Board and Staff
Marion
Anderson-Peat
Trustee

Marion Anderson-Peat is a retired secondary school educator, having spent 35 years teaching Global Studies, African Studies, and Asian Studies in Barrington, Illinois. She has also worked in curriculum development and teacher training. Her background includes Masters Degrees in U.S. History and Asian Studies, as well as, extensive international travel and study. Marion now spends her summers in Spread Eagle, Wisconsin (near Iron Mountain) and joined the PMMF Board in 2004.

She treasures the experience of high quality classical music in the intimate settings of the U.P. venues. The greatest reward is when she hears people exclaim, "that's the best concert I've ever been to!"

Marion's favorite PMMF moment was an evening at the opera when a small boy slowly crept onto the edge of the stage and remained there, transfixed and unmoving, for the entire act.

Daniel J.
Arnold, MD
Trustee

Dan Arnold is a retired oncologist who has practiced in the Upper Peninsula for over 30 years.  He lives in Marquette with his wife Constance (Ann) and they have two grown children, David (Sue Balmer) and Elizabeth (Thomas Mayfield) and a wonderful grandson, Richard, already showing musical talent at 1 ½ years of age.

Dan has played classical piano for many years and is currently active in the Marquette Piano Workshop.  He has performed in the past with the Third Coast Piano Quartet.  Community involvement includes long-standing terms on the Boards of the Superior Health Foundation, the Marquette Symphony Orchestra and Temple Beth Sholom in Ishpeming.

Ellen Ann
Bechthold
Trustee

Ellen Ann Bechthold divides her time between homes in Chicago, Illinois, and Florence, Wisconsin, with occasional trips to other interesting places. She is a retired vice president for Harris Bank, where she worked in trust administration with high net worth individuals and various charitable organizations.

Ellen has always enjoyed attending Pine Mountain Music Festival concerts in the Dickinson Count y area, which led to her being invited to serve on the Festival's board.  She joined the Board in 2008, and is also a member of the Festival's Endowment Committee.

She says PMMF adds another welcome dimension to the great Upper Peninsula. Not only does it have a great physical beauty, but it now has beautiful music to match.

Ellen
Campbell
Trustee

Ellen is Vice President of NECi, an environmental biotechnology company located in Lake Linden.  "We ARE biotechnology in the U.P.!"  She and her husband, Dr Wilbur H (Bill) Campbell, moved to the U.P. from Syracuse, NY, in 1985, when he joined the Biological Sciences faculty at Michigan Tech.  They started their company in 1993, to take basic research discoveries from the lab and make them useful out in the world.  The company's products for nitrate analysis, made in the village of Lake Linden in the old Post Office, are used internationally.

Ellen is a lifelong devotee of classical music.  Fascination with opera came when the Campbells spent a sabbatical in Bayreuth, Germany, home of Wagner.  (These days they much prefer Puccini!)  "Being able to experience world class performances right here at home is part of what makes the U.P. a livable community," says Ellen.  "Peace and quiet and wildlife are wonderful, but living without cultural events is not an option for me."  Ellen hopes to help make PMMF important in more people's lives, enriching them while assuring longevity of the Festival.

Jeni
Edwards
Staff, Operations & Marketing Manager

Jeni graduated from Michigan Technological University in 2011 with a degree in English/Writing and shortly after joined the PMMF staff. She handles marketing as well as operations. She and her husband live in South Range, MI.

Diane
Eshbach
Secretary, Board of Trustees

Diane Eshbach  graduated  from L'Anse High School and attended Northern Michigan University majoring in Art.  She is married to Charles Eshbach and they have  lived in the Houghton area for 41 years.  They have one daughter and two sons, all married, and nine grandchildren.

Diane has been active in many different volunteer positions including  women's ministry director, Sunday school teacher, worship team, Christian Women's Board,  jr. hockey auxiliary president,  Pine Mountain Music Festival Gala chair and volunteer chair for the Keweenaw.

Diane has been a Mary Kay Consultant, Tupperware Manager and for the past 19 years owner and manager of Celebrations Bridal and Formalwear in Hancock.

"Eight years ago Norma Nominelli asked if I would like to help with the PMMF Gala and  Auction by gathering a few items for the auction. That was my introduction to being an active part of the Festival beyond attending events.

