Respected as both a soloist and chamber musician, Ashley Sandor Sidon is the Briggs Endowed Professor of Cello at Drake University and Executive Director of the Zenith Chamber Music Festival. As an invited performer and clinician, Dr. Sidon’s credits include international solo performances across China, in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Italy, Germany, France, Poland, and Brazil. Nationally, her performances as a chamber musician and as an orchestral soloist have taken her to the leading universities, chamber music festivals, and concert stages from Maine to California. An advocate for new music, Ashley Sidon has commissioned new works by Miguel del Aguila, Matthew Quayle, Phillip Koplow, Roger Vogel, and William Dougherty; and in 2014 she performed the Polish premiere of Ned Rorem’s cello concerto on tour in Poland. She has premiered new chamber music and unaccompanied works to critical acclaim nationally, including in New York City, Cincinnati, Chicago; and internationally, including Beijing, Shanghai, Paris, and Arcidosso. Dr. Sidon previously was cello teaching artist at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in Shanghai, China.
Dr. Sidon has presented lectures/presentations at professional conferences including College Music Society Southeast Convention, the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), MENC Southeast Convention, and the Iowa Music Educators Conference. Her research document titled, ``Lineage and Comparison of Versions of Igor Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne`` was published by the Hawaii International Conference on the Arts. Her performances as cellist with the Kasarah Trio have taken her to chamber music series in Raleigh and Des Moines as well as residencies at universities such as Butler and Drake. Ashley Sidon has performed under the direction of artists such as Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Christopher Wilkins. She has appeared with numerous orchestras, including the Chicago Civic Orchestra, the Zazrbe Filharmonia (Poland), The Minnesota Orchestra, Aspen Festival Orchestra, the Butte Symphony Orchestra, the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado College Music Festival Orchestra, the Florida Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Daytona I Solisti Orchestra, the DaSalo Chamber Orchestra, Athens Symphony Orchestra, and the Drake Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Sidon performs on an Antonio Gagliano cello and Dominique Peccatte bow.

Ajia Whipp, a Des Moines resident, holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northwest Missouri State University. Over the past ten years, she has dedicated herself to teaching instrumental music to students in grades five through twelve in Missouri and Iowa. Ajia is thrilled to channel her deep-rooted passion for music into a business role at the Civic Music Association. Through her experience in music education, she has not only developed a strong affinity for music but also discovered a newfound enthusiasm for event planning, organization, communications and operations management. Taking on the position of Director of Operations and Experience, Ajia eagerly anticipates the opportunity to merge all these passions into one rewarding endeavor.

In addition to music, Ajia loves to hike, trying new artistic endeavors and seek adventure with her family. When she isn't working, you may find her spending time with family and friends, painting, hiking with her five dogs, riding her horse, watching a movie with her two cats and two cockatiels, or doing some home renovations.

Calla is the marketing guru behind the scenes at CMA. Now acting as a consultant, she's been an active promoter and supporter of the organization since 2008, when she was first introduced to CMA through her internship with the Belin Quartet.

Calla is the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Des Moines Symphony and is a passionate believer in what the arts bring to our community. Outside of her work in marketing, she loves teaching music lessons and mentoring young teachers through Sounding Sharp Studio, which she founded in 2009. She believes in the value and joy of music and wants to help people experience the wonders it offers in as many ways as possible.

In addition to music, Calla loves to travel and explore the underwater world via SCUBA diving. When she isn't traveling or working, you can find her spending time with family and friends, walking her dogs, riding bikes or playing tennis, among other things.

Linda devoted her career to developing and nurturing students as they learned and performed a wide variety of music.

A versatile conductor, Linda led choral and vocal jazz ensembles in memorable performances at such sites as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York City, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho in Moscow, and the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

Linda holds a Master of Music Education with choral emphasis from Drake University and a Bachelor of Music Education Cum Laude from Simpson College where she studied voice and piano. She began her musical studies by playing the guitar and listening to Louis Armstrong records her father collected.

Happily retired, Linda loves to travel, enjoy great food and conversation, and will continue to foster growth of music at CMA.

Sarah Sullivan grew up in Pella where marching band and jazz were as important to the culture of the high school and community as the football team. Sarah has always had a love of music and while she dabbled in instruments, she has been singing all her life. She and her husband, Nick Bigelow, are church musicians at St. Augustin and enjoy helping the younger students become comfortable cantoring.

Jodi has over 25 years of experience working with enterprise risk management, compliance and fraud. She currently works at ARAG Legal Insurance leading their risk and compliance efforts. Prior to that, she worked for over 30 years in the banking industry.

She holds an MBA from Northwest Missouri State University and is currently a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).

In her free time, Jodi is active in her church, serves on the Adel City Council, and as a volunteer conservator for the State of Iowa. She resides Adel with her husband, Scott, together they have two adult daughters, Tasia and Rori along with a twelve-year-old son, Luke.

