Board of Directors, 2023-2024
Christina Nemcik Mongold, President
Kevin Letcher, Vice President
Denise Zielinski, Past President
Paula Leverage, Secretary
Abby Snodgrass, Co-Treasurer
Tom Bisciglia, Co-Treasurer
Chris Wild
Carol Letcher
Heather Peters
Adam Bodony
Brent Laidler
Please email the president if you would like to know more about board membership.
Christina Nemcik Mongold, President
Kevin Letcher, Vice President
Denise Zielinski, Past President
Paula Leverage, Secretary
Abby Snodgrass, Co-Treasurer
Tom Bisciglia, Co-Treasurer
Chris Wild
Carol Letcher
Heather Peters
Adam Bodony
Brent Laidler
Please email the president if you would like to know more about board membership.
Christina Nemcik Mongold, President
Christina Nemcik Mongold is a classically trained musician originally from Bloomington, Indiana who through her love for worldwide travel, found her way into International Fine Arts Program Development and then Global Sales and Business Development. Christina left her career in 2018 to tackle her most challenging and rewarding position thus far, CEO of the Mongold Family. Day to day, Christina spends much of her time raising two bright and very energetic young boys together with her husband, Dr. Jonathan Mongold.
Recently, Christina has been busier than ever supporting her local community through volunteerism and philanthropic pursuits. In her various roles, Christina has raised funds for local organizations, garnered several impactful donations, and helped raise a substantial donation to the local YWCA. Many times throughout her terms, Christina has been invited as a panelist to give talks within the community. Christina has given presentations geared towards inspiring young people of color in her community to pursue the Arts. She serves on the PTO of her children’s school and is a member of the national organization, MOPS. Christina is an avid birdwatcher, fanatical supporter of PBS and public radio, and a prolific reader of the historical fiction genre. She plays Horn around the state of Indiana, taking local gigs in churches, universities, and with community/volunteer musical ensembles.
Christina Nemcik Mongold is a classically trained musician originally from Bloomington, Indiana who through her love for worldwide travel, found her way into International Fine Arts Program Development and then Global Sales and Business Development. Christina left her career in 2018 to tackle her most challenging and rewarding position thus far, CEO of the Mongold Family. Day to day, Christina spends much of her time raising two bright and very energetic young boys together with her husband, Dr. Jonathan Mongold.
Recently, Christina has been busier than ever supporting her local community through volunteerism and philanthropic pursuits. In her various roles, Christina has raised funds for local organizations, garnered several impactful donations, and helped raise a substantial donation to the local YWCA. Many times throughout her terms, Christina has been invited as a panelist to give talks within the community. Christina has given presentations geared towards inspiring young people of color in her community to pursue the Arts. She serves on the PTO of her children’s school and is a member of the national organization, MOPS. Christina is an avid birdwatcher, fanatical supporter of PBS and public radio, and a prolific reader of the historical fiction genre. She plays Horn around the state of Indiana, taking local gigs in churches, universities, and with community/volunteer musical ensembles.
Kevin Letcher, Vice President
Kevin Letcher was first introduced to this wonderful organization when his youngest child participated from 2004 to 2010. Kevin retired from State Farm after 32 years of service in a broad spectrum of roles. He and his family moved to West Lafayette twenty years ago, after living in many other states. Kevin earned his Bachelor’s degree and JD from the University of Kansas. Rock chalk!
Since retirement, he has been very involved with the United Way of Greater Lafayette as a Board Member, Community Investment Council member and Sarah Price Round Grant Review Committee member. He is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Read to Succeed volunteer, created the Sunnyside Intermediate Mentoring Circle, serves on the Indiana Healthcare Disparities Task Force, and is active on several church committees.
Kevin Letcher was first introduced to this wonderful organization when his youngest child participated from 2004 to 2010. Kevin retired from State Farm after 32 years of service in a broad spectrum of roles. He and his family moved to West Lafayette twenty years ago, after living in many other states. Kevin earned his Bachelor’s degree and JD from the University of Kansas. Rock chalk!
Since retirement, he has been very involved with the United Way of Greater Lafayette as a Board Member, Community Investment Council member and Sarah Price Round Grant Review Committee member. He is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Read to Succeed volunteer, created the Sunnyside Intermediate Mentoring Circle, serves on the Indiana Healthcare Disparities Task Force, and is active on several church committees.
Paula Leverage, Secretary
Paula Leverage is an Associate Professor in the School of Languages and Cultures, and Director of the Center for NeuroHumanities at Purdue University. She read Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge University where she enjoyed singing in the Girton College Chapel Choir. For over twenty years she has lived in West Lafayette with her husband Paul, and their three sons, who have been involved in the local musical community.