One of my favorite features of the Festival has been the opportunity to have such accomplished musicians be a part of our lives here in the Keweenaw.  I have appreciated participating in Christine Seitz's workshops as an observer as well as a singer.  The Festival expands our experiences in music without having to travel to metropolitan areas."

Karen
Fredrickson
Chief of Staff

Karen's love of classical music began as a girl growing up in Delaware. Blessed with parents who listened to classical music in their home, Karen was instilled with an appreciation that grew over the years. A recording of Madama Butterfly was her introduction to opera, which is probably why she still loves Puccini today.

Karen holds bachelors degrees in both Art History and Early Childhood Education. After she raised her family, life brought her to the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In 1999, she attended PMMF's production of Carmen and later that summer she moved to the U.P.

While seeking a full-time teaching position, she met Kathy Tompkins (Executive Director 1995-2005). Karen joined the Festival in February, 2001 and has truly loved every minute of it. On her first day on the job, she met Trustee Ted Fredrickson. One thing led to another and Karen and Ted were married in 2002. They make their home in Hancock. When Ted and Karen aren't working, they're traveling from lower Michigan to Delaware, Arizona, and Oregon to visit family -- especially their four new grandchildren!

David
Geisler
Trustee

Dave grew up in Racine, Wisconsin before moving to Chicago where he attended university.  After spending 40 years in Chicago, he retired in 2012 and settled in the Keweenaw.  The move to Calumet marks a return to the place where Dave's grandparents settled after immigrating from Slovenia and his mom grew up.  Despite the concern of his "big city" friends, he has found plenty of ways to keep busy.  In addition to being a member of the Board of PMMF, Dave is Calumet Village President and volunteers with Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly.  You'll also find him helping out with the Copper Dog 150 sled dog race and giving tours of Calumet's historic buildings.

Dave first came to appreciate classical music while in fifth grade when he attended his first concert by the Racine Symphony Orhcestra.  While living in Chicago, he took full advantage of that city's many cultural offerings - though the Lyric Opera is his favorite.  Dave began attending PMMF concerts years ago while vacationing in the Copper Country and thoroughly enjoyed the 2012 season when he was able to attend every performance offered.  The presence of a first -class music festival in the western Upper Peninsula made it all the easier to leave Chicago behind, and he looks forward to inviting his Chicago friends up for the current season.

Susan
Hooker
Trustee

Susan grew up in Houghton,  then went away to attend college. For thirty three years she lived and worked in Germany, Tokyo and Washington D.C.  After all  that big city living, she welcomed a return to the different pace and lifestyle of the Upper Peninsula.

Susan returned to Houghton. She says the arts, including the Rozsa Center and Pine Mountain Music Festival, guided her decision to return to this area. Susan initially was a patron to the Festival before becoming involved in painting the sets for PMMF opera's La Bohème, Cinderella and The Magic Flute.  Working on those shows gave her insight into how an opera production is created from start to finish.

Susan is currently working as a decorative painter and is still involved with the Rozsa Center as well as serving as a PMMF trustee.

Joy
Ibsen
Trustee

Joy lives in Trout Creek, MI.  She is a writer, editor, piano teacher and lay minister as well as a musician. She is the editor of the monthly journal Church and Life, and the author of "Songs of Denmark; Songs to Live By."  Joy has a book "Unafraid" which will be published this spring by Wipf and Stock. 

Joy and her family began attending Pine Mountain Music Festival events even prior to moving to the Upper Peninsula 8 years ago.  Perhaps their greatest concern in moving to the North Woods from the Chicago area (Evanston) was missing the Lyric, so they were thrilled to learn of PMMF and very impressed with the quality of events.  A friend, Kay Linquist, approached her about serving on the board.

Joy's favorite PMMF opera was Candide!  Every time they go to PMMF Joy is grateful for the performances!

Dr. Sigurds
Janners
Treasurer, Board of Trustees

Sigurds was born in Riga, Latvia and he arrived in the U.S. via Germany in the years following WWII. He grew up on the East Coast near New York City. There Sigurds began his steady diet of opera while in high school, attending performances at the "old" Met. After moving to the Houghton area 35 years ago to establish a medical practice, he realized the ease of attending operas was severely diminished.

