The board of directors of the Joy of Music School is comprised of individuals who support and sustain the mission of the organization. They give of their time and resources in order to preserve a healthy future for the School, and utilize their networks to create and maintain beneficial relationships for this institution. Oversight and advancement are central to their volunteer work.
Fay Adams recently retired as Associate Professor Emeritus at the UT School of Music where she was Coordinator of the Keyboard Area and taught piano, pedagogy, and Suzuki pedagogy. She received the Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, and the 2016 MTNA National Teacher of the Year. Fay now teaches privately and still works with MTNA, the Suzuki Association, and the Suzuki Piano School of Knoxville.
Cindi Alpert, Board President, is a broadcaster and General Manager/Owner of radio station 106.1 The River. She is well-versed in marketing and sales strategies, is an in-demand voice over artist, infomercial spokesperson, and Jazz singer. Cindi is active in JoMS events, marketing and board development.
Harold A. Black is the James F. Smith Jr. Professor of Finance (emeritus) at the University of Tennessee. He served on the initial board of the National Credit Union Administration. He has held faculty positions at the University of Florida, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Howard University and American University. He is past chairman of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank – Nashville Branch.
Robert R. “Rick” Carl is a lawyer with Baker, Donelson PC and is an active musician performing frequently with local bands. He is a former school music teacher, having led the music department at the Webb School of Knoxville.
Kim Ciukowski, CPA, is a Senior Vice President at Pinnacle Bank. Kim is a member of the board’s finance committee. In addition to being an active member of the Joy of Music School board, she is also active in various charitable and professional organizations.
Trey Coleman is the regional president for HomeTrust Bank in Knoxville, Tenn. He is a past Joy of Music School board member and board president. Prior to joining the board, Trey served as a volunteer guitar instructor at the School..
F. Michael Combs is Professor Emeritus of Music (retired) at the University of Tennessee and associate principal timpanist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. He was founding board president of the Joy of Music School, helping establish the organization with its founder, James Dick. Mike currently chairs the development committee.
Sarah M. Davis, a retired Knox County Schools music teacher, is now a substitute teacher, and church music director. She is a singer and board member in the Knoxville Choral Society. Currently, she chairs the Joy of Music School’s board governance committee.
Harold Duckett is retired from 35 years practice of architecture and design. He continues his 36-plus year career as writer, critic and observer of visual and performing arts and architecture in the region. He has written for national arts publications and journals and currently writes for the on-line journal KnoxTnToday. Harold is an art collector and appraiser. When not involved in the arts, or pro bono professional services, he pursues his passion for gardening.
Damon A. Falconnier is founder of the architectural firm Falconnier Design Company, which has developed a reputation for excellence in the region since 1992. In addition to board service, Damon offers his architectural expertise to support the Joy of Music School.
Jack Fellers, Board President-Elect, is an emeritus professor of engineering at the University of Tennessee. He has been a volunteer piano teacher at the Joy of Music School since 2013, plays trumpet in the Tellico Village Tops Notes, and hits a lot of golf balls. He is chair of the board marketing/PR committee.
Pete Finch is a writer and contributing editor at the magazine Golf Digest and Golf World magazines, and is a journalism instructor in New York. A bass player in multiple bands in his free time, Pete edits the Joy of Music School newsletter, Music Notes.
Rachel Ford has served as Executive Director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra since 2007. She is active with several community organizations as well as the League of American Orchestras. She serves as co-chair of the Joy of Music School’s Special Events Committee.
Marsha Hollingsworth has extensive community involvement including Fantasy of Trees and the American Red Cross. A former Clinton Jaycees Woman of the Year she has served on the Knoxville Opera, Baptist Health Foundation, Pellissippi State Community College Foundation, and the Bijou Theatre boards. She now serves on the boards of the Museum of Appalachia and the Sertoma Home. She also sponsors programs for Junior Achievement of East Tennessee, including BizTown.
Dametraus Jaggers is Asst. Professor at Johnson University and directs its Future of Hope High School Youth Theology Initiative. He was Associate Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Life at the Univ. of Tennessee. He worked in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Multicultural Student Center at Ohio State U. at Mansfield. Dametraus is pursuing a doctorate in Higher Ed. Administration at U.T. He holds Masters and Bachelors degrees from Kent State University.
James Pippin is a University of Tennessee College of Engineering retiree. He is an active musician and performer with local and national musical organizations that include the Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir. James offers his expertise as a percussionist and engineer to support the Joy of Music School.
Timothy Purcell is a 21-year director with Pilot Flying J. He oversees Enterprise Development and during his tenure has developed and launched the PFJ Best Coffee on the Interstate, MyRewards Loyalty, and social media platforms. His support, along with Pilot Flying J, has been instrumental in sustaining the School’s mission.
Mick Reed is currently an Account Executive with WATE-TV in Knoxville and has been a teacher, banker, and sales manager. Mick has been involved with other local non-profits and is a past President of Friends of Literacy. Mick has been playing music since elementary school and his current musical efforts involve playing guitar and trying to “get the band back together!”
Frank Robinson is a retired Tennessee Valley Authority executive and a retired official from the City of Oak Ridge. He serves on numerous boards and is involved in numerous community outreach activities. Mr. Robinson chairs the board’s advocacy committee.
Ben Smith is a music enthusiast. He works in production and fan and event engagement with AC Entertainment. He hosts the Indie Aisle – the experimental and independent music radio show on WUTK. He founded and runs Gezellig Records – a small record label with artists from across the globe. Ben serves on the special events committee for the Joy of Music School.
