sympathize with my vision.  This is how The Harmony Fund was born!