Enter the Pine Mountain Music Festival. He and his wife Candace have been attending opera performances ever since. The festival provides an opportunity for the audience to interact with the singers, musicians and other professionals in a relaxed atmosphere.

Sigurds remembers an early PMMF opera performance of La Bohème in Iron Mountain where the singers were "freezing to death" in an attic apartment, while in real life the actors had sweat dripping off their faces in the 100 degree heat. The misery, at least, was real.

Candace E. Koski
Janners
Vice-President, Board of Trustees

Candace is a native of the Upper Peninsula. She grew up on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior, following in the footsteps of her ancestor who arrived in the early 1800's. She has lived in the Copper Country for over thirty years, working in various capacities as a cardiovascular Registered Nurse.

Music has always been a big part of her life. She and her husband Sigurds attended as many musical performances in the area as they could. The PMMF opera was always the "big draw" for her, although she has enjoyed all the additional music offered by the festival.

Candace has enjoyed introducing her children to live opera. As adults her children still remember the first production they saw. It is a fond memory for the whole family. The Janners family encourages friends and family to investigate all types of music, to enjoy it as much as they do.

Bill
Leder
President, Board of Trustees

Bill Leder grew up near Detroit and was a student at Michigan Tech in the 1960s. He and his wife moved to Houghton in 2003. He is an adjunct professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Tech. Bill became a PMMF Board member in 2004. He has had a life-long interest in classical music for which he can thank his parents. As a teenager Bill remembers hearing a live recital by Artur Rubinstein. He is glad his mom and dad "made him go." The arts are an essential part of our culture, and Bill gets a lot of gratification from working with his fellow PMMF Board members to bring inspiring music to this part of the Upper Peninsula.

 

Robert
Lind
Trustee

Bob Lind is a Yooper who grew up in Covington and L’Anse.  After graduating from Michigan Tech and traveling all over Europe for a year (attending operas everywhere he went), he spent several years in the Advanced Concepts Engineering Group at (as they say in the Detroit area) Fords.

During this period Bob wed Eugenia Sauk (whom he met at Tech) and they soon decided on a more flexible lifestyle, i.e. one with more time for travel. Bob went to grad school and began doing research in General Relativity and teaching Physics in many places until finally settling in Platteville, Wisconsin.

Even during years of travel throughout Europe and North America, they found themselves being constantly drawn back to the Great Blue Edge of that lake that truly deserves to be called Superior.  They found their bit of paradise on The Lake 25 years ago and after retiring in 2003 built LINDS’END and moved to the Upper Peninsula.  For years they have enjoyed attending PMMF events and are still amazed that they can live in the U.P. and attend great live opera performances every summer.

When not walking with their dog, Tyler, on the beach you can find Jean in her weaving studio making lint and Bob in his woodworking shop making sawdust.

Joshua
Major
Staff, Artistic Director

Toronto-born Joshua Major began his opera stage directing career at the age of 23 with La Cenerentola for Opera Omaha. Soon after, Mr. Major worked as an assistant to Rhoda Levine at Juilliard, Cynthia Auerbach at both Chautauqua Opera and New York City Opera and William Gaskill at the Welsh National Opera. Mr. Major has worked as a stage director for over 25 years throughout the United States and Canada developing an impressive repertoire of productions. Recent engagements include La Perichole and Dido and Aeneus/Ariadne auf Naxos, with the New England Conservatory Opera Theatre, The Cunning Little Vixen for the Cape Town Opera; Lucia di Lamermoor for the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, L’Impressions de Pelleas in Tel Aviv; The Tales of Hoffmann and Lucia di Lammermoor for Indianapolis Opera. Mr. Major began as Chair of Opera Studies at the new England Conservatory this past Fall and recently completed 20 years on the faculty of the University of Michigan where he oversaw the Opera Program, both teaching and directing. Recent productions at the University of Michigan include, Falstaff, Armide, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Eugene Onegin. At New England Conservatory he recently directing Britten’s The Turn of the Screw” and is currently preparing the North American premiere of Rossini’s La Gazzetta. Joshua Major has been the Artistic Director of the Pine Mountain Music Festival since 2003. As well he continues to be a stage director and faculty member with the Israel Vocal Arts Institute in where he has directed annually since 1993 and the Institut Canadien d’Arts Vocal based in Montreal, where he has directed since 2005.