She is a fervent supporter of all initiatives to bring music to the community’s young people. Her experiences of playing violin in Anna Hornby’s Concordia String Players as a high school student, and later in the University of Toronto’s Hart House Orchestra as a doctoral student, are precious reminders to promote musical opportunities for all.
Paula Leverage is an Associate Professor in the School of Languages and Cultures, and Director of the Center for NeuroHumanities at Purdue University. She read Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge University where she enjoyed singing in the Girton College Chapel Choir. For over twenty years she has lived in West Lafayette with her husband Paul, and their three sons, who have been involved in the local musical community.
She is a fervent supporter of all initiatives to bring music to the community’s young people. Her experiences of playing violin in Anna Hornby’s Concordia String Players as a high school student, and later in the University of Toronto’s Hart House Orchestra as a doctoral student, are precious reminders to promote musical opportunities for all.
Abby Snodgrass, Co-Treasurer
Abby Snodgrass is an Assistant Director in Financial Planning & Analysis at Purdue University. She has worked in both Corporate and Higher Education finance for 20+ years. She originally hails from Southwest Kansas, where her mom and dad were both music teachers. Growing up around music her whole life and playing multiple instruments, she is happy to be back with a musical organization in a non-musical role.
Abby lives in West Lafayette with her husband and 4 kids. She enjoys running, reading and spending time with her family.
Abby Snodgrass is an Assistant Director in Financial Planning & Analysis at Purdue University. She has worked in both Corporate and Higher Education finance for 20+ years. She originally hails from Southwest Kansas, where her mom and dad were both music teachers. Growing up around music her whole life and playing multiple instruments, she is happy to be back with a musical organization in a non-musical role.
Abby lives in West Lafayette with her husband and 4 kids. She enjoys running, reading and spending time with her family.
Tom Bisciglia, Co-Treasurer
Tom has enjoyed a life that has blended arts and technology from an early age. He began playing viola at 9 years old and began a lifelong career in programming on a Commodore 128 at age 11. He played in both All-Region and All-State Orchestra as a high school student while also singing in his church youth choir as a tenor/bass/baritone. As an English major working as a Student Computer Consultant at Rice University, he acted in, sang in, and/or directed 14 plays and musicals, including playing the Big Bad Wolf in Into the Woods, Mr. Bungee in A New Brain, and Herr Schultz in Cabaret. He graduated with his BA in English in 1998 and received his Master of Arts in Teaching in 2001, both from Rice University.
Professionally, Tom has worked in tech most of his career in high tech. His last position was Director of MIS for A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, an Ethiopian aid organization in Austin, Texas, where he created, managed, and integrated the website, Netsuite CRM, and various systems. Since 2014, he has owned TechSharp Consulting, a tech firm specializing in back-end Drupal development, and he acts as the lead data systems architect. He sings in his church choir and in special events in Lafayette. He and his wife Kristin are the proud parents of 4 kids, all of whom are also musicians.
Tom has enjoyed a life that has blended arts and technology from an early age. He began playing viola at 9 years old and began a lifelong career in programming on a Commodore 128 at age 11. He played in both All-Region and All-State Orchestra as a high school student while also singing in his church youth choir as a tenor/bass/baritone. As an English major working as a Student Computer Consultant at Rice University, he acted in, sang in, and/or directed 14 plays and musicals, including playing the Big Bad Wolf in Into the Woods, Mr. Bungee in A New Brain, and Herr Schultz in Cabaret. He graduated with his BA in English in 1998 and received his Master of Arts in Teaching in 2001, both from Rice University.
Professionally, Tom has worked in tech most of his career in high tech. His last position was Director of MIS for A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, an Ethiopian aid organization in Austin, Texas, where he created, managed, and integrated the website, Netsuite CRM, and various systems. Since 2014, he has owned TechSharp Consulting, a tech firm specializing in back-end Drupal development, and he acts as the lead data systems architect. He sings in his church choir and in special events in Lafayette. He and his wife Kristin are the proud parents of 4 kids, all of whom are also musicians.
Chris Wild
Chris Wild is proud to serve the excellent music students of Indiana's Wabash River Valley as Artistic Director of the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony. Before moving to Indianapolis with his wife, Chris worked in Chicago and southwest Michigan, spending four years as Orchestra Director of the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra. While in Michiana, he also taught cellists at the University of Notre Dame and was cellist of the Euclid Quartet.
Many years prior, his musical studies began as a cellist in Vancouver, Canada. A dual citizen, he moved stateside to attend the University of Michigan, graduating with a BM and MM in cello performance and music education. Upon graduation, Chris moved to Chicago where he worked in parallel as Orchestra Director for the DeKalb school district and as cellist for Ensemble Dal Niente, and still performs with Dal Niente to this day. Eventually, he returned to school to complete a DMA in Orchestral Conducting at Northwestern University and has since relished his many adventures with pre-professional orchestras.