Elizabeth is a Des Moines native and connected with CMA in 2018 while interning for the Belin Quartet. She has always been a music lover and is a choral singer in addition to playing flute and piano. Currently Elizabeth sings multiple performances a year with the Drake Alumni Choir, Umeri. Elizabeth currently works as the Annual Giving Coordinator at UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Foundation and loves being a part of the non-profit scene in Des Moines. When she is not working and singing, Elizabeth enjoys reading, spending time with family & friends, traveling, snuggling her cats, and painting.

Joe Benesh is the President and CEO of the Ingenuity Company, a strategic planning and organizational design thinking firm in Des Moines. He is a member of the University of Iowa teaching staff as an adjunct, where he is in his 5th year of teaching strategic planning in their Masters of Business Administration program. Joe is the Economic Development and Community Engagement Chair and a Past-President of the Downtown Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, where he has received the Service Honor award twice. He also serves on the boards of several non-profits, a college board, and has been an organizing member of a think-tank that is dedicated to the success of the central Iowa region. Joe is currently working on a book about Design Thinking and Strategy. Graduating in 1999 from Iowa State University with a Degree in Architecture, Joe holds a license to practice architecture in three states. He received a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Iowa in 2016, and is a graduate of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, and Leadership Iowa. He lives in the Drake University area, with his wife Cari and their two dachshunds. Joe has a daughter, Kylie, who is a pre-med student at Loyola University in New Orleans. In his spare time, Joe also composes original music and plays guitar in a band he co-founded with a childhood friend in the late 1990s.

Elle's journey has roots in the Midwest and East Coast, but Iowa is where her heart truly lies. A proud alumna of Iowa State University, Elle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Music Technology and is currently pursuing her Master's in Business Administration. Although she identifies as a singer, she also played keyboard and synth in a prog rock band, performing for audiences across the Des Moines metro, bringing her passion for music to life.

Now, Elle crafts and manages technical documents and proposals for a company in the healthcare industry, as well as freelance business consulting for writers, artists, and small business owners. In her downtime, she indulges her wanderlust, enjoys the thrill of live music, unwinds with her feline friends, and explores the great outdoors with loved ones.

Mary Boettcher grew up in Cedar Falls Iowa. She is a proud alumna of Drake University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising. While in college Mary was a proud member of the Alpha Phi sorority. After college, Mary moved to New York City to take advantage of her 20s and gained some great career knowledge working at large advertising agencies. Mary returned to Iowa and has had careers with Principal Financial Group and Prairie Meadows over the years. She is now a Digital Marketing Manager at Mercer. Mary lives on the South Side of Des Moines with her husband Brian and their two cats. In her free time Mary enjoys live music, taking in the shows at the Des Moines Playhouse, and cheering on the Iowa Wolves. Mary is also a proud cat foster parent for the Animal Rescue League.

Jennifer has nearly 30 years working as a senior consultant for Marsh McLennan Companies, including time at both Marsh and Mercer. As a senior consultant specializing in voluntary benefits, Jennifer works specifically with large clients across the country to develop customized solutions to enhance their benefit portfolios and align with their strategic goals. Jennifer has held various regional and national leadership roles over the years, but working directly with clients is by far the most rewarding.

Music has always been an integral part of life for Jennifer, with parents who were very active in music and fostered that environment. Jennifer grew up in Vinton, Iowa and is a graduate of the University of Iowa. Jennifer sings with Des Moines’ Harmony Central Acapella Chorus, also serving as President and member of the Management Team. One of her most fulfilling musical pursuits is singing lead in Off the Cuff acapella quartet along with a childhood friend — their mothers sang together the same way, paving the way for their daughters to take the same path!

Jennifer and her husband, Joe, live in Clive and have two daughters with families who live in St. Louis. Outside of musical passions, Joe and Jennifer also enjoy staying very active together through a variety of fitness and sports interests.

Sara Danielson is a K-5 music teacher in Des Moines Public Schools at Walnut Street School, an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program school. She received Bachelor of Music degrees in music education and performance (flute) in 2003 from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Master of Arts degree with a music education concentration in 2018 from Eastern Illinois University.
Sara also has a small private flute studio, is in her second term as the Xi B Province Officer for Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, and holds the piccolo positions with the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band and Central Iowa Wind Ensemble. She resides in Ankeny with her husband, Jason, and their three sons, Carter, Maxwell, and Isaac.

Josh Fleming is a strong believer in the power of music and the arts to bring communities together. His appreciation for music began early, playing brass instruments throughout high school, performing in marching band, and studying piano. While he is no longer an active musician, music remains an important part of his life, with an eclectic taste that spans Harry Chapin, the Grateful Dead, and Lana Del Rey, as well as any music that continues to reveal itself over time.

Josh is passionate about supporting organizations that strengthen civic life and create shared cultural experiences. He volunteers with the Waukee Betterment Foundation, St. Boniface Catholic Church and the Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa and is drawn to organizations like the Civic Music Association that use music as a unifying force across generations and communities.