Dr. Malcolm Spica, Ph.D. is a forensic neuropsychologist with over 30 years of experience in clinical neuroscience. He has held academic positions at the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine, MSU Clinical Psychology Department, and MSU Department of Psychiatry. He now frequently serves as an expert consultant in various federal and state medicolegal contexts.
Glenn D. Swift, Board Treasurer, is a retired lecturer in the College of Business at the University of Tennessee specializing in entrepreneurship and innovation. He is also a retired executive from AT&T Corporation. He is an active community volunteer and world traveler.
Joyce Thames is the mother of one current and three former JoMS students. She has been a homeschool mom for over 20 years and is now educating the last of her six children. She organizes a variety of social and educational events for her church, and has organized and produced homeschool events. Joyce also served as a volunteer for Children’s Hospital events and as a 4-H leader.
Frank F. Venable is a Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley. In addition to being an active member of the Joy of Music School board, Frank is also active in church and community activities.
Brad White is the head of Avolites Control Surfaces for the United States and an active lighting designer for concert and architectural projects. His lighting designs can be seen on several structures in the Knoxville area, as well as in architecture, theaters, and outdoor events worldwide.
Past Members of the Board of Directors
These are community members who have served on the board in years past, and worked to bring The Joy of Music School to its current level of success.
Joan Allen
Joan Ashe
Elvin Banks
Carolyn Barnett
Eleanor Barron
Judy Benson
Barbara Bernstein
Sandie Bishop
Steve Boyce
Tutt Bradford
Donald Brown
Lillian Coleman
Trey Coleman
Lee Congleton
William Davis, Sr.
James Dick
Ross Faires
Mary Ann Fennell
John F. Fisher
Sam Furrow
Margaret Gaiter
Joseph Goodstein
Lucy Hand
Kathy Hart
Bruce Hartmann
Robert Harvey
Dee Haslam
Natalie Haslam
Jenny Hines
Dale Keasling
Arthur Lavidge
John Lee
Rick Lester
Sande Macmorran
James R. Martin
Larry Martin
Keith McClelland
Hugh McWilliams
Walter Mencer
Sharon Miller
L.L. Montgomery, III
Marvelene Moore
Joanne Mounger
R.L. “Bunny” Oakes
Susan Overton
Harwell Profitt
Sammie Lynn Puett
Richard Ray
Virginia Rowlett
Phyllis Secrist
Arthur Seymour
Suzanne Shriver
William Snyder
Aaron Staple
Murphy Strong, Sr.
Joe Sullivan
Steve Tatum
David Traver
W.W. Jones
Jackie Brown
Archie Carpenter
Dwight Christian
James L. Clayton
Joe Congleton
Ann Hitch
Jane Venable
Cynthia D’Andrea
Harold Diftler
Marcia Donaldson
Margie Loyd
Rudolph Nemeth
Amy Skalet
Mattie Smith
Susan Southerland
Norris Dryer
Jerry Field
Sarah Gass
David Henderlight
Hallerin Hill
Peggie Howard
Ken Jarnagin
Charles Lindsey
Margaret Maddox
Mickey Mallonee
Jorge Richter
Greg Roach
Janet Roach
David Royse
Suzanne Schriver
Theresa Stone
Shawn White
Bill Williams
Jim Begalla
Susan Bolt
Robert Eldridge
Elizabeth Farr
Francis Graffeo
Mark Hanson
Eugene Hattaway
Sarah Holloway
Beverly Kerr
Doug Klein
Karen Ladd
Jeanie Melton
James Pippin
Mark Rigsby
Karen White
Martha Breazeale
Donald Grohman
Becky Hancock
Peg Hightower
Julie Howard
Terri King
Lee Martin
Evelyn Matthews
Eleanor Nichols
Becky Prior
Mike Ragsdale
Eddie Southerland
Angela Batey
Ric Best
George Bitzas
Juanita Cannon
Willene Chalmers
Oslo Cole
Phillip Ewell
Amelia Hodges
Sheila Hudson
John Kesterson
T.J. Hurst
Barbara Pelot
James Hundley
David Lovett
Betty Sue Sparks
Mike Stallings
Marilyn Stelling
David Wigler
Chris Woodhull
Catherine Casey
Cindy Cook
Bill Davis, Jr.
Elise Denneny
Carole Galyon
Linnette Seymour
Breyon Ewing
Michael Allen
Larsen Jay
Bob Maxon
John Trotter
Richard Baumgartner
Mannie Burnett
Sandra Powell Emond
Michael McClamroch
Lucas Richman
Judi Starliper
Harold Black
Ashley Capps
Mark Douglass
Barbara Eldridge
Tony Farmer
Brandon Herrenbruck
Kim Kredich
Sarah Sharpe
John Skladan
Kurt Weiss
Betsey Bush
Ray Equi
Rosemary Gilliam
Zane Hagy
Fiona McAnally
Richard Neubert
Margaret Ritchie
Louise Wyman
Mary-Hannah MacCurdy
Chyna Brackeen
Kathleen Christie
Chandra Harris-McCray
Oana Harrison
Missy Jenkins
Tom Ramsey
Patrick Roddy
Sherry Shepherd
Louis Diez
Mick Reed
Greg Scribner
Karen Stone
Don MacTavish
Jeannine Henney
Maureen Patteson
Kristen Thames
Caleb Lukkarila
Gregory Tardy
Susan Tisdale
Janie Dempster
Ken Dobbins
Alicia Randisi-Hooker
Steve Queisser