Chris Wild is proud to serve the excellent music students of Indiana's Wabash River Valley as Artistic Director of the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony. Before moving to Indianapolis with his wife, Chris worked in Chicago and southwest Michigan, spending four years as Orchestra Director of the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra. While in Michiana, he also taught cellists at the University of Notre Dame and was cellist of the Euclid Quartet.
Many years prior, his musical studies began as a cellist in Vancouver, Canada. A dual citizen, he moved stateside to attend the University of Michigan, graduating with a BM and MM in cello performance and music education. Upon graduation, Chris moved to Chicago where he worked in parallel as Orchestra Director for the DeKalb school district and as cellist for Ensemble Dal Niente, and still performs with Dal Niente to this day. Eventually, he returned to school to complete a DMA in Orchestral Conducting at Northwestern University and has since relished his many adventures with pre-professional orchestras.
Carol Letcher
Carol has been a West Lafayette resident for over 20 years. Originally from Colorado, she received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder, Master’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Missouri Kansas City, and worked on a Doctor of Arts in Voice at the University of Northern Colorado.
She is currently a music teacher with the West Lafayette School Corporation and has taught previously in Colorado and Kansas, in addition to church music positions in Valparaiso, Indiana, California, Illinois and the Kansas City area.
Carol has been a West Lafayette resident for over 20 years. Originally from Colorado, she received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder, Master’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Missouri Kansas City, and worked on a Doctor of Arts in Voice at the University of Northern Colorado.
She is currently a music teacher with the West Lafayette School Corporation and has taught previously in Colorado and Kansas, in addition to church music positions in Valparaiso, Indiana, California, Illinois and the Kansas City area.
Heather Peters
Adam M. Bodony
Adam is currently serving as Assistant Professor and Director of Orchestras at Purdue University as well as Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra. As an avid supporter of music education, Mr. Bodony also serves as an educational consultant for Music For All, a national organization based in Indianapolis dedicated to the advocacy of music education for all people. Additionally, Mr. Bodony serves as Festival Coordinator for Music For All's annual Orchestra America National Festival.
Mr. Bodony's previous posts include Artistic Director of the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony (2019-2022), Artistic Director of the Bloomington (IN) Symphony Orchestra (2014-2016), and Associate Conductor of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra (2013-2015). He has also worked with several professional, collegiate, high school, and community orchestras throughout the country.
Adam is currently serving as Assistant Professor and Director of Orchestras at Purdue University as well as Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra. As an avid supporter of music education, Mr. Bodony also serves as an educational consultant for Music For All, a national organization based in Indianapolis dedicated to the advocacy of music education for all people. Additionally, Mr. Bodony serves as Festival Coordinator for Music For All's annual Orchestra America National Festival.
Mr. Bodony's previous posts include Artistic Director of the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony (2019-2022), Artistic Director of the Bloomington (IN) Symphony Orchestra (2014-2016), and Associate Conductor of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra (2013-2015). He has also worked with several professional, collegiate, high school, and community orchestras throughout the country.
Brent Laidler
Brent is a jazz guitarist, composer, performer, clinician, radio host and owner / master technician at Brent’s Bench, Inc. Band Instrument Repair. He has been serving the Lafayette Area and Midwest music community since 1987. He is a well established presence in Lafayette media and serves as the press liaison for the WVYS.
Brent is a member of the Indiana Jazz Educators Association and the administrator for The Jazz Club Tony Zamora Scholarship. He founded the Lafayette Jazz Appreciation Month Celebrations in conjunction with the Smithsonian Museum Nationwide. He has written music for television and film including "The C-Shift" (TMG5 Artists); "Engine Company X," "EX2," and "Life in the Fast Lane" (Westlake Signal Group); "No Right Turn"; and "Newswire L.A".
Brent is a jazz guitarist, composer, performer, clinician, radio host and owner / master technician at Brent’s Bench, Inc. Band Instrument Repair. He has been serving the Lafayette Area and Midwest music community since 1987. He is a well established presence in Lafayette media and serves as the press liaison for the WVYS.
Brent is a member of the Indiana Jazz Educators Association and the administrator for The Jazz Club Tony Zamora Scholarship. He founded the Lafayette Jazz Appreciation Month Celebrations in conjunction with the Smithsonian Museum Nationwide. He has written music for television and film including "The C-Shift" (TMG5 Artists); "Engine Company X," "EX2," and "Life in the Fast Lane" (Westlake Signal Group); "No Right Turn"; and "Newswire L.A".
The Wabash Valley Youth Symphony is supported by our sponsors and you! Make a gift to the WVYS today!
Wabash Valley Youth Symphony
P.O. Box 2242 West Lafayette, IN 47996 |
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