Professionally, Josh serves as Vice President of Marketing for Bank Iowa, the state’s second-largest family-owned bank and second-largest agriculture bank. Since joining the organization in 2017, he has helped build an award-winning marketing team recognized with more than 50 industry honors, while supporting the bank’s growth to more than $2 billion in assets.

In his role, Josh focuses on strengthening local connections by helping Bank Iowa show up consistently and authentically in the communities it serves—supporting local businesses, agriculture, and families, and reinforcing the idea that strong institutions are built on trust, relationships, and shared purpose. His leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, creativity, and empowering talented teams to bring ambitious ideas to life.

Before Bank Iowa, Josh spent nearly two decades working at advertising agencies and startup companies, leading branding, digital, and social media strategies across a wide range of industries. He has also served as an adjunct marketing professor at Drake University.

Josh was named the 2020 American Marketing Association Marketing Executive of the Year and is a member of the Des Moines Business Record’s 40 Under 40 class of 2013.

Originally from South Florida, Josh lives in Waukee with his wife, Daina, and their five children. The Fleming family has proudly called Iowa home for the past 25 years.

Sarah Florian has a Bachelor of Music with Emphasis in Business Studies with minors in Musical Theatre and Business Studies from Drake University. While at Drake, Sarah served as a Belin Quartet intern with Civic Music Association for two summers and is happy to be back serving the organization as a Board Member. Sarah has spent a majority of her career in arts administration with roles at the Des Moines Symphony & Academy, Des Moines Performing Arts, and the Iowa Arts Council. During her professional tenure in the sector, she is most proud of managing the day-to-day operations of the Iowa High School Musical Theatre Awards and being part of the team that built that program into the statewide initiative it is today. While she has left the arts as a profession, you can still see Sarah singing in a choir concert or two every so often or catch her performing in a musical around town. Most recent credits include Kinky Boots (Pat) and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Ensemble/Miss Barley), both at the Des Moines Playhouse.

Todd is the Research Director for the Crop Genome Engineering group at DuPont Pioneer, leading teams located in Johnston, IA and Hayward, CA. The Crop Genome Engineering (CGE) group provides genetic modification services in support of all Pioneer biotech trait programs. Todd joined Pioneer in December 2010 after 7 years with BASF Plant Science in Research Triangle Park, NC, as the Tech Center Leader for Cell Biology.

Wayne Reames is the head of the tax, trusts and estates group at Belin McCormick, P.C. With over 25 years of private practice experience, Wayne works, speaks and writes frequently in the areas of taxation, nonprofit organizations and charitable giving, trusts and estates and related legal ethics. Wayne is a graduate of Luther College, the University of Michigan Law School and New York University School of Law. He is licensed as a CPA in Iowa, and as an attorney in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Eric Saylor is Professor of Music History at Drake University, a position he has held since 2003. A specialist in British music of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, he is the author of Vaughan Williams (Oxford University Press, 2022) and English Pastoral Music: From Arcadia to Utopia, 1900–1955 (University of Illinois Press, 2017) co-editor of the volumes The Sea in The British Musical Imagination (The Boydell Press, 2015) and Blackness in Opera (Illinois, 2012), and has published and presented his research widely throughout Europe and North America. He has served in a range of capacities at Drake, including as chair of curriculum committees at the Departmental, Collegiate, and University levels, as well as multiple terms on Faculty Senate and the College of Arts and Sciences Council, and is in demand as a peer reviewer by a wide variety of publishers, periodicals, and universities. He has been closely involved with the administration of the North American British Music Studies Association since its founding in 2004, holding a range of positions including board member, Secretary, and two terms as President.

``I have built close ties with the musical community during the 25 years I have lived in greater Des Moines, having led the Classical Conversations series for the Des Moines Symphony Academy, regularly presenting pre-concert talks for organizations like the DMSO, DMMO, and CMA, and collaborating with institutions like the Des Moines Public Library on community-based education projects. For almost 100 years, Civic Music has punched far above its weight class for a city this size in terms of the artists it attracts, and I would love the opportunity to help CMA continue this tradition of excellence as it begins its second century.``

Jason grew up in central Iowa before attending college and law school at the University of Chicago. After a stint in New York, he returned home to practice complex litigation at The Weinhardt Law Firm. What he lacks in musical talent he makes up for in his enthusiasm for Des Moines’s vibrant musical opportunities, especially the CMA. He lives in Des Moines with his wife Michelle Li.

Jonanne Tucker is a lifelong musician whose passion for the arts has shaped much of who she is. A graduate of Drake University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, she has been a proud member of the Des Moines Symphony since 2003. Jonanne’s primary instrument is the viola, though she also enjoys the piano, flute, and ukulele.

Her love of musical performance began in the fourth grade when she played in her first orchestra — an (extremely simplified) arrangement of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, it was love at first harmony! Since then, she’s held a deep appreciation for live and instrumental music in all forms, with a special fondness for film scores. She’s thrilled to be part of an organization that connects people through music and brings the joy of live performance to her community.

Outside her musical life, Jonanne works in HR at ITA Group, specializing in talent acquisition. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, traveling, dancing, and anything involving noodles.