Nicole
Nason
Trustee

Nicole Nason grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and has lived in Marquette for the past 10 years. Nicole serves as the Arts and Culture Coordinator for The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center. She received a B.S. in Theatre from Northern Michigan University and also served as the Youth Arts Education Director for the City of Marquette. She is the director of the City of Marquette Youth Theatre Program and also serves on the Board of Directors for Lake Superior Theatre. Nicole is involved with several arts organizations around Marquette.

Nicole values the quality that Pine Mountain Music Festival brings to the Upper Peninsula. She also appreciates that PMMF gives the youth in the area exposure to opera and other forms of classical music. Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, attending the symphony was one of her favorite childhood memories. Nicole also cherished attending the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Concert in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The greatest thing for Nicole is that her first live experience with opera was through PMMF. To have this experience in her own backyard is a treasure that she holds dear to her heart.

Nicole continues to educate youth through the MACC but hopes to get more youth involved in PMMF.

Michael
Neuman
Trustee

Mike Neuman is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After college he took a position on the faculty at Case Western Reserve University where he worked for thirty-two years. He eventually found his way to Houghton and Michigan Technological University, where he is the chairman of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Dr. Neuman was in Houghton interviewing for his position with the college and went to a Pine Mountain Music Festival Opera, where he liked what he heard.  The Festival was a strong positive factor in choosing to move to the Copper Country.

Mike lives with his wife Judy, whom he credits with getting him personally involved with the Festival. He also shares his space with two dogs, two cats, eight goats and three horses on his hobby farm just outside of Houghton.

Bette
Premo
Trustee

Bette Premo, Ph.D., is a scientist and owner of the environmental consulting firm, White Water Associates, Inc. that provides environmental lab testing services and natural resource studies.  Bette plays viola with the Marquette Symphony Orchestra and the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra.  She loves music and with her family band, called White Water, performs many concerts each year with their folk and traditional music recorded on eight albums. Bette sings and plays fiddle, mandolin and hammer dulcimer.  Since 1985 Bette and her husband Dean have been organizers of The Second Sunday Folk Dances and School Performances program that serves to bring in top quality folk performers for an evening of entertainment at Fortune Lake Camp (Crystal Falls) and daytime performances and workshops at local schools. The programs begin each year in October and are held once each month until April. Bette Premo and her family have developed and organized this event since inception, providing the opening act for each program, and supporting the program with promotion, funding, securing performers and school venues. 

Peter
Van Pelt
Executive Director Emeritus

Mr. Van Pelt retired as the Executive Director in March 2012 after successfully leading the organization since 2007.  He considers PMMF an essential part of life in the U.P., bringing a dimension of life that was not here before.  He loves orchestral and chamber music, and loves to make it available to others. Peter really loves opera, which he calls the most comprehensive of all art forms, and he wants everybody to share that enthusiasm.  He was in his mid-30s when he saw his first opera, and would like everybody else to start earlier!

Peter has served on the Festival's Board of Trustees for seven years, two of those as president. He has also served on the board of the Calumet Theatre and the Keweenaw County Historical Society. Peter earned a certificate in nonprofit management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Peter and his wife, Patricia, received the Laura Jean Deming Award from the Festival in 2007. He enjoys working with the Festival's volunteers and staff, and meeting the artists.

Peter spent his childhood summers in the Keweenaw, but was otherwise brought up in Illinois and Ohio. He met his wife, Patricia, at Swarthmore College.  They have three children, and several grandchildren and step-grandchildren.  In 1985 they built a retirement home in Eagle Harbor, and commute between there and their condo in Hancock.

Abigayl
Venman
Trustee

A native of Lansing (MI), Abigayl currently resides in NYC where she is the Associate Administrative Director of the Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts at The Juilliard School. Prior to joining the Juilliard staff, Abigayl worked for the classical artist management company Opus 3 Artists and the music publishing house Carl Fischer. Having earned degrees in vocal performance (B.M. Northwestern University, M.M. Southern Methodist University), she is pleased to join PMMF as the festival continues to provide an outlet for artistic excellence!